College Station, Texas, October 22, 2025

News Summary

Texas A&M Football has been fined $50,000 by the SEC for violating its policy against faking injuries during a recent game against Arkansas. The incident involved a player, Tyreek Chappell, who feigned an injury to halt gameplay, prompting the league’s enforcement of their rules. The SEC’s commissioner remarked that such actions compromise the integrity of the game. This fine marks Texas A&M as the first team penalized under the new policy introduced in 2022, which aims to uphold fair play in college football.

College Station, Texas

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has fined Texas A&M Football $50,000 for a violation of its policy regarding faking injuries during a recent game against Arkansas. The incident drew attention during the fourth quarter of the Aggies’ 45-42 victory when a player allegedly feigned an injury to halt the game.

Defensive back Tyreek Chappell was observed sitting on the field to stop play after the ball had already been spotted, resulting in the infraction. Notably, Chappell experienced no contact during the previous play and showed no visible signs of injury until he fell and pointed to his right leg. Video footage revealed that a Texas A&M staff member appeared to signal to Chappell, pointing to the ground before he went down.

The SEC stated that both the player and the staff’s coordinated actions were an attempt to gain an unfair advantage by requesting an injury timeout after the game had resumed. Consequently, Texas A&M was flagged, and the team was charged a timeout as Chappell was deemed to have presented as injured following the resumption of play.

Chappell returned to the game just two plays into Arkansas’s offensive drive, raising further questions about the circumstances of the incident. In response to the ruling, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey highlighted the significance of maintaining the integrity of the game, labeling the act of faking injuries as “disrespectful” to the sport.

This ruling marks Texas A&M as the first program in the SEC to be penalized under the faking injuries policy, which was instituted in 2022. The established policy includes a stipulated public reprimand for the head coach, alongside a $50,000 fine for the initial violation. Additional violations can lead to escalating fines and potential suspensions for the coaching staff.

A&M’s head coach Mike Elko issued a statement expressing disagreement with the interpretation of the incident but accepted the ruling. He reaffirmed the program’s commitment to sportsmanship and integrity in athletics.

Future violations of the policy could result in a $100,000 fine and may also lead to suspensions for Elko and other coaching staff members. The enforcement of rules against faking injuries has become a prominent issue in college football this season as conferences aim to maintain fair play.

Background of the Policy

The SEC’s policy to combat faking injuries was introduced to ensure the integrity and flow of college football games, which have increasingly faced scrutiny over tactics perceived as manipulative. This policy allows for strict penalties for teams and coaches found in violation, thus providing a deterrent against actions that could undermine competitive fairness.

Summary of Fine and Violation Action

• Fine Amount: $50,000
• First Violation Response: Public reprimand for head coach and financial penalty
• Further Violations: Potential fines of $100,000 and coaching suspensions

Implications for Texas A&M Football

This penalty serves as a corrective measure by the SEC and signals to all collegiate football programs the seriousness of maintaining sporting integrity. As this issue continues to evolve, teams are now more aware of the consequences of faking injuries.

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Additional Resources

• KBTX
• Wikipedia: Texas A&M Aggies football
• ESPN
• Google Search: Texas A&M 50k fine SEC
• CBS Sports
• Google Scholar: SEC faking injuries policy
• KCEN TV
• Encyclopedia Britannica: SEC policy faking injuries
• Sports Illustrated
• Google News: Texas A&M fined SEC faking injury

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