Feigning injuries addressed in new SEC football rules

USA Today

15-07-2025

Leading off day two of SEC media days was John McDaid, the SEC coordinator of officials, who reviewed some data regarding the pace of play and addressed some rule changes that will take effect in the league in 2025.
Defensive delay of game will be new to the rules lexicon in 2025. Defenders have been allowed to flinch to draw offensive linemen into a false start. If the defensive lineman now makes an action that simulates the snap, it will be a delay of game on the defense and a five-yard penalty.
The second rule he addressed was the process of substitutions. With teams running more uptempo offenses, rules were put in place to give the defense time to make a substitution if the offense changes players. But as it happens in college football, defensive coaches and players began taking advantage of the time allowed and would slowly jog off the field, trying to take up all of the play clock, forcing the offense into a delay of game.
The SEC has made an adjustment to the language. In prior years, the player coming off the field had to do so "promptly." Now, if the officials over the ball determine the player isn't exiting the field of play with an "athletic pace," the official can step out of the way and allow the snap.
Feigned injuries have arguably been the biggest rule issue that needs to be addressed, as the rate has increased dramatically over the years. According to the new rules in the SEC, if, after the umpire has spotted the ball and deemed it "ready for play," a player falls to the ground with an apparent injury, the defensive team will be penalized a timeout. If that team is out of timeouts, they'll be penalized five yards.
The other big change on the field is the "t-signal." The signal has been used to alert their teammates that there won't be a return. But if they catch it, they could return it. Now, the officials will see it as a fair catch.
Notably, after the third overtime, teams will have just one timeout apiece.
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