ACC fines Syracuse $25K for 'feigning injuries' in upset of Clemson

Field Level Media|published: Mon 22nd September, 10:12 2025

NCAA Football: Aflac Kickoff-Syracuse at Tennessee

Aug 30, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown on the sideline against the Tennessee Volunteers in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Syracuse was fined $25,000 by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday for "feigning injuries" during Saturday's win at Clemson.

Syracuse (3-1, 1-0 ACC) pulled off a 34-21 upset to drop the Tigers to 1-3 for the first time since 2004. Clemson is 0-2 in conference play.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik referenced his suspicion in the postgame press conference that the Orange were intentionally slowing down the Tigers' hurry-up offense by pretending to be hurt to stop the clock and disrupt any potential momentum for a rally.

"That's up to them if they want to be honest about that," Klubnik said.

The ACC concurred with Klubnik's assessment.

"With 9:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, Syracuse violated NCAA Football Rule 3-3-6-b, which addresses the feigning of injuries by players, declaring it 'unethical and contrary to the spirit of the rules,'" the ACC said in a statement Monday. "The actions by the two players -- especially with the concurrent action by the coach in the team area -- were a clear attempt to gain an unmerited advantage by stopping the game in order to secure an injury timeout."

--Field Level Media