Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik made comments on Saturday calling out Syracuse defenders for faking injuries during the Tigers’ 34-21 loss at Memorial Stadium — and the ACC clearly agreed.
On Monday, the league announced it fined Syracuse $25,000 for violating NCAA rules regarding “feigning injuries”, according to Chapel Fowler of The State Newspaper. The conference specifically cited a play at the 9:25 mark of the fourth quarter, when Clemson had the ball and was trying to snap it quickly while trailing.
“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,” the ACC said. Officials cited NCAA Football Rule 3-3-6-b and deemed the actions “unethical and contrary to the spirit of the rules.”
Both the ACC and NCAA national coordinator of football officials Steve Shaw reviewed the play and agreed it violated the spirit of injury timeouts, circumventing the 2025 rule designed to prevent clock-stopping tactics. Under the new rule, a player who presents as injured must leave the game for at least one play, and teams are charged a timeout for feigned injuries.
Klubnik’s postgame frustration resonated with the home crowd, which booed Syracuse repeatedly. The $25,000 fine is the maximum allowed and will fund ACC postgraduate scholarships.
Clemson is 1-3 on the season and will next face North Carolina in Week 6. Syracuse will be in action on Saturday against Duke.
