USC’s deceptive fake punt with jersey swap should have resulted in penalty: Big Ten

USC’s deceptive fake punt using third-string quarterback Sam Huard, who wore the same jersey number as the team’s punter in the Trojans’ 38-17 win over Northwestern on Friday, should have resulted in a penalty, the Big Ten announced over the weekend.

The league released a statement Sunday after Huard went viral on social media following the second-quarter stunt.

Northwestern was fooled on 4th and 6 when Huard, wearing the same number 80 as punter Sam Johnson, entered the field to complete a fake punt. He completed a 10-yard pass to Tanook Hines for another series of downs that resulted in Jayden Maiava’s touchdown.

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Citing the NCAA’s “unfair tactics” rule, Big Ten said USC should have been assessed a 15-yard penalty because Huard entered as a punter and not a quarterback.

“If a foul had been identified when No. 80 (Johnson) entered the game as the kicker, a team unsportsmanlike conduct penalty would have been assessed, resulting in a 15-yard penalty from the previous point,” the league’s statement read, via ESPN. “The Big Ten will continue to review the situation with both institutions.”

Third-string quarterback Sam Huard (80) of the Southern California Trojans makes a pass on a fake punt past Ricky Ahumaraeze (10) of the Northwest Wildcats for a first down during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California on November 7, 2025. (Harry Comment/Getty Images)

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Huard, despite wearing jersey number 7 earlier this year, was officially put on the roster this week with the new number, a change coach Lincoln Riley quietly made. College football teams often feature two players with the same number, but the rules prohibit players in the same position from doing so.

Riley said the change had been in place for weeks and jokingly thanked reporters for not putting it out there on social media.

Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Huard (80) leads the group after a college football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Southern California Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California on November 7, 2025. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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“You guys have to be careful,” he said. “Seriously, it’s been there for three weeks. I’m glad none of you put it on Twitter.”

Northwestern coach David Braun admitted after the game that the jersey swap was “legally” submitted.