USC’s deceptive fake punt with jersey swap should have drawn 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 victory over Northwestern on Friday should have resulted in a penalty, the Big Ten said over the weekend.

The league issued a statement Sunday after Huard’s display in the second quarter went viral on social media.

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

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

“If a foul was detected when No. 80 (Johnson) entered the game as a punter, the Team would be assessed an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty, which would result in a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot,” the league said in its statement. via ESPN. “The Big Ten will continue to review the situation with both institutions.”

Sam Huard (80), third-string quarterback of the Southern California Trojans, passes a fake punt for a first down in the first half in front of Ricky Ahumaraeze (10) of the Northwestern Wildcats at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California on November 7, 2025. (Harry How/Getty Images)

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Although Huard wore jersey No. 7 earlier this year, he was officially named to the squad this week with the new number in a quiet change made by coach Lincoln Riley. College football teams often have two players wearing the same number, but rules prohibit players at the same position from doing so.

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

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

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“Friends, you should be careful,” he said. “Seriously, it’s been sitting 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” offered.

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