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 Trojans win 38-17 over Northwestern on Friday would have resulted in a penalty kick, the Big Ten announced over the weekend.

The league released a statement Sunday after Ward's second-quarter antics went viral on social media.

Northwestern was deceived on 4th-and-6 when Huard, wearing the same No. 80 as punter Sam Johnson, stepped onto the field to fake a punt. He completed a 10-yard pass to Tanuka Hines for another set of downs that set up a Jayden Maiava touchdown.

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Referring to NCAA Under the “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 defender.

“Had a violation been identified when No. 80 (Johnson) entered the game as a player, a team unsportsmanlike conduct penalty would have been assessed, which would have resulted in a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot,” the league said in a statement. 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 throws a fake punt pass to Ricky Ahumaraz (10) of the Northwest Wildcats for a first down in the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California on November 7, 2025. (Harry Howe/Getty Images)

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

Riley said the change was in effect for several weeks and jokingly thanked reporters for not posting it on social media.

Quarterback Sam Huard (80) of the Southern California Trojans 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 Rothmueller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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“You guys need to pay attention,” he said. “Seriously, it's been there for three weeks. I'm glad none of you posted it on Twitter.”

Northwestern coach David Brown acknowledged after the game that the jersey exchange was “legal.”

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