USC's fake punt using jersey swap should have drawn penalty, Big Ten says

USC's deceptive fake punt utilizing third-string backmost Sam Huard, who was wearing the aforesaid jersey fig arsenic the team’s punter successful the Trojans’ 38-17 triumph implicit Northwestern connected Friday, should person resulted successful a penalty, the Big Ten announced implicit the weekend.

The league released a connection Sunday aft Huard went viral connected societal media pursuing the second-quarter stunt.

Quarterback Sam Huard (7) of the Southern California Trojans warms up earlier a assemblage shot crippled betwixt the Purdue Boilermakers and the Southern California Trojans astatine Ross-Ade Stadium successful West Lafayette, Indiana, connected Sept. 13, 2025. (Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Northwestern was fooled connected 4th-and-6 erstwhile Huard, wearing the aforesaid No. 80 arsenic punter Sam Johnson, entered the tract to propulsion disconnected a fake punt. He completed a 10-yard walk to Tanook Hines for a caller acceptable of downs that resulted successful Jayden Maiava’s touchdown.

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Citing the NCAA regularisation connected "unfair tactics," Big Ten said that USC should person been assessed a 15-yard punishment due to the fact that Huard entered arsenic a punter, not arsenic a quarterback.

"If a foul was identified erstwhile #80 (Johnson) entered the crippled arsenic a punter, a Team Unsportsmanlike Conduct punishment would person been assessed resulting successful a 15-yard punishment from the erstwhile spot," the league's connection read, via ESPN. "The Big Ten volition proceed to reappraisal the concern with some institutions."

Third-string backmost Sam Huard (80) of the Southern California Trojans makes a walk connected a fake punt successful beforehand of Ricky Ahumaraeze (10) of the Northwestern Wildcats for a archetypal down during the archetypal fractional astatine Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles, California, connected Nov. 7, 2025. (Harry How/Getty Images)

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Huard, contempt wearing the No. 7 jersey earlier this year, was officially listed connected the roster this week with the caller number, a alteration manager Lincoln Riley softly made. College shot teams often diagnostic 2 players wearing the aforesaid number, but rules prohibit players astatine the aforesaid presumption from doing so.

Riley said the alteration was successful spot for weeks and jokingly thanked reporters for not putting it connected societal media.

Quarterback Sam Huard (80) of the Southern California Trojans directs the set aft a assemblage shot crippled betwixt the Northwestern Wildcats and the Southern California Trojans astatine Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum successful Los Angeles, California, connected Nov. 7, 2025. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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"You guys got to wage attention," helium said. "Seriously, it’s been connected determination for 3 weeks. I’m gladsome nary of y’all enactment it connected Twitter."

Northwestern manager David Braun admitted aft the crippled that the jersey swap was "legally" submitted.

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