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USC’s crafty fake punt helped power a 38-17 win Friday, but the celebration has been tinged with controversy. The Big Ten says the Trojans violated uniform rules during the play, and the league is now reviewing whether a penalty should have erased the game-changing trick.
How the fake punt unfolded and altered momentum
Late in the first half, USC lined up to punt on fourth-and-6. What followed looked like a textbook special-teams deception.
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- Backup quarterback Sam Huard entered the field wearing No. 80.
- That number was already assigned to punter Sam Johnson.
- Huard took the long snap and completed a 10-yard pass to Tanook Hines.
- The play set up a touchdown that extended USC’s lead to 14-7.
The successful conversion flipped field position and momentum for USC.
Why the Big Ten says a rules breach occurred
The conference flagged the uniform duplication as a violation under NCAA policies on unfair tactics.
The NCAA does not allow two players at the same position to share an identical game number. The Big Ten said that, had officials recognized the switch on the field, a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty would have been enforced from the previous spot.
That penalty could have wiped out the fake and changed the sequence that led to the touchdown.
Details of the league’s review and possible consequences
The Big Ten confirmed it is examining video and communications from both programs.
Officials will determine if the substitution and numbering constituted an intentional attempt to deceive. The league can impose in-game penalties retroactively in some cases, and it may issue guidance or sanctions depending on findings.
Responses from coaches and teams involved
Northwestern’s staff acknowledged they missed the duplicate number when the play happened. Their coach said the paperwork for the substitution had been submitted, but the overlap went unnoticed on the field.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley played down the drama after the contest, noting the trick had slipped past everyone in real time. Both programs are cooperating with the conference review.
What this means for USC’s special teams and opponents
Expect rival teams to film and study USC’s punt formation closely from now on.
- Game planners will watch personnel and jersey numbers more carefully on special teams.
- Officials may be quicker to call attention to late substitutions on punts.
- USC could alter how it disguises plays to avoid future scrutiny.
Special-teams deception works only once if opponents learn the method.
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