Fake punt by Trojans leaves Wildcats asleep at jersey switch

Discreetly changing Huard's number may look bad, but it likely didn't break any rules.

- RYAN KARTJE

SAM HUARD, a quarterback wearing the same No. 80 as Trojans punter Sam Johnson, passes on a fake punt.

(HARRY HOW Getty Images)

A fake punt from the second quarter of Friday's 38-17 win over Northwestern play was diabolical. The fallout since has made it all the more fascinating, transforming a random trick play into a sort of college football Rorschach test.

So let me take you back to Friday night, with USC facing fourth and six near midfield. Lincoln Riley sent out his punt team. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Every soul in that stadium not on USC's sideline assumed the player lined up to punt, wearing the USC punter's usual No. 80 uniform, was Sam Johnson... the punter. In part because USC is one of the few schools still without names on the back of their jerseys.

But then the purported punter cocked back to throw. Right away, as he completed the pass in the face of pressure, I clocked that this No. 80 was left-handed. And I could've sworn Johnson punts with his right foot.

So I consulted the game-day roster. And wouldn't you know it-listed next to Johnson with the same No. 80 was Sam Huard, the Trojans' third-string quarterback. Later, Riley confirmed Huard had been listed as No. 80 on the official roster for three weeks.

"You guys gotta pay attention," he said. "I'm glad none of y'all put it on Twitter."