Lincoln Riley says fake punt was 'entirely legal' after Big Ten rebuke

"The play in question from Friday's game appeared to be a normal fake punt, with USC and Northwestern locked at 7 apiece, early in the second quarter. But unbeknownst to Northwestern, USC third-string quarterback Sam Huard lined up as the punter, wearing the same uniform number as Sam Johnson, the Trojans' usual starting punter. Huard, who quietly changed to No. 80 weeks earlier, hit freshman receiver Tanook Hines for a first down, and USC went on to score."

"The next morning, the Big Ten Conference made it clear that it didn't see it that way. In a statement, the conference pointed to NCAA Football Playing Rule 9, Section 2, Article 2, labeled "Unfair Tactics," which states that "two players playing the same position may not wear the same number during the game." But it also notes that any unsportsmanlike conduct penalty would have applied when Johnson, the actual punter, came out to punt on the ensuing drive."

USC executed a deceptive fake punt with third-string quarterback Sam Huard lining up as the punter while wearing the same uniform number as regular punter Sam Johnson. Huard completed a pass to Tanook Hines for a first down and USC scored. The Big Ten cited NCAA Football Playing Rule 9, Section 2, Article 2, on unfair tactics, which prohibits two players at the same position from wearing the same number. Northwestern coach David Braun acknowledged missing Huard's number change. USC had not updated its roster or weekly game notes. Several former officials and analysts sided with the Big Ten, while Lincoln Riley defended the play as legal.

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