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The Big Ten reported an officiating error after a football game between USC and Northwestern this past weekend. The Trojans should’ve been called for a penalty due to its use of “unfair tactics.”
Infamous college football cheater Connor Stalions gave his opinion of that ruling after the fact. He supported USC’s deception despite the conference’s admission.
The Trojans and Wildcats faced off in Friday night action with both looking to advance up the league standings. USC would get bragging rights after a 38-17 win.
One play from that contest has now been put under the spotlight. The Trojans’ intent is now being scrutinized.
USC football pulled off a successful fake punt.
IT’S A FAKE PUNT 🫨
Punter Sam Johnson throws it for a @uscfb first down! pic.twitter.com/eRMSo0gQ2m
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 8, 2025
Early in the second quarter of a tie game, the Trojans successfully executed a fake punt. It appeared that starting punter Sam Johnson was the man throwing a perfect strike to receiver Tanook Hines for a first down conversion.
Johnson wears No. 80 on his uniform. Everyone in the building believed that he was the player taking the snap in the backfield. After further review, it was discovered that wasn’t the case.
Instead, it was backup quarterback Sam Huard that threw the pass. He, too, was donning a No. 80 jersey.
Huard is a former five-star prospect that transferred to the program in the spring. He’d previously spent time at Utah, Cal Poly, and Washington.
He is listed on the official roster as wearing No. 7. USC made sure to designate his No. 80 on the information sheet ahead of the Northwestern game.
The play was impactful. The trickery kept the Trojans’ drive alive. They’d later score a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead.
The Big Ten says an unsportsmanlike penalty should’ve been called when the team’s actual punter, Johnson, later took the field. It wasn’t.
Connor Stalions sides with the Trojans.
The conference released a statement on Sunday admitting to the officiating oversight. It said that two players at the same position cannot wear the same number.
Here’s the Big Ten statement on the USC fake punt caper. It should have been a penalty, as two players playing the same position may not wear the same number. pic.twitter.com/EIrtotIE0k
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 9, 2025
There is some disagreement as to whether Huard and Johnson were technically playing the same position. Huard never punted the football. USC can claim he was a quarterback.
With that being said, the Big Ten believes the Trojans fully intended to deceive when switching the passer’s jersey number.
NCAA Football Playing Rule 9, Section 2, Article 2 is labeled ‘unfair tactics,’ with paragraph ‘d’ stating: “Two players playing the same position may not wear the same number during the game.”
Essentially, Huard would’ve needed to be the team’s primary punter for the entirety of the game after taking that first snap. The moment Johnson entered, a flag should’ve been thrown.
Connor Stalions doesn’t agree. Was Huard really a punter?
Another example of the NCAA, Big Ten & Pete Thamel not understanding their own sport & rules. Position ≠ Alignment
Quarterbacks align out wide (think Wildcat) all the time. That doesn’t make them Receivers. They’re still Quarterbacks.
Receivers align in the backfield all the time. That doesn’t make them Running Backs.
Safeties align on the line of scrimmage all the time. That doesn’t make them Defensive Linemen.
USC aligning a QB whom they listed as #80 on the roster 14 yards behind the Center does not make him a Punter. If an offense wants to go for it on 4th down and throw the ball with its backup Quarterback, as long as they have 7 on the line of scrimmage, they’re good. That’s on the opponent.
Again, it’s largely a semantics debate though there are certain rules that pertain only to kicking formations/situations. USC knew what it was doing with the jersey change and fake punt. The Big Ten called out the trickery.
The Trojans outsmarted the officiating crew. No one caught the switch in real time. It benefitted USC on a touchdown drive. Stalions believes the deception should be praised.