ESPN.com · Nov 8, 2025
USC's Sam Huard, wearing No. 80, fools Northwestern with trick play
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LOS ANGELES -- No. 20 USC pulled off a remarkable fake punt against Northwestern on Friday night by sending out third-string quarterback Sam Huard in the same uniform number as the Trojans' punter.
Wearing a No. 80 jersey, Huard came on the field with the punt team in the second quarter and completed a 10-yard pass to Tanook Hines. The first down extended the Trojans' second drive, which ended with a TD run by Jayden Maiava.
This bit of trickery was quite legal, apparently: Huard wore No. 7 earlier this season for the Trojans, but he is listed as No. 80 on the USC roster for this week after Lincoln Riley's team quietly made the change.
