Copyright Newsweek
The USC Trojans improved their 2025 college football season record to 7-2 with a 38-17 win over the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday afternoon. Lincoln Riley's USC offense recorded 309 passing yards — 10 of which came on a highly-controversial trick play. With the score tied 7-7 early in the second quarter, the Trojans ran a fake punt on 4th-and-6. Backup quarterback Sam Huard — wearing a No. 80 jersey — connected with wide receiver Tanook Hines to convert for the first down. USC went on to score a go-ahead touchdown five plays later. Punter Sam Johnson is listed on USC's official football roster as No. 80. Johnson punted on the Trojans' next possession, wearing the same number No. 80 that Huard wore on the fake punt play. More Football: LSU Under Pressure as Fired Coach Brian Kelly Sets Deadline: Report The Big Ten released a statement on Sunday admitting that USC should've been penalized under the NCAA's "Unfair Tactics" rules. "Two players playing the same position may not wear the same number during the game," NCAA Football Playing Rule 9, Section 2, Article 2 reads. When Johnson took the field wearing No. 80 on the following possession, USC should've received a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. More Football: Giants QB Jaxson Dart Achieves All-Time NFL History vs Bears USC is on a two-game win streak following Saturday's victory over Northwestern. The program will look to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive as they take on a tough schedule to close out the 2025 regular season. The Trojans now turn their attention toward a matchup against the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes, who narrowly lost to the No. 9 Oregon Ducks with an 18-16 final score at Kinnick Stadium this past Saturday. After this coming weekend's home matchup against Iowa, Riley and his team will travel to Eugene for another highly-anticipated Big Ten matchup against the Ducks. USC will finish its regular-season schedule with a home game against the UCLA Bruins on Nov. 29.
