USC Converted a Fake Punt Last Night Thanks to a College Football Rule That's Pretty Bullshit and Should Probably Be Changed

Wow! Sam Johnson! The punter! If only Valparaiso, Jackson State, or Alabama had any idea their former punter had a hose like that. An arm like that on a punter should be worth several converted fake punts a year. You could basically run fake punt options all season long. What a weapon for USC.

Except that's not transfer portal enthusiast punter Sam Johnson at all. It's a third-string quarterback wearing the identical jersey. Because at USC, they don't have last names on their uniforms. 

That wasn't just any backup quarterback either. That's Sam Huard. A former 5-star recruit out of high school. In college he's been... well...

I'd imagine if you told Sam Huard coming out of high school that the peak of his college career would be being disguised as a punter to convert a 4th & 6 vs Northwestern in Week 11, he'd probably be a little disappointed. But still a cool moment for him, I suppose.

But the rule that even allows for USC to disguise a backup QB as a punter... to wear the EXACT same uniform... that seems like it shouldn't be allowed. 

I wouldn't go as far as George Wrighster III. It can't be a penalty if the rules of college football allow for it. I don't blame USC in the slightest. It might be a little bush league. But more than anything, it's just smart football. Teams would be crazy to not have their third-string QB's wear the same number as their punter. Especially at a school where they don't put name plates on their jerseys. 

And it's not like USC doesn't have to share their roster with player numbers included ahead of the game. 

It's almost like a big flashing neon warning sign to Northwestern that USC is definitely going to try a fake punt at some point this game. That fake punt barely fooled them too. That took a perfect throw. 

Still… college football should probably change that rule. There should never be a situation where the defense is confused about which player they're looking at. That's the whole point of jersey numbers. You shouldn't be able to disguise players. I know there has to be some number overlap in college football because the rosters are fucking huge. But they could add in a couple stipulations. Like your punters and QB's can't be the same number. Because that's a loophole that shouldn't exist