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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Tom Dierberger

Rules Analyst Explains Why USC’s QB-Punter Number Swap Fake Punt Was Actually Illegal

USC reached deep into its bag of tricks Friday night in the Trojans’ 38–17 victory over Northwestern at L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

Early in the second quarter in a tie 7–7 game, the Trojans lined up to punt on fourth-and-6 with a player wearing No. 80—the same number as punter Sam Johnson—waiting to punt the ball away. When the ball was snapped, that player pulled the ball up and hurled it to the Northwestern sideline to connect with receiver Tanook Hines for a 10-yard pickup and a first down.

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