Lincoln Riley isnt backing down from his belief that the fake punt ploy USC pulled last Friday in its win over Northwestern was perfectly within NCAA rules.
The fake punt was entirely legal, Riley said on Tuesday. Our guys did a fantastic job of executing it. And theres not really a whole lot else to say.
The play in question from Fridays game appeared to be a normal fake punt, with USC and Northwestern locked at 7 apiece, early in the second quarter. But unbeknownst to Northwestern, USC third-string quarterback Sam Huard lined up as the punter, wearing the same uniform number as Sam Johnson, the Trojans’ usual starting punter. Huard, who quietly changed to No. 80 weeks earlier, hit freshman receiver Tanook Hines for a first down, and USC went on to score.
It was just a well thought out thing by several of our staff members who were involved in it, Riley said after the game.
Read more: Times of Troy: Breaking down that USC fake punt that has everyone up in arms
The next morning, the Big Ten Conference made it clear that it didnt see it that way.
In a statement, the conference pointed to NCAA Football Playing Rule 9, Section 2, Article 2, labeled Unfair Tactics, which states that two players playing the same position may not wear the same number during the game.
But it also notes that any unsportsmanlike conduct penalty would have applied when Johnson, the actual punter, came out to punt on the ensuing drive.
Northwestern coach David Braun took the blame afterward for missing Huards number change. Though, USC hadnt changed the number on its online roster or in its weekly game notes.
Read more: Old soul Makai Lemon never takes his eye off the prize helping USC reach the CFP
Most former officials and football rules analysts have agreed with the Big Tens interpretation. Terry McAuley, an NBC analyst and former official, posted on social media that USC obviously violated the rules, before venting his frustration about USC fans twisting themselves in knots defending their team.
Those trying to explain that USC #80 was not a play in the position of a punter has been something to behold, McAuley wrote. At best they are being incredibly pedantic. At worst, intentionally daft.
Riley clearly feels differently.
Were very aware of the rules, he said.
Sign up for more USC news with Times of Troy. In your inbox every Monday morning.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.