In a surprising move ahead of their match against Iowa, three players from the University of Southern California (USC) altered their jersey numbers, leading to significant media attention and controversy. Quarterback Sam Huard and punter Sam Johnson both donned the number 0, while receiver Zacharyus Williams, who typically wears 0, switched to 80. This change was noted in the game-day roster provided to media members.
Last week, Huard and Johnson wore 80 during a game against Northwestern, when they executed a controversial trick play involving a fake punt. Following that game, the Big Ten Conference issued a statement indicating that a penalty should have been called, as two players at the same position cannot wear the same number during a game. Despite this, USC head coach Lincoln Riley defended the play, asserting that it was “entirely legal.”
The incident garnered widespread attention, particularly from sports personalities such as Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports, who criticized the Trojans, labeling them “dirtbags” for their tactics. In response, former USC quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst Matt Leinart presented Portnoy with a signed USC jersey during the “Big Noon Kickoff” show, stating, “I want to apologize for absolutely nothing, Dave.”
Game Captains and Player Updates
For the Iowa game, six players were named as game captains, including long snapper Hank Pepper, linebacker Eric Gentry, quarterback Jayden Maiava, defensive tackle Devan Thompkins, offensive lineman Tobias Raymond, and wide receiver Asante Das. This marks Das’ second consecutive week as a game captain. Riley highlighted Das’ contributions, noting his importance as a scout team member.
“He’s becoming a real leader on this team vocally and emotionally,” Riley remarked during a Friday Zoom call. “This guy is off the charts. There is no way we would ever play a game that we wouldn’t take him to.”
The selection of game captains is determined by Riley in conjunction with a few staff members on Friday afternoons, with players being informed during the team meeting that evening. Riley emphasized his belief that not all captains need to be those who play the most snaps, highlighting the team’s familial nature.
In terms of player line-up, offensive lineman Kilian O’Connor returned to the starting center position for the first time since USC’s Week 5 match against Illinois, where he suffered a lower-body injury. His replacement, J’Onre Reed, had been listed as “questionable” prior to the game according to the Big Ten pregame availability report.
As USC prepares for this crucial matchup, the jersey changes and resulting discussions continue to shape the narrative surrounding the team, spotlighting both strategy and leadership as key components of their season.
