Wisconsin Badgers fall to USC in Trojans’ Big Ten home opener

LOS ANGELES – Miller Moss threw two of his three touchdown passes to Ja’Kobi Lane, and No. 13 Southern California rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit for a 38-21 win over Wisconsin Saturday in the Trojans’ Big Ten home opener. game.

A week after narrowly losing its Big Ten debut to Michigan, USC trailed 21-10 at halftime and received some boos from the home crowd after committing three turnovers in the first half. The Trojans (3-1, 1-1) responded superbly, outscoring Wisconsin 28-0 in the second half of their school’s first Big Ten victory.

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Lane caught 10 passes for 105 yards, while Duce Robinson scored the Trojans’ touchdown with 1:28 left in the third quarter on another sharp throw from Moss, who passed for 308 yards.

Moss was evaluated for a concussion after hitting the ground awkwardly while rushing for a 7-yard touchdown on a fourth-down keeper with 8:22 left, but he stayed.

USC linebacker Mason Cobb then returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown with 5:04 left to seal it.

Vinny Anthony caught a 63-yard opening TD pass from Braedyn Locke for the Badgers (2-2, 0-1), who have lost two straight.

Tawee Walker rushed for two touchdowns, but Wisconsin faded badly in the second half of its first game at the Coliseum since 1966. The Badgers have lost 13 of their last 15 games against ranked teams, with a record of 0-4 under coach Luke Fickell.

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Locke was 13 of 26 for 180 yards in his first start of the season after Tyler Van Dyke tore a knee ligament early in the Badgers’ blowout loss to Alabama two weeks ago.

Lane capped USC’s opening drive by barely staying in bounds on an outstanding 32-yard pass from Moss in a tiny window. Wisconsin responded with a perfect long throw from Locke to Anthony, who beat Jacobe Covington to the USC sideline on a rare explosive play by the Badgers offense.

USC speedster Zachariah Branch fumbled a punt on the first snap of the second quarter, and Walker ran 18 yards for a TD on the next snap. After Wisconsin added a 75-yard touchdown drive capped by Walker’s second touchdown, Moss fumbled while being hit deep in Badgers territory.

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The Coliseum booed as the Trojans left the field at halftime trailing 21-10 — but USC recovered a muffed punt early in the third quarter and Lane eventually caught a 6-yard TD pass.

Robinson then caught two huge passes on the Trojans’ go-ahead run, including an 8-yard touchdown throw delivered by Moss during an all-out blitz.

Moss then capped a 77-yard drive by keep the ball on fourth down and score by spinning and stealing after a Badgers hit. Moss got up slowly after the blow and went to the medical tent, but was allowed to return.

Takeaways

Wisconsin: The first half was encouraging, but Fickell and his players couldn’t match the Trojans’ halftime adjustments. Fighting for the Big Ten title seems unlikely for the Badgers this year unless they can generate more explosiveness on both sides of the ball. The Badgers finished with just 286 yards of offense.

USC: The Trojans were both bad and unlucky in the first half, but this team is miles ahead of last season’s group, and their second-half surge may have been their strongest effort. impressive performance over the last two years under coach Lincoln Riley. Moss is growing in his role and the USC defense once again showed its tenacity.

Survey Implications

The Trojans fell just two spots after losing to Michigan, and they should stay in the same bracket after overtaking the Badgers.

To be continued

Wisconsin: Host Purdue on Saturday, October 5.