No. 16 Southern California just got absolutely rocked 24-7 by Wisconsin, a loss that stings even more when you consider the Badgers got a first-half touchdown from former Trojan Bryan Jackson. It was a complete shocker on Saturday night in Madison, and USC looks like a team with some serious issues heading into a brutal stretch.
Jackson’s Sweet Revenge and Wisconsin’s Dominance
Talk about playing with a chip on your shoulder! Bryan Jackson, who spent the last two seasons with USC, rushed 5 yards for his first touchdown as a Badger, putting Wisconsin up 10-7 with less than two minutes left in the first half. You just know that had to feel good for him. Wisconsin, now 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, grabbed their second win against a ranked opponent this season, previously taking down then-No. 13 Penn State 24-20 back in September. They kept the pressure on in the third quarter when Colton Joseph hit Chris Brooks Jr. for a 16-yard TD pass on fourth-and-2, stretching their lead to 17-7. Joseph wasn’t throwing for huge yardage, going 12 of 14 for 58 yards, but he chipped in 32 yards on 12 rushes. Abu Sama III led the Badgers’ ground attack with 16 carries for 71 yards, and Junior Poyser even blocked a 44-yard field goal attempt late in the third. It was a total team effort.
Trojans’ Offensive Collapse Is a Five-Alarm Fire
For the Trojans, this game was a disaster. Quarterback Jayden Maiava, who came into this one with only three interceptions on 224 throws all season, tossed two picks in the first half alone. He finished with 21 of 37 passes for 190 yards and a single TD, but his turnovers set a terrible tone. But the real horror show? Southern California’s run game. They somehow finished the game with 25 carries for an absolutely dismal minus-17 yards rushing. Minus-17! That’s not just bad, that’s historically bad. Wisconsin’s defense deserves a ton of credit, holding the Trojans to just 92 yards and forcing those two crucial turnovers in the first half. USC, now 5-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play, simply couldn’t get anything going.
This weekend doesn’t get any easier for the Trojans. They’re set to host No. 3 Ohio State, and after that abysmal rushing performance and those turnovers, they’ve got to find answers fast. Wisconsin, riding high, is heading to face No. 15 Iowa next Saturday. Both teams are looking at huge games that could define their seasons.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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