Wisconsin absolutely torched No. 15 USC 24-7 Saturday, Oct. 24, at Camp Randall Stadium, pulling off their second ranked victory of the season and putting the entire Big Ten on notice. After a disappointing and frustrating loss at UCLA last week, the Badgers were back at home in front of a season-high crowd of 71,750, and they recaptured their mojo in a major way. This isn’t just another win, folks, it marks the first time since 2019 that UW has beaten two ranked opponents in a single season, with their previous ranked win coming against Penn State on Sept. 26.
Defense and the Ground Game Ran the Show
The Badgers won this game riding the shoulders of their stifling defense and relentless ground attack. The defense held a high-powered USC team, which came in at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, to a season-low 241 total yards. Think about that for a second: USC’s previous season low was 360 yards against Washington on Oct. 3. This Wisconsin D didn’t just slow them down, they completely shut them down. Jayden Maiava, USC’s quarterback, got sacked five times, a testament to the pressure UW brought all night.
Sophomore linebacker Cooper Catalano was a beast, leading the Badgers with nine tackles, including a tackle for loss and a QB hurry. Fifth-year safety Matt Jung added eight tackles and broke up two passes, while sophomore Mason Posa came up huge with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. But the real star of the night was fifth-year outside linebacker Sebastian Cheeks, who logged five tackles, four of them solo, and a massive 2.5 sacks. This performance was a well-deserved reward for Cheeks, who had recorded 2.5 sacks all season before this game but has consistently been at the forefront of the Badgers’ pass rush.
On offense, it was all about grinding it out. Wisconsin managed 142 yards on 43 carries, averaging 3.3 yards per attempt. Senior Abu Sama led the way with 17 carries for 71 yards, and junior Bryan Jackson, a former USC Trojan himself, added 38 yards on seven attempts.
Offensive Line Juggles Pay Off as UW Dominates Middle Quarters
The Badgers’ offensive line has been a bit of a moving target this season, with this marking the third straight game featuring a change. Junior Stylz Blackmon started at center for the second consecutive game, with Austin Kawecki, the starter for the first five games, not even on the availability report. But the big shake-up saw fifth-year senior Barrett Nelson start at right guard ahead of junior PJ Wilkins. Nelson, who spent much of the past two seasons battling injuries, stepped up big time in his return to the field this season.
Perhaps the most impactful strategic decision was Wisconsin winning the opening kickoff and deferring to the second half. They absolutely capitalized on that choice, dominating the crucial middle quarters of the game. The two possessions going into the half and coming out of the break were a masterclass in clock management and execution, netting 23 plays, 150 yards, and chewing up 13 minutes and 32 seconds off the clock. Most importantly, these drives scored 14 points for the Badgers, giving them a commanding 17-7 lead. The drives were clinical, including five third-down conversions, with four of those coming on the 75-yard touchdown drive that culminated in Jackson’s 5-yard run with just 1:54 left in the first half.
This Badgers team, now sitting at 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, has shown it can bounce back and deliver when it matters most. They’ve got that home field mojo rolling with three straight wins over ranked opponents and a six-game home winning streak. This squad is for real, and after taking down two ranked teams, the rest of the conference better be taking notes.
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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