Wisconsin Badgers fall to 2-2 with loss to USC

(UW ATHLETICS) LOS ANGELES – The Wisconsin football team fell to No. 13 USC, 38-21, in its Big Ten Conference opener on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Trojans (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten) struck first in the game, scoring on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Miller Moss to receiver Ja’Kobi Lane for the touchdown.

However, the Badgers (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) responded just six plays later when Locke hooked up with receiver Vinny Anthony on a 63-yard strike. The play was Anthony’s first collegiate touchdown, and Wisconsin’s longest completion since the 2022 season opener versus Illinois State. It was UW’s longest passing touchdown since a 72-yard score in 2021 versus Rutgers.

The teams traded scoreless possessions through the rest of the first quarter, with punter Atticus Bertrams pinning the Trojans back at the 1-yard line thanks to a career-long 74-yard punt. Safety Preston Zachman picked off Moss on the ensuing possession to hand the ball back to the Badgers. After the offense stalled at the end of the first quarter, Bertrams’ punt to start the second was muffed by USC, setting up an 18-yard rushing touchdown from running back Tawee Walker on the next play.

USC was able to regain some momentum with a solid 8-play drive, capped off by a 41-yard field goal by K Michael Lantz to make it 14-10.

The Wisconsin offense picked up right where it left off as Locke hit receiver Bryson Green for 35-yards to put the Badgers on the edge of the red zone. Walker added his second touchdown four plays later, crossing the pylon on an untouched four-yard rush. It marked Walker’s first multi-touchdown game with the Badgers, and third career performance. 

The half didn’t close lightly, as Austin Brown flew in from his safety spot to strip sack Moss and secure the Badger defense’s third turnover of the day. Wisconsin went into halftime with a 21-10 lead. 

The Trojans responded out of the break with a 9-play drive that was finished off by a 6-yard connection between Moss and Lane. Following a Badger punt, Moss found the end zone again on a 7-yard keeper to put USC up 31-21. 

USC defensive back Mason Cobb picked off Locke on the next drive, returning it for a touchdown and sealing the game at 38-21.

Locke ended his day going 13-for-26 with 180 passing yards, one touchdown and an interception. He has now thrown for over 150 yards and at least one touchdown in all four of his collegiate starts. 

Walker led UW’s running backs with 55 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns. 

Receivers Anthony and Green led the group today, as Anthony made three catches for 70 yards and one touchdown, while Green made four catches for a season-high 64 yards. Anthony also had a career-long 74-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter and recovered a fumble on a muffed USC punt.

Defensively, Brown and cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean flew around the ball today, each making a team-high seven tackles. Both added a pass deflection and one tackle for loss, while Brown posted the strip-sack early on. Zachman, who grabbed the interception in the first quarter, had four solo tackles to his name as well.

Up Next: Wisconsin returns home to Camp Randall Stadium to take on Purdue on Saturday, Oct. 5 in an 11 a.m. tilt. That game will air live on Big Ten Network.

NOTES

Receiver Vinny Anthony caught his first collegiate touchdown, a 63-yard strike from Braedyn Locke. The play was Wisconsin’s longest pass completion since a Graham Mertz to Chimere Dike connection in the 2022 season opener versus Illinois State. It was the longest passing touchdown since a 72-yard score from Mertz to Danny Davis versus Rutgers on Nov. 6, 2021. 

Wisconsin punter Atticus Bertrams drilled a career-long 74-yard punt to pin the Trojans on their 1-yard line in the first quarter. It was the fourth-longest punt in the NCAA this year, and the longest Badger boot since Brad Nortman’s 74-drive against Illinois on November 19, 2011.