USC vs. Wisconsin — as it happened
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Scoring plays
Win probability
📌 PINNED
Henry Mode from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; photos by Henry Kofman and Ellie Henderson
After a brutal first half, the Trojans played a near-perfect second half, scoring 28 points unanswered to beat Wisconsin 38-21.
We’re reporting live from the L.A. Coliseum as USC looks to bounce back from a heartbreaking defeat in Ann Arbor last week. Refresh to see new updates.
Some further reading:
- Can the Trojan defense regroup against a struggling Badgers rushing attack, lead team to first-ever Big Ten conference win?
- How do Miller Moss’ stellar first three regular season starts as a Trojan compare to those of other USC quarterbacking greats?
- How a few key transfers have been behind USC’s impressive start to the season
- Meet the new leader making plays in the middle of the Trojan defense
SCORE: Wisconsin – 21 USC – 38
The game at a glance:
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS. Q1 12:23, Moss to Lane. KICK GOOD.
Touchdown Badgers. Q1 10:52, Locke to Anthony. Kick Good.
Touchdown Badgers. Q2 14:44, Walker. Kick Good.
FIELD GOAL TROJANS, Q2 9:43.
Touchdown Badgers. Q2 6:29, Walker. KICK GOOD.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS. Q3 9:18, Moss to Lane. KICK GOOD.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS. Q3 1:28, Moss to Robinson. KICK GOOD.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS Q4 8:22, Moss. KICK GOOD.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS Q4 5:10, Cobb. KICK GOOD.
4:09 p.m.
The Trojans pick up one final first down, and that will do it. A near-perfect second half leads to 28 points unanswered and a first conference win in the Big Ten for USC, 38-21 over Wisconsin.
4:07 p.m.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jayden Maiava, now in the game, just tried to “Miller Moss” and spin away from a Badger defender, but was unable to. The dual-threat exploits of Moss cannot be matched.
3:59 p.m.
A mash-up of Jump Around and Not Like Us from DJ Mal-Ski as the Badgers’ fate has been sealed here. Brutal.
3:56 p.m.
Trojans caught sleeping (or still celebrating) during the kickoff and Anthony returns it 74 yards to USC’s 18.
3:54 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS
The USC offense was forced to punt, but once the Trojan defense got back on the field, they were able to seal a huge win. Locke threw a pick-six to redshirt senior linebacker Mason Cobb, and that’s a wrap on this one. Trojans up 38-21 with 5:04 to go. One huge damper on USC’s fun–star senior linebacker Eric Gentry was carted off the field on the play before the interception.
3:45 p.m.
The Trojan defense has just been absolutely dominant in the second half. Moss and the offense will take over again after the Badgers are forced to punt again.
3:26 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
Miller (Michael Vick) Moss is back! Moss takes the ball on a keeper again, spinning and juking his way into the end zone for his first rushing touchdown of the season. It’s confirmed after a review, and the Trojans lead 31-21 with 8:22 left in the 4th quarter. USC has now scored 21 points unanswered.
3:26 p.m.
Moss and the offense are back in business, deep in Badger territory after a back shoulder dime to Hudson for 21 yards.
3:25 p.m.
Headed into the fourth quarter, the Trojans lead 24-21. With the injury to redshirt junior tight end Lake McRee, USC’s leading receiver, sophomore wideouts Lane and Robinson have come up huge for the Trojan offense today.
3:19 p.m.
A huge hit from Ramsey on third down leads to a tackle for loss and another Badgers punt. As the third quarter comes to a close, that was a dominant performance from the Trojans in all three phases and a very impressive bounce back from the first half.
3:12 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
It’s back-to-back extremely impressive grabs for Robinson, except this one is in the end zone and puts the Trojans up 24-21. It’s been a near-perfect third quarter for Head Coach Lincoln Riley’s team after a brutal first half.
3:10 p.m.
Enormous conversion on 3rd & 7 for the Trojans offense. Moss throws a 50-50 ball down the left sideline to sophomore wideout Duce Robinson, who climbs up to make an incredible grab, picking up 32 yards and setting up USC with first down at the Badgers’ eleven-yard line.
3:00 p.m.
Another huge play for the Trojan defense early in this second half. The Badgers go for it on 4th and 1, but redshirt sophomore safety Kamari Ramsey comes flying in to bring down Walker and force a turnover on downs. Moss and the offense will get the ball back down four with 5:44 to go in the third quarter.
2:49 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
Moss hits Lane with a gorgeous fade in the back of the end zone and the Trojans have climbed back into this one. 21-17 Badgers with 9:18 left in the third quarter. Nine catches for 108 yards and two scores for Lane, who is having a bit of a coming out party. That’s more yards and the same amount of touchdowns as he had in his entire freshman season.
2:42 p.m.
After a first-half full of miscues for USC, the Trojans have finally benefited from a mistake on the other side of the ball. This time it is the Badgers who muff a punt and gift USC possession deep into enemy territory.
2:35 p.m.
Much-needed start to the half for the USC defense as Locke misfires on third down and the Badgers go three-and-out. Trojans will start at the 30 after a 52-yard punt from Bertrams.
2:10 p.m.
Halftime at the Coliseum after a bizarre closing drive from the Trojan offense that surely had clock management experts banging their heads on the wall. The Badgers jog off the field to huge roars from the traveling fans. 21-10 Wisconsin at the break.
2:05 p.m.
A big stop by the Trojan defense on 3rd & 8 and the USC offense will get one last chance to make something happen in this first half. Moss and the Trojans will start at their own 4-yard line after another beautiful punt from Bertrams and a holding penalty.
1:55 p.m.
After a very promising drive, the Trojans have turned the ball over again–the third time in this first half. Wisconsin redshirt senior edge rusher Leon Lowery Jr. strip sacks Moss as USC was approaching the red zone, and the Badgers get the ball back.
1:54 p.m.
A 15-yard gain over the middle for Lane, who gets absolutely blasted and loses his helmet after what was a bit of a hospital ball from Moss. Lane has a lot to say afterwords, but no targeting review.
1:52 p.m.
Pickup of 15 on a reverse for Branch, followed by a 14-yard completion to redshirt junior reciever Kyron Hudson. The fumble looms large for Branch, but he is already up to 56 scrimmage yards in the first half.
1:48 p.m.
Touchdown Badgers.
Barely touched by anyone wearing red, Walker waltzes into the end zone for his second score of the day and Wisconsin leads 21-10 with 6:29 left in the half.
1:46 p.m.
An unreal catch by Badgers senior wideout Bryson Green goes for 35 yards. It was close on the right sideline but Wisconsin snaps the ball quickly and there will be no review. 1st and 10 Badgers in the redzone.
1:40 p.m.
The Trojans look to go for it on 4th and 1 in the redzone, but sophomore guard Alani Noa jumps offside and the field goal unit comes out. Redshirt senior kicker Michael Lantz hits from 41 yards out and the score is 14-10 Wisconsin with 9:43 left in the half.
1:32 p.m.
Branch’s redemption arc has already started. He gets loose over the middle for a pickup of 25 and the Trojans are into Wisconsin territory.
1:30 p.m.
Some good news for the Trojans after falling behind. The Badgers’ kickoff goes out of bounds and the USC offense will start up at the 35-yard line.
1:26 p.m.
Touchdown Badgers.
One play after the fumble, the Badgers have scored and the traveling fans are making their voices heard. An 18-yard touchdown run from senior running back Tawee Walker puts Wisconsin up 14-7 with 14:44 left in the second quarter.
1:24 p.m.
The Badgers quickly punt after the interception, but the Trojans immediately turn it over again. Branch muffs the punt, Wisconsin recovers and have the ball at the Trojans’ 18-yard line.
1:17 p.m.
Right after his big Michael Vick moment, Moss has spoiled the fun by throwing an interception for a second week in a row. An odd decision, a 50/50 ball down the left sideline to 5’10” Branch resulted in a first pick on the year for Wisconsin redshirt senior safety Preston Zachman.
1:15 p.m.
A Moss keeper and a spin move on 3rd and 1! A nine-yard pickup electrifies the Coliseum crowd as Moss gets a rare chance to show off his legs.
1:08 p.m.
A miscommunication between Locke and Anthony means the Badgers will punt as well. However, the Trojans will start at their own one-yard line after an incredible 74-yard line drive punt by Wisconsin sophomore punter Atticus Bertrams.
1:01 p.m.
The Trojans punt unit is coming out after a bad drop on third down by junior wide receiver Jay Fair. A nice effort from senior punter Eddie Czaplicki means the Badgers will start their second drive from their own twelve-yard line.
12:58 p.m.
16 yards over the middle for sophomore wideout Zachariah Branch, who Moss is beginning to look to more.
12:54 p.m.
Touchdown Badgers.
And…just like that the game is tied. Badgers junior wideout Vinny Anthony gets loose down the left sideline, and Wisconsin redshirt sophomore quarterback Braedyn Locke throws a bomb for a 63-yard score. 7-7 less than five minutes into the game.
12:47 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS
Unlike last week, the USC offense gets off to a perfect start. Moss drops a dime down the right sideline to sophomore wideout Ja’Kobi Lane and the Trojans lead 7-0 after a six-play, 75-yard opening touchdown drive.
12:42 p.m.
USC captain watch: It’s redshirt junior quarterback Miller Moss, senior linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, redshirt senior edge rusher Jamil Muhammad and redshirt junior safety Anthony Beavers, Jr. Moss and Mascarenas-Arnold have been named captains for every game so far this season.
The Badgers win the toss and defer, Moss and the Trojans will start on offense.
12:26 p.m.
We are 15 minutes from kickoff here at the L.A. Coliseum. The stands are beginning to fill as the marching band has taken the field for the pregame ceremony.