Wisconsin secured a 24-7 victory over No. 16 Southern California on Saturday night in Madison, showcasing a dominant defensive performance and strategic control throughout the game. The Badgers improved to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten Conference play, while handing the Trojans their second loss of the season.
Bryan Jackson II scored the decisive touchdown against his former team, providing a crucial offensive spark for Wisconsin. Quarterback Colton Joseph contributed with a touchdown pass, and tight end Ryan Schwendeman added a late touchdown run to seal the outcome.
Wisconsin’s defense played a pivotal role, limiting USC to just 241 total yards and effectively neutralizing the Trojans’ rushing attack, which ended with minus-17 yards. The Badgers outgained USC on the ground 142 yards to minus-17, forcing USC quarterback Jayden Maiava to rely heavily on the passing game. Maiava completed 31 of 50 attempts for 258 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions. Despite his efforts, Maiava was under constant pressure, being sacked five times.
On the offensive side, Joseph completed 12 of 14 passes for 58 yards without turnovers, maintaining efficient ball control. Wisconsin converted six of 12 third downs and dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 32 minutes and 38 seconds. This control limited USC’s opportunities to establish any offensive rhythm.
The Badgers’ physicality and defensive resilience throughout the last three quarters played a significant role in their victory, preventing a higher-ranked USC offense from gaining momentum in the game.