USC’s trip to Wisconsin comes with two names the Trojans can’t afford to lose track of: linebacker Mason Posa and quarterback Colton Joseph.
Posa has already started to make noise for the Badgers. The sophomore was pushed into the lineup because of injury, and he’s taken advantage of the opportunity with 25 tackles and 4 TFLs.
There’s a sense that his role could keep growing fast, especially with several changes coming to a defense that already looked pretty solid. As Nittany Lions Wire put it, “With several changes coming to a pretty solid defensive unit, attention could turn to the young players up front tasked with making the D-line fearsome.
Among them is sophomore linebacker Mason Posa, who could be primed for a breakout campaign. While he was forced into the lineup due to injury, he has proven highly capable, tallying 25 tackles and 4 TFLs.
If he continues to show marked improvement, he could become the new face of this defense.”
Joseph brings a different kind of problem. Wisconsin went into the transfer portal to get him from Old Dominion after three straight seasons of dealing with injuries at quarterback.
He may not be the most polished passer, but his legs change the equation. Joseph ran for 1,007 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, giving the Badgers a real dual-threat element.
Nittany Lions Wire described it this way: “The quarterback position has always been a major weakness for this Badgers squad. For three consecutive seasons, the team has had to contend with several injuries to the man at the helm of the offense.
That is why Luke Fickell went into the transfer portal to acquire Old Dominion's Colton Joseph. While Joseph is not necessarily the most impressive of passers, Badgers fans should be intrigued by his 1,007 yards rushing along with 13 touchdowns, presenting an interesting dual-threat capability.
If Joseph stays healthy, he could immediately elevate the national profile of the program.”
USC has the better personnel on paper, but if Posa and Joseph are allowed to dictate the game, this matchup can get a lot more complicated for Lincoln Riley and the Trojans.
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The runway has shortened since then. After three straight unsuccessful seasons from 2023 through 2025, USA TODAY Sports now has Riley outside the top five Big Ten coaches, with Curt Cignetti, Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, Kirk Ferentz and Kyle Whittingham all slotted ahead of him. USC did show signs of life last year by going 7-2 in the Big Ten and signing one of the nations top recruiting classes, but the bigger question is whether that is enough to change how Riley is viewed after the recent slide. [Read more 🡒]