Saturday’s 17-7 win by No. 9 UCLA over Wisconsin did more than move the Bruins into the top ten. It also gave USC another useful look at what’s waiting on the Trojans’ schedule.
USC has five remaining opponents, and Wisconsin and UCLA are both on that list. With the Badgers and Bruins meeting in Pasadena during a wild Week 7, the Trojans got a snapshot of two teams they’ll have to navigate in late November.
What stood out most was how far UCLA has come under first-year coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins beat Oregon in Eugene the week before taking down Wisconsin, and they did it without starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Backup Ty Dieffenbach stepped in and handled the job.
In his first start as a Bruin, the former FCS Cal Poly quarterback threw for more than 250 yards without a touchdown pass. He operated as a pocket passer and repeatedly found open receivers on deeper throws.
UCLA’s ground game still had its moments, even with senior Wayne Knight held to 23 rushing yards and one touchdown. Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas helped pick up the slack when needed, giving Chesney enough balance to stay in control.
That balance is exactly what USC’s defense will have to sort out. Against Wisconsin, the Badgers showed one way to attack the Bruins: make the quarterback carry more of the burden. Colton Joseph did that, rushing for 71 yards and a touchdown.
For the Trojans, slowing Knight will be a major piece of the puzzle when they see UCLA. If Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator Gary Patterson can bottle him up the way Wisconsin did, Chesney may have to lean even harder on the passing game.
USC will also need to deal with UCLA’s ability to own the clock. In all but one game this season, the Bruins have had the edge in time of possession.
Saturday was no different, as UCLA kept its first possession for more than eight and a half minutes. That kind of extended drive is exactly the sort of thing the Trojans will need to cut short.
Wisconsin’s defense also offered USC a reminder that UCLA’s offense can be rattled. The Badgers intercepted Dieffenbach twice, including once on a trick play. If Riley has any gadgetry in mind for Wisconsin, that turnover margin has to be part of the equation.
The same caution applies to USC quarterback Jayden Maiava. He has only thrown three interceptions this season, but one of them came late against Oregon in a game the Trojans couldn’t close out. The cleaner version of Maiava - the one USC got against Penn State - has to show up again.
The timing of USC’s bye week may help. It gave extra recovery time to injured players such as tight end Mark Bowman and offensive lineman Elijah Paige, though it remains unclear whether either will be available on Saturday.
Now the challenge shifts to Camp Randall Stadium, where Riley’s team will need to carry the Penn State momentum into another difficult road setting. The Trojans handled that atmosphere in Happy Valley. They’ll need that same edge again.
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USCs stretch in the national spotlight now has a sharper edge to it. The Trojans are set for five straight prime-time games on NBC, a run that includes the October 31 date with No. 3 Ohio State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and it comes as Lincoln Rileys team works through a demanding slate that also features Wisconsin, Indiana and Maryland before the crosstown finale with UCLA.
The Buckeyes may look a little different by the time they arrive in Los Angeles, which only adds another layer to a game that was already drawing plenty of attention. Ohio State starting quarterback Julian Sayin is likely to miss the matchup because of injury, leaving USC to prepare for a marquee test without knowing exactly what version of the Buckeyes it will see under the lights. [Read more 🡒]
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The Buckeyes 19-15 escape against Indiana was one of those games that left more questions than answers, with quarterback play uneven on both sides and injuries clearly affecting the flow. For USC, the broader takeaway is that the teams still standing between the Trojans and the end of the season are not all looking like clean, polished obstacles, and that kind of inconsistency could end up shaping how realistic their playoff push really is. [Read more 🡒]
USC Mens Golf Showed Real Progress In A Frustrating Near Miss
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Mark Hankins had reason to feel good about the overall performance, even if the final margin kept it from being the breakthrough finish the Trojans wanted. USC showed it can stack strong rounds across the lineup and stay in the mix with good teams, which matters as the schedule keeps getting more demanding. The frustrating part is that the progress was real, but the reward was just out of reach. [Read more 🡒]