Wisconsin walked out of the UCLA game with a 17-7 loss, but the Badgers’ season still turns on what comes next. The No.
16 USC Trojans are headed to Camp Randall Stadium for another primetime matchup on Saturday, and in a lot of ways, this one carries as much weight as the trip to face the No. 12 Bruins did.
That might sound odd on the surface. UCLA was undefeated and sitting in the top 15, and Wisconsin was a slight 1.5-point underdog on the road.
The Badgers also knew they were lining up against a backup quarterback. They had chances to make that game count and came away with just seven points, which made the loss sting even more.
Still, the USC matchup matters just as much, if not more, because of what it says about Wisconsin. At 4-2, the Badgers still have plenty of runway to put together a strong season. Their only losses have come against the No. 1 and No. 9 teams in the country, and now they get another chance against a ranked opponent in USC.
A win over the Trojans would stand on its own. There wouldn’t be any asterisk attached to it the way some people might have viewed a victory over UCLA, given the Bruins were using a backup quarterback even while still being a very good team.
This is also the biggest two-week stretch on Wisconsin’s schedule because USC and Iowa are the games that help define what kind of team the Badgers really are this season. USC enters at 6-1 with its only loss coming against Oregon.
The Trojans bring a high-scoring offense and a shaky defense. Wisconsin, meanwhile, has an elite defense and an offense that has struggled to consistently produce.
And the schedule after these two games keeps the door open. Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, and Minnesota are still ahead, and there’s a path for Wisconsin to run the table. Rutgers, Maryland, and Minnesota have all taken some bad losses this season, and Purdue has looked better but still appears beatable.
That’s why these next two games loom so large. Even with the disappointment of the UCLA result, Wisconsin can still finish 10-2 or 9-3 and put a marquee win on its résumé. That chance was there against UCLA, too, but USC and Iowa were always going to shape the final judgment on this team.
Given how the season has gone, 10-2 with Wisconsin’s schedule would still likely be enough to get playoff consideration. Even 9-3 would be a record many around the program would gladly accept after back-to-back 4-8 seasons under Luke Fickell.
There’s also a bigger-picture angle here. This stretch can serve as a measuring stick for 2027.
With the 24-team playoff coming, a Wisconsin team with the resources it has should not be missing the postseason. If the Badgers can take down a marquee opponent in one of these next two games, it would be a clear sign that Fickell has the program moving in the right direction.
In Other News...
Wisconsin May Be Walking Into A Better USC Matchup Than It Looks
After a frustrating loss to UCLA snapped Wisconsins four-game winning streak, the Badgers turn right around into a matchup that still looks workable on paper. No. 16 USC brings the more explosive roster and the prettier offensive numbers, but the broader view of this game suggests Wisconsin is not walking into the kind of mismatch the rankings might imply.
Advanced models see a close one, and even give Wisconsin a slight edge in win probability because of what the Badgers have done defensively. USCs defense has been the softer side of the equation, and that is why this one could stay competitive deep into the game, even if the Trojans arrive with the bigger name and the stronger profile. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Just Got An Early Big Ten Reality Check
The preseason AP Poll offered an early snapshot of where the national conversation stands, and Wisconsin was not part of it. While 19 other teams that missed the Top 25 still picked up votes, the Badgers were left out entirely as several Big Ten programs, including Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan, landed in the rankings and others such as Nebraska and Purdue collected support just outside the poll.
For a Wisconsin team with a new-look roster built around transfer additions and freshmen, the omission is not a verdict so much as an early measuring stick. The Badgers now head into the season with a clear reminder that in a league full of recognized names, they will have to prove they belong in the same tier before anyone starts handing them preseason credit. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Defense Could Put USCs Passing Game Under Real Pressure
The USC passing game is heading into one of its tougher road tests with Wisconsin waiting, and the matchup has already gotten the attention of one of the Trojans youngest playmakers. Freshman receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt said the Badgers defense brings the kind of pressure that can disrupt timing and force a clean operation from the offense, with the challenge centered as much on communication as on talent. For a USC group that has leaned on him heavily this season, especially during the absence of fellow freshman Trent Mosley, the trip offers another chance to see how far that connection with quarterback Jayden Maiava has come.
Dixon-Wyatt has grown into one of USCs most important targets, but Wisconsins defense is built to make young receivers earn every window they get. The Trojans will need sharp coordination and patience to keep the passing game on schedule in a stadium where the home defense tends to make everything feel a little tighter. If Maiava and his receivers can stay in sync, USC should have answers. If not, the Badgers look capable of turning a routine passing day into a long afternoon. [Read more 🡒]