USC heads into Saturday night’s trip to Wisconsin still waiting on the status of two important pieces, with tight end Mark Bowman and defensive tackle Jide Abasiri both listed as questionable on Wednesday’s Big Ten availability report.
The No. 16 Trojans are trying to keep their College Football Playoff push on track as they enter the season’s final five-game stretch, a run that includes three games against teams currently ranked in the top 10.
After a bye week, USC returns to action in a road matchup at Camp Randall Stadium against the Wisconsin Badgers, with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. PT on NBC.
Bowman and Abasiri both had extra time to recover, but the bye was not enough to push them firmly into the clear. That leaves USC hoping both can suit up for a game that carries real weight for the Trojans’ CFP outlook.
Bowman has been one of USC’s more productive young targets this season. The former five-star Mater Dei tight end has 21 catches for 204 yards and two touchdowns, and his biggest outing came in the Trojans’ 49-30 home win over the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, when he hauled in six passes for 83 yards and both scores. He has missed USC’s last two games with an undisclosed injury.
Abasiri’s presence matters just as much on the other side of the ball. The defensive tackle has become a central part of USC’s defensive front, and the Trojans would like to have him available for one of their toughest road tests of the year.
A lot of USC’s optimism still starts with Jayden Maiava. The Trojans’ quarterback has been excellent in his second season as the full-time starter, leading the Big Ten in passing and ranking second overall behind Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson with 2,045 yards, 18 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell made it clear he sees the challenge Maiava presents.
“They [USC] have thrown the ball exceptionally well, and I don’t know that would surprise you. I think they’ve got a hell of a combination.
He [Maiava] does a great job. I think that they’re unique in their run game.
It’s not like you can fall asleep on the run game,” Fickell said.
“That’s where I think they get so many people to have to be able to handle a lot of the counter plays that they have and run really well, but his connection with the wideouts and his ability to move in the pocket, his ability to even create not maybe run as much when he creates, but always keep his eyes downfield. He’s got a lot of trust in the wideouts, and for a good reason.”
“So I think there’s a great combination of him with his ability to throw the football, but also the combination of his ability to extend plays and a really talented receiver group,” Fickell continued.
Maiava is coming off one of his best performances of the season in USC’s 31-23 win at Penn State on Oct. 10, a game Riley called one of his favorites as a coach. He finished that night 21 of 33 for 301 yards and three touchdowns.
That same game also served as a breakout for wide receiver Trent Mosley, who posted nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Maiava will again have plenty of options in the passing game, with Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Tanook Hines part of a deep USC receiver room.
The Trojans know what’s ahead after Wisconsin. Ohio State on Oct.
31, Indiana on Nov. 14 and UCLA on Nov. 28 loom as the games most likely to shape their playoff hopes. But USC also can’t afford to treat Camp Randall like a tune-up.
Wisconsin has shown it can take care of ranked teams at home. Last season, the Badgers knocked off Illinois and Washington when both were ranked in Madison, and they’ll try to do it again against USC.
Oddsmakers have the Trojans favored anyway. DraftKings Sportsbook lists USC as a three-point favorite, with the over/under set at 49.5. USC is 2-5 against the spread this season, with covers against Fresno State and Penn State.
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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
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Wisconsin Defense Could Put USCs Passing Game Under Real Pressure
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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 🡒]