Wisconsin’s latest stumble at UCLA didn’t just leave the Badgers with a loss. It also sharpened the questions that now hang over them heading into Saturday night’s matchup with No. 16 USC at Camp Randall Stadium.
The Badgers are 4-1, but this stretch against UCLA, USC and Iowa was always going to tell the story of their season. They’re already 0-1 in that run of three straight ranked conference opponents, and now they face a Trojans team that can overwhelm a defense through the air in a hurry.
That starts up front for Wisconsin, where the offensive line remains a puzzle even after what has looked like a clear upgrade under new line coach Eric Mateos. The group has still been uneven, and its worst performance came last week in Pasadena. Wisconsin shuffled the pieces again after Austin Kawecki was unavailable, sliding Stylz Blackmon from right guard to center and inserting PJ Wilkins, who played at his third different spot on the line this season.
The move raised eyebrows because Ryan Cory had handled center duties well in Kawecki’s place, while Wilkins has struggled, especially in pass protection. Still, Luke Fickell defended the decision.
“It’s been a little bit difficult. When guys get dinged up, in particular Kawecki and moving Stylz back in there, we just felt like that was our best five," Fickell said as to why the staff made the moves it did for the UCLA game. "We gotta find a way to make sure we have our best five up front every week.”
That last part is the easy part to agree with. The harder part is the actual lineup, and the evidence so far points away from Wilkins as one of Wisconsin’s top five linemen. He has the size, but his feet have not been quick enough in pass protection, and he has already been flagged four times.
The simpler alignment, at least on paper, would be Kevin Heywood at left tackle, Colin Cubberly at left guard, Ryan Cory at center, Stylz Blackmon at right guard and Emerson Mandell at right tackle. Whether Wisconsin actually goes that direction is another matter.
The biggest challenge, though, may come from the other side of the ball. This is a bad week for secondary concerns to surface, because USC brings the most dangerous passing attack Wisconsin will see all season.
UCLA backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach just carved up the Badgers for 264 yards on 67% completion, including 8-of-13 on third down for 150 yards. Now Wisconsin has to deal with Jayden Maiava, who has thrown for 2,045 yards, 18 touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 68% of his passes.
The Trojans spread it around, too. Seven different pass-catchers have at least 100 receiving yards, which makes the job even tougher for a Wisconsin defense that still ranks No. 20 nationally against the pass but now faces its biggest test yet.
"(Maiava's) connection with the wideouts, his ability to move in the pocket, his ability to even create, not maybe run as much when he creates, but always keeps his eyes downfield. He’s got a lot of trust in his wideouts, and for good reason," Fickell said about the gunslinger this week.
If Wisconsin’s defense is asking for trouble, so is the offense if the line doesn’t hold. Colton Joseph has had his uneven moments, and last week’s road trip was rough: 6-of-16 passing for 66 yards. But there’s still a sense that he competes, whether it’s the way he runs, the way he carries himself in interviews, or the way he leads.
USC’s pass defense gives Wisconsin a chance to fix that. The Trojans are allowing 239.0 passing yards per game, good for No. 109 nationally. Still, that opening only matters if Joseph has enough protection to operate, and if he can get a little space to work through his reads and escape when needed.
If USC gets pressure rolling early, that chance shrinks fast. The Trojans surely noticed UCLA blitzing on 76% of Wisconsin’s drop-backs last week, and if they force Joseph into another night of constant duress, the Badgers could be in for another long evening.
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 🡒]