The Wisconsin-USC matchup carries a strange kind of tension on paper. The Badgers have had trouble getting anything going offensively, especially through the air, while USC’s defense has been vulnerable against the pass. Flip it around and the Trojans bring one of the Big Ten’s best passing attacks, the same area Wisconsin had trouble handling last week against UCLA, even if the Badgers have generally been better there most of the season.
That makes this one feel like a game where Wisconsin’s path to an upset runs through a very specific set of players. If the Badgers are going to beat No. 16 USC, these four names have to matter.
Colton Joseph is first on the list, and for good reason. Wisconsin cannot afford another quiet passing night from him.
If he finishes below 100 passing yards again, the Badgers probably aren’t winning. USC has been exposed through the air all season, ranking as the third-worst team in the Big Ten in pass defense, and Wisconsin has to attack that weakness.
The Trojans have given up 289 passing yards to Rocco Becht and Dylan Raiola, 252 to Dylan Lonergan (Rutgers), and 212 to Lunch Winfield (Louisiana), so the door is open for Joseph to produce a big night.
But Joseph’s numbers last week weren’t the whole story. The receivers were part of the problem too.
On the tape, the wideouts were out of sync, not getting open, not finishing routes on time, and missing catches when the chances came. Luke Fickell pointed to that difference after the UCLA game, saying, "their receivers made plays and ours did not."
Jaylon Domingeaux has to be the one who flips that script. He’s fully healthy now, and Wisconsin needs him finding windows in USC’s defense and turning those chances into explosive plays.
If Domingeaux doesn’t do it, Tyrell Henry or Chris Brooks Jr. could be the one to step up, but if the Badgers win, there has to be a receiver who takes over.
The challenge on the other side is just as obvious. USC is built around its passing game, and the numbers show it.
The Trojans rank second in the Big Ten in passing yards per game at 310.1, and quarterback Jayden Maiva has already topped 2,000 passing yards with 18 touchdowns. His preferred target area is the middle of the field, where he looks for soft spots in zone coverage and processes safeties and defensive backs quickly.
That puts Marvin Burks Jr. in a crucial spot. He’ll need to help close off the middle, assist on deeper routes, and make Maiva think the coverage is something it isn’t.
Bryce West and Javan Robinson could also factor into that effort, and Wisconsin will have to be aware that Maiva may try to attack Jaimer Scott.
Mason Posa fits into that same defensive puzzle. His ability to hold up against the run while also dropping into coverage when needed makes him a key piece here.
Through Week 7, Posa has been rated one of the nation’s top linebackers by PFF, and this game gives him another chance to show why. USC has converted more than 50% of its third downs this season, and it has been even better than UCLA in that category, which makes Posa’s role even bigger.
After what happened last week, Wisconsin needs him to help shut that down.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Gets A Huge Opening In Ranked USC Showdown
USCs trip to Camp Randall Stadium has turned into a spotlight game for both programs, with the No. 16 Trojans set for their fourth straight primetime appearance on NBC. Wisconsin gets a chance to measure itself against a ranked opponent at home, and the matchup has plenty of intrigue even before kickoff, with the Trojans currently installed as three-point favorites.
The opening may be bigger than expected if those two USC players on the injury report are limited or unavailable, giving the Badgers an early opportunity to press the issue. Wisconsin will lean on quarterback Colton Joseph to steer the offense in a game that kicks off Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT, and the setting alone should give the Badgers a chance to make this one uncomfortable for a team that has spent the last month in the national spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Just Added A New Backcourt Question Before The Season
Braeden Carringtons path to Wisconsin just got a little more complicated, and a lot more interesting. The senior guard has been granted a fifth year of eligibility after a California judge issued an injunction in the Glancey v. NCAA case, a ruling that arrived shortly before the season and temporarily opens the door for 76 seniors, including Carrington, to suit up this year while the NCAA moves toward an appeal.
For the Badgers, it adds another layer to an already crowded backcourt picture. Carrington averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 rebounds last season, and his return gives Wisconsin another experienced option in a rotation that figures to be sorted out over the coming weeks rather than settled now. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Heads Into USC With Two Major Lineup Questions
Wisconsins week of preparation for No. 16 USC comes with a few familiar injury report wrinkles, and the biggest one remains at center. Austin Kawecki is listed as probable despite playing through a broken hand, which at least suggests the Badgers expect to have him available in the middle of the line. The same report also keeps cornerback Javan Robinson and wide receiver Malachi Coleman in the questionable column, giving the offense and defense alike a little uncertainty as game day approaches.
The backfield picture is less clear, with Nate Palmer listed as questionable and Darrion Dupree marked probable. For a Wisconsin team heading into a high-profile Big Ten matchup, those designations matter because they affect not just who starts, but how much flexibility the Badgers have if the game turns into a grind. Even with several players trending toward availability, the final status of a few key pieces will still shape how Wisconsin matches up when the Trojans arrive. [Read more 🡒]