No. 16 USC falls at Wisconsin, picking up its second loss of season

MADISON, Wis. — Just two short weeks ago, as the Trojans’ marching band roared joyously from the bowels of Beaver Stadium and a cold Pennsylvania rain poured down on a jubilant Lincoln Riley, it seemed like USC and its embattled coach might’ve finally found a foothold, just as they were about to begin a brutal back half of the schedule. They even had a bye to be sure it stuck.

But by Saturday night, any renewed sense of hope in USC’s season had all but slipped away. Maybe for good.

Instead, the Trojans played as poorly as they have all season in a 24-7 loss to Wisconsin. Quarterback Jayden Maiava looked lost. The offensive line, a strong suit prior to Saturday, was totally overwhelmed. The rushing attack was worse than nonexistent, with minus-17 yards. And the special teams were an all-too-familiar disaster, with two critical missed kicks.

Wisconsin 24, No. 16 USC 7, end of game

USC started on its 18 after an Ethan “Boobie” Feaster kickoff return.

Jayden Maiava passed to Zacharyus Williams for eight yards. Maiava passed to Trent Mosley for seven yards. Maiava’s pass was batted in the air and fell incomplete. Maiava passed to King Miller for five yards.

Maiava was under pressure and was called for intentional grounding. On fourth and 18, Maiava’s pass along the sideline was knocked out of bounds.

Wisconsin took over at the USC 25 with 3:42 left.

Abu Sama III ran for no gain and USC called timeout at the 3:37 mark. Joseph ran for a loss of one yard. On fourth and 11, Joseph ran for four yards.

USC took over on its 22.

Maiava passed to Trent Mosley for 14 yards. Mosley passed to Mosley for two yards. Maiava passed to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for eight yards. Maiava passed to Shahn Alston for a loss of three yards.

On second and 13 at the USC 43, Maiava passed to Taniela Tupou for 10 yards. Maiava passed to Tupou for nine yards.

Maiava passed to King Miller for no gain. Maiava passed to Carson Tabaracci for 10 yards. Maiava passed to Ethan “Boobie” Feaster for 13 yards. Maiava passed incomplete passes to Tupou, Tabaracci and Dixon-Wyatt.

Wisconsin ran out the clock on the win over USC and Badgers fans stormed the field.

Wisconsin 24, No. 16 USC 7, 5:02 left in fourth quarter

Wisconsin started on its 41.

Colton Joseph passed to Grant Stec for a loss of one yard. Joseph passed to Jacob Harris for 10 yards. Joseph ran for two yards.

Abu Sama III ran for two yards. Joseph ran for nine yards. Bryan Jackson ran for three yards. Joseph passed to Jaylon Domingeaux for six yards. Joseph ran for one yard and three more yards. Jackson ran for 14 yards.

Jackson ran for nine yards to the USC 1. Joseph ran for no gain. Ryan Schwendeman ran for a one-yard touchdown.

Wisconsin hit the extra point.

Wisconsin 17, No. 16 USC 7, 13:19 left in fourth quarter

USC started on its 39.

Jayden Maiava narrowly got rid of the ball under pressure and avoided intentional grounding because Kayden Dixon-Wyatt was nearby. Shahn Alston ran for seven yards. Maiava’s deep pass to Tanook Hines was incomplete.

On fourth-and-three at the USC 46, Maiava passed to Taniela Tupou for eight yards.

Maiava passe to Tupou for seven yards. Alston ran for six yards and a first down as time expired in the third quarter.

On first down at the Wisconsin 33, Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava was then sacked for a loss fo 10 yards. Maiava passed to Tupou for eight yards.

Caden Chittenden lined up to kick a field goal. USC was called for delay of game despite Lincoln Riley trying to call timeout.

Chittenden’s 58-yard field goal attempt was short.

Wisconsin 17, No. 16 USC 7, 2:09 left in third quarter

Wisconsin started on its 27 after the missed field goal.

Abu Sama III ran for no gain. Colton Joseph passed to Eugene Hilton Jr. for four yards. Joseph ran for a loss of three yards under pressure from Desman Stephens II and Luke Wafle.

Wisconsin punted and Trent Mosley returned it to the USC 39.

Wisconsin 17, No. 16 USC 7, 4:18 left in third quarter

USC started on its 25 after a touchback.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass under pressure. Maiava was hit as he threw the ball on target, but Trent Mosley dropped the ball. Maiava stepped into pressure and passed to Tanook Hines for a 13-yard gain.

Maiava passed to Zacharyus Williams for six yards. Shahn Alston ran for five yards. Maiava passed to Tron Baker, who split defenders to gain 13 yards.

Alston ran for no gain. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Kayde Dixon-Wyatt. Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for 14 yards. Maiava passed to Trent Mosley for 11 yards and a first down.

Alston ran for one yard to the Wisconsin 12. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass to the back right corner of the end zone. Maiava was flushed from the pocket and tossed the ball out of bounds. He was called for intentional grounding.

USC Caden Chittenden’s 44-yard field goal was deflected and he missed it.

Wisconsin 17, No. 16 USC 7, 9:36 left in third quarter

Wisconsin started on its 25 after the touchback.

Colton Joseph passed for to Eugene Hilton Jr. for eight yards. Colton Joseph ran for four yards. Joseph passed for two yards. Joseph ran for 14 yards. Joseph passes to Tyrell Henry for no gain. Abu Sama III ran for eight yards and USC’s Desman Stephens II was called for a late hit penalty.

On first down at the USC 24, Sama ran for one yard. Bryan Jackson ran for six yards. On third and three at the USC 17, Jackson ran for one yard.

On fourth down, Wisconsin lined up with four receivers on the left sideline and Joseph passed to Chris Brooks Jr. in that pack. Brooks caught the pass and ran forward a 16-yard touchdown.

Wisconsin hit the extra point to extend its lead.

Wisconsin 10, No. 16 USC 7, end of second quarter

Ethan “Boobie” Feaster fumbled the Wisconsin kickoff and it was recovered by Riley Wormley and downed the USC 7.

King Miller ran for a loss of two yards and a gain of four yards. Jayden Maiava passed to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for 10 yards.

Maiava was sacked for a loss of 11 yards. On second and 21, Miller ran for two yards and time expired in the second quarter.

Wisconsin 10, No. 16 USC 7, 1:51 left in second quarter

Wisconsin started on its 25 after the touchback.

Abu Sama III ran for two yards. Sama ran for 17 yards. Sama ran for three yards. Colton Joseph passed to Grant Stec for one yard. Sama ran for six yards.

On first down at the USC 46, Sama ran for five yards. Joseph passed to Eugene Hilton Jr. for four yards. Joseph ran for 13 yards.

On first down at the USC 24, Wisconsin called timeout with 4:50 left in the second quarter.

Sama ran for five yards and another four yards. Sama ran for four yards. Joseph ran for no gain and Wisconsin was called for holding. On first-and-20 at the USC 21, Joseph passed to Jacob Harris for one yard. Joseph’s pass to Harris was incomplete, but USC was called for pass interference.

Bryan Jackson II ran for a five-yard touchdown. USC hit the extra point.

No. 16 USC 7, Wisconsin 3, 9:48 left in second quarter

USC started on its 33.

Jayden Maiava passed to Shahn Alston for 15 yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Alston. Maiava was sacked by Sebastian Cheeks, but Wisconsin was called for sideline interference, giving USC 15 yards.

On second and three at Wisconsin 45, Deshonne Redeaux ran for seven yards. Redeaux ran for a loss of three yards and time expired in the first quarter.

Maiava drifted toward the sideline and passed to Trent Mosley for a first down. Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for nine yards. King Miller ran for five yards and a first down.

Maiava passed to Miller and he fought for nine yards. Miller ran for one yard and the first down. Wisconsin was called for a face mask penalty on the play.

On first and goal at the Wisconsin 4, Miller ran for two yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass that was deflected. Maiava’s pass intended for Kayden Dixon-Wyatt was incomplete, but Wisconsin was called for a face mask penalty on the play.

Wisconsin called timeout because it had too many players on the field.

Miller ran for no gain, then for three yards. Maiava then passed to Taniela Tupou for a four-yard touchdown.

Caden Chittenden hit the extra point.

Wisconsin 3, No. 16 USC 0, 1:49 left in first quarter

USC started on its 25 after the touchback.

King Miller ran for no gain. Jayden Maiava passed to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for seven yards. Maiava passed for nine yards. Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for eight yards. Shahn Alston ran for four yards and another five yards.

Maiava tossed an incomplete pass to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.

Maiava’s pocket was collapsing and he fought to stay on his feet while looking for receivers. He planted and tossed the ball and it was intercepted by Cairo Skanes.

Wisconsin took over at the USC 35.

Tyrell Henry ran for a loss of three yards. Colton Joseph ran for a loss of one yard, getting tackled by Kennedy Urlacher. Joseph passed to Eugene Hilton Jr. for six yards.

Gavin Lahm missed a 51-yard field goal.

Wisconsin 3, No. 16 USC 0, 7:24 left in first quarter

USC started on its 18.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Trent Mosley. King Miller ran for no gain. Maiava’s pass intended for Kayden Dixon-Wyatt was tipped by and Wisconsin’s Javan Robinson intercepted it.

Wisconsin took over on the USC 17.

Colton Joseph tossed an incomplete pass. Abu Sama III ran for two yards. Joseph’s pass intended for Jacob Harris was broken up by Desman Stephens II.

Gavin Lahm hit a 33-yard field goal to give Wisconsin an early lead.

No. 16 USC 0, Wisconsin 0, 9:13 left in first quarter

Wisconsin started on its 21.

Colton Joseph was sacked by Luke Wafle for four yards. Abu Sama III ran for two yards. Joseph tossed a deep incomplete pass and Elbert “Rock” Hill IV was called for pass interference.

Joseph passed to Sama for five yards. Sama ran eight yards. Joseph fumbled and recovered for a loss of two yards. Sama ran for two yards. On third and 10 at the Wisconsin 47, Joseph was sacked by Braylan Shelby for a loss of seven yards.

Wisconsin punted to the USC 18 and Trent Mosley returned it for no gain.

No. 16 USC 0, Wisconsin 0, 13:50 left in first quarter

Wisconsin won the coin toss and deferred the opening kickoff.

USC started on its 25 after the touchback.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass to Tanook Hines. Maiava passed to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for nine yards. King Miller ran for no gain.

Lachlan Carrigan punted to the Wisconsin 21.

Welcome back to the Times of Troy newsletter, where I am thrilled to be writing to you today after a harrowing couple of weeks at the Kartje household. But after a bout with stomach ulcers — don’t recommend it! — and a brief hospital stay, I’m now back and ready for the home stretch of USC’s football season, which has gotten a lot more intriguing since we last spoke.

Not only did Lincoln Riley secure a critical road win at Penn State, but the rest of college football’s top tier also collapsed in the week since. The teams ranked Nos. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 all lost on Saturday. At 3-1 in the Big Ten, USC is now tied for second place, while the three other teams at the top of the conference — UCLA, Indiana and Ohio State — are all still on the Trojans’ schedule. Two of those teams will face USC with a backup quarterback.

Neither USC nor UCLA has made the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014. Yet the Trojans finished six of those 12 seasons ranked in the Associated Press top 25, while UCLA finished in the top 25 twice and is currently ranked No. 12.

Reports that the CFP is nearing a deal to expand the field from 12 to 24 teams in 2027 should be tremendous news for both schools. UCLA (5-0) is surging after its rousing upset over Oregon, and USC (6-1) is ranked No. 19 after beating Washington and Penn State.

Arduous tests loom during the second half of the season, however, making the chances of getting the nod from the CFP selection committee a coin flip at best.

Why has it been so hard for USC football to compete for a national title after setting the standard in college football during Pete Carroll’s tenure?

(Harrison Freeman / Los Angeles Times Studios )

Times USC beat reporter Ryan Kartje spent the past four years conducting more than 100 interviews, gaining new insight into the football program’s dramatic rise, fall and difficult push to return to national relevance.

Today, we begin sharing that story with you in “House of Troy,” a new narrative podcast from L.A. Times Studios available now on Spotify and Apple.

Check out Episode 1: “Win Now.”

It was a potential nightmare scenario. Starting left tackle Elijah Paige had been scratched in pregame warm-ups at Penn State. And in his place stepped a true freshman in his first start at USC, forced to find his way in a White Out, surrounded by a hostile crowd of 114,000 strong.

But when Vlad Dyakonov learned he was stepping in, a couple of hours ahead of kickoff, his coaches were surprised by how little it seemed to faze him.

“Some of us [coaches] were like, ‘Does he realize what he’s getting himself into?’” coach Lincoln Riley said, with a grin. “He didn’t flinch, man.”

You could say the same, generally, about USC’s entire front through the first half of this season. After years of shallow depth, unfortunate injuries, and transfer misfires at the position, USC’s offensive line has been the stabilizing force propelling its high-powered attack to a 6-1 record.

Eyo-Dae Kim and Susan Kim attended the University of Southern California decades ago, two international students with little money and no family in the U.S. On Friday, their son, Beong-Soo Kim, stood before an Alumni Park crowd and was formally installed as the 13th president of their alma mater.

“It is wonderful to have you here, Dad, facing the same library where you and Mom studied together at USC,” Kim, 53, said to his father, who took doctoral courses in economics. Kim’s late mother fled during the Korean War and earned a USC master’s degree.

“They certainly would never have imagined, as international students, that this day could possibly come,” Kim had said earlier.

USC coach Lincoln Riley kept his offense on the field on fourth and four at the USC 13.

The decision was so confounding, Penn State coach Matt Campbell burned the Nittany Lions’ final timeout with 4:15 remaining. Riley grinned with his team protecting an eight-point lead in front of a rowdy, record crowd of 114,419 decked in all white at Beaver Stadium on Saturday night.

USC punted after the timeout, and Riley watched his maligned defense recover Penn State receiver Brett Eskildsen’s fumble on the Nittany Lions’ first snap of the ensuing drive.