The Badgers fall short against No. 13 USC

Walker scores twice in the conference opener

Box score

LOS ANGELES – The Wisconsin football team fell 38-21 to No. 13 USC in its Big Ten Conference opener Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Trojans (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten) scored first of the game, scoring the touchdown on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Miller Moss to receiver Ja'Kobi Lane.

However, the Badgers (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) responded just six plays later when Locke connected with receiver Vinny Anthony for a 63-yard strike. The play was Anthony's first collegiate touchdown and Wisconsin's longest completion since the 2022 season opener against Illinois State. It was UW's longest passing touchdown since a 72-yard score in 2021 against Rutgers.

The teams traded scoreless possessions with Punter throughout the remainder of the first quarter Atticus Bertrams Thanks to a career-long 74-yard punt, he again pinned the Trojans at the 1-yard line. Security Preston Zachman picked off Moss on the ensuing possession and gave the ball back to the Badgers. After the offense stalled at the end of the first quarter, Bertrams' punt was fumbled early in the second quarter by USC, allowing an 18-yard rushing touchdown from the running back Tawee Walker on the next piece.

USC was able to regain some momentum with a solid 8-play drive, capped off by a 41-yard field goal from K Michael Lantz to make the score 14-10.

The Wisconsin offense picked up right where it left off when Locke hit the receiver Bryson Green for 35 yards to put the Badgers on the edge of the red zone. Walker added his second touchdown four plays later, crossing the pylon on an untouched four-yard rush. It was Walker's first multi-touchdown game with the Badgers and his third career performance.

The half didn't finish lightly Austin Brown flew in from his safe spot to sack Moss and secure the Badger defense's third turnover of the day. Wisconsin went into halftime with a 21-10 lead.

The Trojans responded after halftime with a 9-play drive capped by a 6-yard connection between Moss and Lane. After a Badger punt, Moss found the end zone again with a 7-yard keeper to give USC a 31-21 lead.

USC defensive lineman Mason Cobb tackled Locke on the next drive, returning the favor for a touchdown and sealing the game 38-21.

Locke finished his day going 13 of 26 for 180 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. He has now thrown for more than 150 yards and at least one touchdown in all four college starts.

Walker led UW's running backs with 55 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns.

Receivers Anthony and Green led the pack today as Anthony made three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown while Green made four catches for a season-high 64 yards. Anthony also had a career-high 74-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter and recovered a fumble on a botched USC punt.

Defensive, Brown and Cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean flew around the ball today and made a team-high seven tackles each. Both added a pass deflection and a tackle for loss, while Brown scored the strip sack early on. Zachman, who picked up the interception in the first quarter, also had four solo tackles.

Next: Wisconsin returns to Camp Randall Stadium to face Purdue on Saturday, October 5 at 11 a.m. This game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.

NOTES

Receiver Vinny Anthony caught his first college touchdown, a 63-yard strike Braedyn Locke. The play was Wisconsin's longest pass completion since a Graham Mertz-to-Chimere Dike connection in the 2022 season opener against Illinois State. It was the longest passing touchdown since a 72-yard score by Mertz to Danny Davis against Rutgers on November 6, 2021.

Wisconsin player Atticus Bertrams completed a 74-yard punt in the first quarter to keep the Trojans at their 1-yard line. It was the fourth-longest punt in the NCAA this year and the longest Badger boot since Brad Nortman's 74-yard drive against Illinois on Nov. 19, 2011.

Today's captains: LB Jake ChaneyS Hunter WohlerTE Riley Nowakowski and W.R Will Pauling