Taking the Wisconsin Defense Lightly Would be Fatal for Trojans

The USC Trojans (6-1) have enjoyed a bye week, a chance to get healthy, recharge and refocus.

They now turn their attention to their next opponent.

The Trojans travel to Camp Randall Stadium next Saturday to take on the Wisconsin Badgers (4-1). The Badgers are riding a four-game winning streak.

USC has won two straight, including a 31-23 victory over Penn State. The Trojans have not lost a road game this season.

Coach Lincoln Riley has found the right mix of veterans and freshman talent, and that has been the x-factor for the Trojans this season.

The execution and production, on both sides of the ball, have been taken to another level.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava is the trigger man for the gridiron resurgence.

Maiava is ranked second in the country in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Further, Maiava is seventh nationally with 292 passing yards per game.

Seven different receivers have caught touchdown passes from Maiava this season, led by the trio of Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Trent Mosley and Tanook Hines.

Combined, they have caught 13 touchdown passes.

However, Wisconsin’s defense is talented and productive as well. For USC to take the Badgers defense lightly would be a fatal mistake.

The Badgers are nationally ranked in the following categories:

Wisconsin has not allowed over 250 yards of total offense in each of the last three games.

When defending the pass, the Badgers have allowed over 200 yards passing only once.

In addition, Wisconsin has not allowed a touchdown pass in the last two games. Needless to say, Maiava and the USC passing offense will be tested.

However, Maiava is playing his best football right now as they enter the second half of the season.

He will test the Wisconsin defensive secondary as well. USC will deploy a lot of weapons on offense to keep this Wisconsin defense on their heels.

This matchup with USC will be the second such “test” for the Wisconsin pass defense. They gave up two touchdowns, 239 yards passing, and no interceptions to Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr in Week 1.  

The Badgers are playing their best football under Luke Fickell this season, on both sides of the ball.

Fickel is 21-22 in five years with Wisconsin. The Trojans, however, have more firepower and will not be denied as Maiava and the Trojans fight on.