USC’s Red-Zone Struggles Prove Costly in Loss to Wisconsin

Moving the football wasn’t necessarily the USC Trojans biggest problem Saturday night against Wisconsin. Finishing drives was an entirely different story.

The Trojans walked out of Camp Randall Stadium with a frustrating 24-7 loss, dropping to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play. While much of the attention will understandably focus on USC’s inability to establish a rushing attack, the offense’s struggles in scoring territory proved equally damaging.

USC actually outgained Wisconsin 241-200 and recorded 22 first downs compared with the Badgers’ 16.

Yet those advantages produced just seven points.

The difference was particularly noticeable inside the red zone, where Wisconsin capitalized on every opportunity while USC repeatedly came away empty-handed.

The Badgers finished a perfect 4-for-4 on red-zone scoring opportunities, producing three touchdowns and a field goal. USC converted just one of its three trips inside the Wisconsin 20-yard line into points.

That lone touchdown came in the second quarter when quarterback Jayden Maiava connected with tight end Taniela Tupou on a four-yard scoring pass, temporarily giving USC a 7-3 advantage.

It would be the Trojans’ only points of the evening.

What makes USC’s offensive struggles particularly frustrating is that the Trojans demonstrated an ability to sustain possessions.

Their touchdown drive covered 67 yards in 15 plays and consumed 7:01, showing they could methodically move the football against Wisconsin’s defense.

However, that execution disappeared when USC needed it most.

Following Wisconsin’s opening touchdown of the second half, USC responded with a 14-play, 48-yard possession that reached the Badgers’ 27-yard line.

Instead of cutting into Wisconsin’s 17-7 advantage, the Trojans watched Caden Chittenden’s 44-yard field-goal attempt get blocked.

USC’s next possession crossed midfield but stalled at Wisconsin’s 41-yard line, where Chittenden missed a 58-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter.

Neither possession officially qualified as a red-zone opportunity, but both represented chances to change the game’s momentum.

The Trojans also struggled to finish their final meaningful possession.

Trailing 24-7, USC moved 68 yards in 13 plays, reaching Wisconsin’s 10-yard line before turning the football over on downs with 41 seconds remaining.

It was another example of an offense capable of moving between the 20-yard lines but unable to deliver when the field became compressed.

The problems extended beyond the red zone.

USC finished 7-for-15 on third down and converted just one of three fourth-down opportunities. Five sacks and two interceptions further complicated an already difficult evening.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, made its limited opportunities count.

The Badgers scored touchdowns on drives covering 75, 75 and 59 yards, demonstrating the patience and execution USC lacked throughout the second half.

For Lincoln Riley, the challenge moving forward isn’t simply finding ways to generate more offensive production.

It’s ensuring that production translates into points.

USC possessed enough offensive opportunities to make Saturday’s game competitive, even with its struggles protecting Maiava and establishing the run.

Instead, missed opportunities compounded until the outcome was no longer in doubt.

The Trojans didn’t just lose the battle for scoring opportunities against Wisconsin. They lost the ability to make those opportunities matter.