Tag: Wisconsin USC

Wisconsin’s trip to Los Angeles for USC battle is all business, no pleasure

Wisconsin might enjoy the LA weather only if it can play a complete football game. The romance of the new Big Ten isn’t really being felt by the Badgers.

The romance of a Big Ten football team coming from the Midwest to sunny Southern California for a big game is undeniable. Usually, of course, that delicious scenario has played out mostly in the Rose Bowl Game, the first bowl game and the most famous one. Wisconsin has played USC and UCLA in Rose Bowls over the years. Those trips were really special for the Badgers and their fans. Getting to come to Los Angeles for regular-season games is one of the featured attractions for the old-guard Midwest schools of the Big Ten. However, as Wisconsin prepares to play USC, none of that really matters. Wisconsin is facing the urgent task of survival, as Badgers Wire’s Ben Kenney explains:

“I think most of the focus is on Wisconsin’s standing in the new conference landscape,” Kenney told us. “2019 is now a long time ago, and the Badgers have yet to return to that quality. So yes, the trip to Los Angeles (and) California truly begins that era for the Badgers and their fans. But I think more focus is on the big-picture state of the Wisconsin program than the new conference.”

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What Wisconsin learned about USC in the Trojans’ loss to Michigan

USC’s loss to Michigan might have given Wisconsin fresh confidence that it can beat the Trojans, but the Badgers might not have the personnel needed to prevail.

Wisconsin was surely studying a lot of USC-Michigan film this past Saturday, and into the early part of this week. The Badgers get a crack at the Trojans this coming weekend in Los Angeles, and they had to feel at least somewhat confident that they can exploit some of USC’s weaknesses … right? Maybe not. Ben Kenney of Badgers Wire talked about USC’s loss to Michigan and what it might mean for Wisconsin:

“The loss itself built confidence because the Trojans finally looked less-than-dominant,” Kenney said. “LSU’s performance since that Week 1 matchup has also taken a bit of the shine off USC’s statement win. The old Wisconsin Badgers would see what Michigan did on the ground and replicate it. Unfortunately, I can’t confidently say that the new regime is capable of that type of game plan. Wisconsin also does not have the offensive or defensive line of Michigan and doesn’t have running backs as talented as Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings.

“The manner of USC’s loss to Michigan created a sentiment of ‘Wisconsin better run the ball on Saturday’ less than a belief that it will be able to do so.”

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How much did Alabama prepare Wisconsin for USC?

Michigan benefited against USC as a result of having played Texas. Will Wisconsin benefit from playing Alabama when it faces the Trojans this weekend?

Michigan’s early-season game against Texas prepared the Wolverines for USC. What about Wisconsin? The Badgers played Alabama earlier this season. Like Michigan, they got blown out at home by an SEC opponent. We asked Ben Kenney of Badgers Wire to tell us what Wisconsin might have gained from the Alabama game:

“There’s a very loaded answer,” Kenney said. “Overall, I’d argue the Alabama game helped prepare Wisconsin because it served as a wake-up call. Alabama under Kalen DeBoer is what Wisconsin wants to become — strong enough on defense and explosive on offense. The Week 3 loss showed how far the Badgers are from that standing. It may also be part of a string of results that force the leadership to reconsider its approach to get to that point (that is part of a much longer discussion).

“But the wake-up call should help the team in a few main ways. First, it just got a bye week to reevaluate its identity and approach on both sides of the football. The result of that evaluation should be a continued dedication to the run game, leaning into the offense’s strength up front. That is a departure from the ‘air raid’ that was promised, but that is again part of a larger discussion. It also may see some personnel changes on defense. Importantly, the week also gave the team time to cater the offense around the strengths of backup QB Braedyn Locke (starter Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL in the first quarter against the Crimson Tide).

“The loss to Alabama should have taught Wisconsin what it isn’t at this point in the Luke Fickell era. That should help it find ways to improve as the season continues.”

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