University Southern California Trojans
USC
Wisconsin
No. 16 USC Football Returns From First Bye Week, Heads To Madison To Face Wisconsin
October 20, 2026 | Football
AYYYY, TROJANS!
* "Sunday, Monday, Happy Days! Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days! Thursday, Friday, Happy Days!"
* "Saturday, what a day" for college football fans who've been waiting all week for kickoff!
* The television classic "Happy Days", set in Wisconsin, gave the world the Fonz. And the actor who made him iconic, Henry Winkler, is a Trojan!
* Legendary actor and filmmaker Ron Howard, who played Richie, also maintains a long-standing relationship with the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
* Now USC heads to Wisconsin for a Big Ten matchup with the Badgers, ready to bring some Trojan cool to Madison.
* The scene is set for 4:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. CT) on NBC as USC takes on Wisconsin.
THE WHITE OUT WENT CARDINAL AND GOLD
* To quote head coach Lincoln Riley, "The Trojans came to play."
* USC earned a statement victory in front of 114,419 fans at Beaver Stadium amid the electric atmosphere of Penn State's "White Out" defeating the Nittany Lions 31-23.
RILEY EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
* USC head coach Lincoln Riley has been named to the midseason watch list for the 2026 Dodd Trophy.
* Eighteen Power Four coaches were selected to the list.
* Riley is one of the nation's most successful coaches.
* He's had more success by the age of 40 than any other head coach in college football history.
* Riley has been a head coach for 9 seasons and has developed three of the last nine Heisman Trophy winners.
* In addition to being the only head coach to tutor three Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks, Riley is the only coach to have three quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft and has the most No. 1 overall draft selections in the common draft era.
* Just 11 Power Four coaches currently hold a .500 or better career winning percentage against ranked teams, including Riley.
* From coaching 3 Heisman Trophy winners, to having a 77 percent winning record, to appearing in 3 College Football Playoffs, Riley's coaching achievements set a standard of excellence.
OFFENSE BY THE NUMBERS
* USC leads the Big Ten in third down conversion percentage (0.512), fourth down conversion percentage (0.750), completion percentage (0.686) and first downs offense (177).
* The Trojans are 12-of-13 in their last 3 games in the red zone with a missed FG being the only nonscore.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE USC OFFENSE
* Brock Vereen, 97.1 The Fan - "USC has more depth offensively than anyone else in the country."
MAIAVA MAGIC
* The USC quarterback is a position unlike any other.
* This young man becomes a household name, an annual Heisman contender and is under the brightest spotlight. They are in a league of their own and comprise a historic fraternity of some of the best collegiate players in history.
* USC returns the nation's best quarterback in redshirt senior Jayden Maiava.
* Maiava threw for 301 yards and 3 TDs without an interception.
* He completed 21 of 33 passes (.636), averaged 9.1 yards per attempt and connected with three different receivers for scores.
* This was Maiava's third 300-yard passing game this season and the second in the last three games.
* Maiava was poised in clutch moments including keeping USC's opening scoring drive alive with an 18-yard completion to WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt on fourth-and-five before finding WR Trent Mosley for a 19-yard touchdown.
* In the second quarter, Maiava found Tanook Hines for an 11-yard touchdown, and Hines made an acrobatic catch and extended the ball into the end zone to give USC a 14-7 lead.
* After Penn State cut USC's lead to one point in the fourth quarter, Maiava directed a 10-play, 71-yard drive and capped it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dixon-Wyatt, restoring USC's two-score advantage in front of 114,419 fans at Beaver Stadium.
* Maiava is No. 2 in the nation and leads the Big Ten in passing yards (2,045).
* He leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (292.1).
* He is No. 4 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing TDs (18).
* He is No. 8 in the nation and second in the Big Ten in points responsible for (122).
* Maiava has accounted for 20 TDs through 6 games, throwing 18 and rushing for 2.
* Combining his stats from his record-breaking season at UNLV, Maiava has recorded 10,042 passing yards and 70 TDs throughout the entirety of his collegiate career.
* Per PFF, Jayden is No. 2 in the Big Ten in overall offense grade (90.2) and passing grade (90.2).
* Maiava's opening seven-game stretch compares favorably with the greatest quarterbacks in USC history. Through seven games, Maiava has produced more passing yards and than Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Caleb Williams did through the same point of their Heisman Trophy-winning seasons. Maiava's 67.9 completion percentage and 168.4 passing efficiency rating are also the best among the group, while his 18 passing TDs are 1 fewer than Williams, 2 more than Leinart and 5 more than Palmer recorded during their respective seven-game starts.
| Quarterback | Season | Record | Comp.-Att. | Pct. | Pass Yards | YPA | Pass TD | INT | Efficiency |
| Jayden Maiava | 2026 | 6-1 | 152-224 | 67.9 | 2,045 | 9.1 | 18 | 3 | 168.4 |
| Caleb Williams | 2022 | 6-1 | 147-230 | 63.9 | 1,971 | 8.6 | 19 | 1 | 162.3 |
| Matt Leinart | 2004 | 7-0 | 136-215 | 63.3 | 1,628 | 7.6 | 16 | 4 | 147.7 |
| Carson Palmer | 2002 | 5-2 | 164-272 | 60.3 | 1,981 | 7.3 | 13 | 7 | 132.1 |
* Maiava makes his throws count. He is No. 2 among USC career leaders in yards per attempt with 8.7 (min. 500 attempts at USC). He's in good company in the stat – Caleb Williams sits at No. 1 with 9.2 yards per attempt, Matt Leinart is third with 8.6 and Sam Darnold holds the No. 4 spot with 8.5 yards per attempt.
* He is currently 10th on USC's career total offense leader board with 7,154 total yards of offense as a Trojan.
* Maiava also ranks 13th on USC's single season passing leader board with 265 completions in the 2025 season.
* He has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List and he was one of 12 total players from the Big Ten Conference to be named to the 2026 Big Ten Football Preseason Honors list.
* Maiava was also recently named a nominee for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, the Allstate AFCA Goodworks Team and to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.
* With another year under offensive coordinator Luke Huard and Riley, who is the only head coach to tutor three Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks, have 3 quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft and has the most No. 1 overall draft selections in the common draft era, Maiava is expected to continue to make large strides.
MAIAVA MAKES A DIFFERENCE
* As USC's quarterback and a household name under one of football's most prominent spotlights, Maiava remains deeply grounded in service, humility and community.
* Originally from Honolulu's Pālolo Valley, Maiava never forgot where he came from or the struggles he overcame growing up. His experiences shaped an incredible servant's heart and a genuine passion for mentoring children and uplifting underserved communities, especially his deep commitment to giving back to the community that helped shape him.
* Maiava consistently uses his platform to inspire hope, connection and opportunity for others. He embodies the spirit of 'ohana: the value of family, connection and community.
* In June of 2026, he returned to Honolulu's Pālolo Valley where he hosted a free youth football clinic for more than 350 local children ages 6 to 14, transforming a day of football instruction into a meaningful event centered on mentorship, inspiration and opportunity.
* Throughout the clinic, Maiava taught football fundamentals while emphasizing teamwork, perseverance and the importance of believing in yourself despite adversity, drawing from his own journey from the Pālolo Valley to the highest levels of the sport.
* Extending his impact beyond the field, proceeds from event t-shirt sales were donated to Aloha 1st Athletics, a local nonprofit dedicated to leadership, character development and mental health support through sports, reinforcing his commitment to investing in the next generation and strengthening the community that shaped him.
* Above all, Maiava encouraged attendees to lead with integrity, make a positive impact on those around them and pursue excellence in football, academics, faith and everyday life.
* On this same trip, Maiava continued his commitment to giving back by returning to his former high school, Kaimukī High, where he spoke to students not only as the USC quarterback but as someone who once walked the same halls with the same aspirations.
* Reflecting on his journey from serving as a Bulldogs ball boy and water boy to achieving his dream of wearing the Kaimukī jersey and competing at the highest level, Maiava shared an honest message about overcoming adversity, embracing opportunity and trusting God's plan.
* He encouraged students to approach life with a "Fight On" mentality, emphasizing resilience, discipline, faith, accountability and the importance of supporting others through difficult times.
* Crediting his mother as his greatest inspiration, he also stressed the value of education and the life lessons football has taught him about leadership, perseverance and character.
* Maiava's outreach continued at Jarrett Middle School, where he inspired more than 400 students through an interactive discussion focused on perseverance, personal responsibility and making positive choices, sharing his own experiences growing up in Pālolo Housing and encouraging students to embrace discipline over regret as they pursue their goals.
* He also visited Pālolo Elementary School, where he read with students, sang songs and created an engaging, uplifting environment that reflected his genuine commitment to mentorship and community.
* Together, these visits underscored Maiava's dedication to empowering Hawaii's youth through education, faith, service and authentic leadership, reinforcing his mission to invest in the communities that helped shape him.
* Beyond his work in Hawaii, Maiava has consistently dedicated his time to serving communities throughout Los Angeles, partnering with organizations focused on food insecurity, youth development and community outreach.
* He has volunteered multiple times with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, helping sort and pack thousands of pounds of fresh produce for families in need, including supporting relief efforts for residents displaced by the January 2025 wildfires.
* Maiava has also demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing food insecurity through his service at the Dream Center and The Midnight Mission.
* Across three volunteer shifts at the Dream Center, he helped prepare and serve more than 1,300 meals for individuals experiencing food insecurity, while at The Midnight Mission he worked alongside staff to prepare and distribute meals to individuals and families seeking support, reflecting his hands-on approach to serving those most in need.
* In addition to his volunteer service, Maiava has invested in mentoring and empowering young people through organizations including the Boys & Girls Club, Angel City Sports' Youth Weekend and The Young Shakespeareans.
* Whether coaching and encouraging local youth, participating in adaptive sports alongside children with physical disabilities or celebrating students' achievements in the arts, he has consistently used his platform to promote inclusion, confidence, education and personal growth while building meaningful connections throughout the community.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MAIAVA
* Ken Niumatalolo, San José State Head Coach - "Jayden [Maiava] is a Heisman Trophy candidate."
* Matt Entz, Fresno State Head Coach - "You see why their quarterback is a Heisman contender. He's tremendously talented, has great understanding and great awareness of what's going on."
* Matt Leinart, Former USC Heisman Winning Quarterback and CBF Analyst - "He looks like a first round talent. He looks like a Heisman Trophy candidate."
* Jake Butt, Big Ten Network Analyst - "It's time to kinda put some fuel back in the tank for the Maiava Heisman conversations cause he's been outstanding."
* Colin Cowherd, Host of the Herd - "Looks like a first round talent."
* John Frascella, NFL Insider - "I'm a big Jayden Maiava guy. I just think he has natural quarterbacking instincts. Very fluid."
MOSLEY MANIA
* After returning from injury, freshman phenom WR Trent Mosley led all players with single-game career-high 9 receptions for 111 yards (12.3 avg.) and a TD.
* Mosley also contributed as a runner, gaining nine yards on his only carry.
* He gave the Trojans an early lead with a 19-yard TD catch in the first quarter, the first of the game, and remained a reliable target throughout the game, finishing with nine catches on 13 targets and 40 yards after the catch.
* Mosley was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his performance.
* Additionally, he was named as one of On3's Week 6 True Freshman Standouts and to the Week 6 PFF Big Ten Team of the Week.
* Mosley has recorded 100+ receiving yards in three of his four appearances and has scored at least 1 TD in each game.
* He has tallied 22 receptions for 366 receiving yards (16.6 avg.) with 5 Receiving TDs.
* He's averaging 91.5 receiving yards per game and has recorded 6 total TDs (including an 86-yard punt return for a score).
* Trent Mosley is No. 4 among all FBS receivers and No. 2 among Big Ten receivers with a minimum of 30 targets with an offense grade of 90.5.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT TRENT MOSLEY
* Brock Vereen, 97.1 The Fan – "Hear me very clearly. I have never been more certain in my life that a player is going to win a Heisman one day. He is that impressive, and he has not even sniffed his full potential."
* Ryan Dyrud, LA Football Network - "Trent Mosley is ELECTRIC. What a game-changer"
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times – "Trent Mosley has been absolutely electric so far today. Pretty clear why he's been considered a likely starter for so long"
* Ryan Abraham, USCFootball.com – "Trent Mosley is a dude."
* Benjamin Rover, OC Register – "Trent Mosley is going to be playing on Sundays for a long, long time."
* Chris Trevino, WeAreSC.com – "Trent Mosley is inevitable"
* Kendell Hollowell, USC Trojans on SI – "Trent Mosley is not a star in the making, he is a STAR. The next great USC wide receiver."
* Adam Rittenberg, ESPN – "Trent Mosley is a problem."
* Paolo Uggetti, ESPN – "Trent Mosley is #good"
* Jake Butt, Big Ten Network CFB Analyst – "He's going to be a weapon for years to come."
* Bryan Fischer, Sports Illustrated – "Trent Mosley is the next one in cardinal and gold. Impressive start to the season after a great camp."
* John Fanta, NBC Sports Broadcaster – "If you are not on the Trent Mosley bus, get on it before it's too late. Just an insanely talented player."
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times – "Trent Mosley might actually be superhuman. Will try to confirm."
* Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times – "If Trent Mosley's unbelievable 86-yard punt return for a touchdown doesn't make him a Heisman candidate as a freshman, what else do you want?"
* Su'a Cravens, former USC & NFL Safety and College Football Analyst – "Having Trent Mosley back is so vital to this offense. Looks like a 5th year Senior out there."
* Tim Prangley, LA Football Network – "Trent Mosley showing off ELITE ball skills. This freshman is out of this world good."
CATCHING FIRE
* The USC aerial attack continues to be dominant with a wide variety of players making an impact on the field.
* WR Tanook Hines tallied 4 catches for 82 yards (20.5 avg.) and a TD.
* His 40-yard catch was USC's longest completion of the game.
* His 11-yard TD gave USC a 14-7 lead.
* Hines is in midseason-form. He has scored a TD in each of USC's last three games.
* WR Zacharyus Williams notched 4 catches for 57 yards (14.3 avg.), including a 22-yard reception in the first quarter.
* WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt had 2 catches for 28 yards (14.0 avg.) and the 10-yard TD that put USC ahead 31-23.
* His 18-yard fourth-down catch on USC's opening drive of the game converted a crucial fourth-and-5.
* WR Ethan "Boobie" Feaster tallied 1 catch for 11 yards and a 25-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter, setting USC up at its own 29 for the go-ahead drive.
* TE Tucker Ashcraft caught his only target for 12 yards.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT KAYDEN DIXON-WYATT
* Travis May, Editor of A to Z Sports NFL – "Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is a true freshman WR playing like a pro already"
* Kendell Hollowell, USC on SI – "Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is a STAR. He's no ordinary freshman."
* John Frascella, NFL Insider – "Meet Kayden Dixon-Wyatt… new USC stud wide receiver. Simply… electric"
* Bussin' With The Boys – "Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is UNREAL"
* Kendell Hollowell, USC on SI – "When in doubt look for Kayden Dixon-Wyatt. The freshman receiver has been a reliable target for Jayden Maiava all season."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT TANOOK HINES
* Brandon Walker, Barstool Sports - "Tanook Hines is a GROWN MAN"
* Andy Staples, On3 - "Tanook Hines said 'Gimme that' and turned an interception into a touchdown."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MARK BOWMAN
* David Pollack, College Football Analyst - "Had an SEC coach tell me he is the closest thing to Brock Bowers he has seen in recruiting. Mark Bowman. Get to know that name America!"
* Max Chadwick, College Football Analyst - "If Mark Bowman can block like this, he can be SPECIAL. His route-running ability is some of the best I've seen for a true freshman."
* Ted Nguyen, The Athletic Senior Writer - "This Mark Bowman is a freak."
BACKS IN BUSINESS
* RB King Miller had 19 carries for 102 yards and a TD, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. His longest run was 16 yards.
* It was his third 100-yard rushing game this season.
* Miller's 13-yard TD run in the third quarter put USC ahead, 24-20. He had 39 rushing yards in that quarter.
* Miller also helped close out the game after USC recovered Penn State's late fumble. He gained 11 and 16 yards on consecutive runs to move USC from its own 35 to the Penn State 38.
* RB Waymond Jordan tallied 6 carries for 22 yards (3.6 avg.). His 10-yard run on third-and-15 helped set up the fourth-down conversion on the opening TD drive.
FRONT FIVE FORCE
* USC's offensive line was named to the 2026 Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll.
* In Lincoln Riley's electric offense, the USC offensive line has helped the Trojans average 310.1 passing yards per game, while averaging 152.3 yards on the ground.
* The Trojans are averaging 36.4 points per game, and USC leads the nation in first downs offense (177).
* The offensive line's pass blocking has allowed QB Jayden Maiava to go 152-for-224 (.679) for 2,045 yards and 18 TDs.
* USC's starting offensive line has provided strong protection for Maiava, allowing fewer than one sack per game of Maiava (6 total) this season.
* The line's run blocking has allowed six different Trojans to score a total of 12 rushing touchdowns so far this season.
* The Trojan offensive line's chemistry and outstanding play is a testament to the development of each player in the room by USC head coach Lincoln Riley and offensive line coach Zach Hanson.
* The Trojan offensive line's versatility and depth have been showcased in 2026. Prior to the first game, center Kilian O'Connor suffered a season-ending injury, and Tobias Raymond stepped into his place as the new starter.
* Throughout his collegiate career, Raymond has started in every position on the offensive line except right guard.
* After OL Elijah Paige was ruled out during pregame warmups, freshman OL Vlad Dyakonov stepped in at left tackle against Penn State.
* The offense didn't miss a beat as Dyakonov performed seamlessly with the offensive line and helped Maiava have one of the best performances of his career.
* Dyakonov recovered Miller's second-quarter fumble at the Penn State 25, preserving USC's possession and helping set up a field goal.
* USC's offensive line set the tone and displayed ultimate poise at Penn State paving the way for 430 yards of offense and 25 first downs.
* The unit helped USC average 6.8 yards per play and rush for 129 yards, with RB King Miller topping 100 yards on the ground.
* It also kept Maiava upright for all but one sack on 33 pass attempts.
* The line helped USC average 4.3 yards per rush and protect a passing attack that averaged 14.3 yards per completion.
* Per PFF, OL Elijah Paige is No. 3 among all Power Four offensive linemen with a minimum of 254 block snap with an 85.7 offensive grade and an 81.0 pass block grade. He leads all Big Ten tackles with an 85.7 offensive grade, an 81.0 run block grade and a 90.7 pass block grade.
* Fellow tackle Justin Tauanuu ranks No. 9 among Big Ten tackles with a 73.2 offensive grade, No. 8 with a 71.6 run block grade and No. 15 with a 70.0 pass block grade.
* Tobias Raymond is the No. 8 center in the Power Four with a 74.5 offensive grade and No. 15 with a 71.0 run block grade.
DEFENSE BY THE NUMBERS
* The Trojans held Penn State to six second-half points and 68 rushing yards.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT RILEY & PATTERSON
* Ken Niumatalolo, San José State Head Coach - "Gary's one of the best defensive minds in all of college football. I'm good friends with him. We worked together in 1995 at the Naval Academy, so I'm very familiar with Gary. I was on the AFCA board with him for over a decade, so I know Gary Patterson very well. Smart call by Lincoln to hire him. They're going to get people in trouble in the Big Ten, and that's just their first game. And as they grow, they're going to get better with Gary leading their defense. But Gary's a phenomenal football coach. He's a phenomenal culture builder, and a credit to Lincoln. To have the humility as a head coach, and the foresight to hire a Hall-of-Famer. A lot of coaches wouldn't do that. They're like, 'No, I'm not going to hire a guy that caliber in my chair.' But to his credit, Lincoln hired a guy that's one of the best defensive minds of all time. The 4-2-5, he's basically the pioneer and creator of that. A very phenomenal coach."
WAFLE HOUSE
* Star freshman DE Luke Wafle made his presence felt throughout USC's road win at Penn State, recording five tackles, including 1.5 for loss with 1 sack for a nine-yard loss.
* His biggest play came in the fourth quarter, when Penn State had driven into USC territory with the Trojans holding an eight-point lead.
* Wafle brought down the quarterback for a nine-yard loss on third down, forcing a punt and helping USC take over with just over six minutes remaining.
* Wafle was named an On3 Week 6 True Freshman Standouts.
* Among all Power Four defensive ends with a minimum of 215 snaps, Luke Wafle leads the way with 22 tackles.
* Among Big Ten defensive ends, Wafle is No. 5 with a 71.6 tackling grade per PFF and No. 11 with a 72.0 defensive grade and No. 3 with a 77.7 run defense grade (and he's No. 7 among all Power Four defensive ends in this grade).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT LUKE WAFLE
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times - "Luke Wafle. Star."
* Ryan Dyrud, LA Football Network - "The Trojans have not had an EDGE player like Luke Wafle in, I don't know, how long. Even the way he sets the edge and sheds blocks to take down the RB is just DIFFERENT"
* Aaron Taylor, College Football Analyst - "DL97 Jide Abasiri and DE94 Luke Wafle are gonna be a problem for people this year."
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times - "I know Luke Wafle is a true freshman. And every game I re-remind myself this, and it still doesn't seem true."
BIG THANOS ENERGY
* Even though he's missed four games, DT Jahkeem Stewart continues to make his presence known.
* Against Penn State, he tallied 3 tackles and 1 QB hurry.
* He has recorded 5 tackles through 3 games, including 2 for loss of 2 yards and 1 fumble recovery returned 48 yards for a TD.
* He also impacts the team with his big personality that is hard to miss and easy to feel.
* After the Washington win, Stewart met with the media and shared his excitement and his craving for some home-cooked gumbo. His charisma quickly brought smiles to the room of journalists as well as Coach Riley and his teammates.
* Lincoln Riley said: "As you guys saw in the post-game [against] Washington, he's a big personality. He's extremely competitive. He's a loud but boisterous guy. You got to have some guys like that in your program, and so he brings a lot of competitiveness and a lot of juice to our defense and to our program. You feel it when he's there, and you feel a little bit of the gap sometimes, honestly, when he's not there. So, no question. You feel it. He's one of the unique players that you feel it from his on-the-field play, and you feel it from his personality and competitive juice, both. And they're both obviously super valuable."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT JAHKEEM STEWART
* Chris Trevino, WeAreSC.com - "THANOS IS INEVITABLE"
* Jeffrey Toobin, Opinion Writer & Author, New York Times - "Thanos -- Jahkeem Stewart -- is going to be a superstar in the NFL. Bookmark it."
PRESSURE UP FRONT
* DT Jide Abasiri tried to play versus the Nittany Lions, but only saw action in one snap.
* Last week, he was named as a Quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
* Abasiri, a junior, has emerged as a leader of the Trojan defense, earning team captain honors and representing USC at Big Ten Media Days.
* His leadership is matched by his versatility up front.
* Abasiri can play multiple spots along the defensive line, and his ability to disrupt the pocket and draw extra attention creates opportunities for his teammates.
* So far in 2026, he has tallied 16 tackles, including 3.5 for loss of 14 yards (with 1 sack for minus 10 yards) and 2 quarterback hurries.
* Abasiri is No. 5 among all Big Ten Defensive linemen with a 76.1 defense grade and an 80.3 run defense grade.
* DE Kameryn Crawford had 4 tackles, including a half tackle for loss and 2 QB hurries.
* Crawford is No. 4 with a 79.4 defensive grade (and No. 9 among all power Four), No. 8 with a 71.6 run defense grade.
* DT Alex VanSumeren had 2 tackles including a stop on Penn State's fourth-quarter fourth-and-1 attempt.
LINEBACKERS - TACKLING THE TASK
* LB Desman Stephens II had a game-high nine tackles, including a half tackle for loss.
* LB Deven Bryant tallied 6 tackles and 1 PBU as he broke up a pass on Penn State's opening third-quarter drive.
* LB Elijah Newby had 1 tackle and 1 PBU.
DBs HAVE IT COVERED
* S Christian Pierce delivered the game-securing play in USC's victory at Penn State, forcing a fumble with 3:59 remaining as the Nittany Lions threatened to cut into the Trojans' lead.
* After Penn State completed a 25-yard pass to reach the USC 35-yard line, Pierce punched the ball out, and CB Chasen Johnson recovered it for the Trojans.
* The takeaway ended Penn State's possession and allowed the Trojans to run out the clock.
* Pierce finished with five tackles and a forced fumble.
* Pierce was named to the PFF National Team of the Week.
* S Kennedy Urlacher recorded 3 tackles, including a sack for minus 10 yards. His sack came late in the first quarter and forced Penn State into a long third down before the Nittany Lions punted.
* S Alex Graham had 4 tackles, including a half tackle for loss.
* CB Jontez Williams made 3 tackles and a pass breakup.
* S Prophet Brown recorded 1 tackle and a pass breakup, stopping a Penn State pass in the red zone during the third quarter.
* Brown has notched a PBU in the last 3 games.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ALEX GRAHAM
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times – "Alex Graham is clearly essential to USC's secondary...There's no player more valuable on the back end of USC's defense."
* Kendell Hollowell, USC Trojans on SI – "Having Alex Graham in the lineup makes a big difference."
* Chris Trevino, WeAreSC.com – "Alex Graham is the best tackler on the defense."
THE AUSSIE ADVANTAGE
* P Lachlan Carrigan averaged 52.5 yards on 2 punts in USC's 31-23 road win at Penn State, with kicks of 55 and 50 yards.
* His 50-yard punt in the fourth quarter came with USC backed up at its own 8-yard line and holding an eight-point lead.
* Penn State returned it for a loss of two yards, leaving the Nittany Lions to start at their own 40 with just over four minutes remaining.
* Carrigan's two punts averaged 10.5 yards more than Penn State's three punts, helping USC manage field position in a hard-fought win at Beaver Stadium.
* Carrigan is averaging 49.83 yards on 12 punts this season, a mark that would rank fourth nationally among the listed leaders—just 0.06 yards shy of the third-place average and 0.30 behind the leader's 50.13—though he does not meet the leaderboard's minimum 3.6 punts-per-game requirement.
* Carrigan's 49.8 yards per attempt is second among all Big Ten punters with a minimum of 12 punts, and his net of 43.9 is third.
* More than half of Carrigan's punts (7) have traveled at least 50 yards, and 5 have pinned opponents inside their own 20.
SPECIALISTS AT WORK
* K Caden Chittenden made a 37-yard field goal and all 4 extra points.
* K Ryon Sayeri recorded 3 touchbacks on 5 kickoffs.
* USC's kickoff coverage limited Penn State to no kickoff returns.
RANKINGS
* USC is ranked 16th in the AP Poll and No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
* Wisconsin is not ranked in the AP Poll or in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
SERIES
* USC is 7-1 all-time against Wisconsin.
* This will be USC's first visit to Camp Randall since 1965 (61 years ago) and just the third time ever.
IN OCTOBER
* USC has a 322-131-19 (.702) all-time record while playing in the month of October (not including 5 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; revised record: 327-131-19, .706).
AT NIGHT
* USC is 204-83-4 (.708) at night, including 67-38 on the road. (Does not include 5 wins and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 209-84-4, .713 overall).
ON TURF
* USC is 54-44-1 in its last 99 games on artificial turf (not including 3 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 57-44-1).
WISCONSIN CONNECTIONS
* USC has no players from the state of Wisconsin, while Wisconsin has four players (QB Colton Joseph, QB Ryan Hopkins, CB Donovan Dunmore and WR Dorsett Stecker) from the state of California.
* USC TE Tucker Ashcraft previously played at Wisconsin from 2023-25. In 29 games, he tallied 22 receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
* Wisconsin RB Bryan Jackson II previously played at USC from 2024-25. In 21 total appearances, he recorded 311 rushing yards on 72 carries (4.3 avg.) with 5 TD.
* USC Executive Director of Player Personnel Max Stienecker previously served at Wisconsin. Upon his hiring at 22-years-old, he was the youngest director of player personnel at a Power 5 school in college football history. He was elevated to general manager prior to the 2024 season which made him the youngest general manager in Power Four football at only 24 years old.
* Wisconsin Director of Football Video Alex Nederhoff held a similar position at USC from 2020-23.
* USC CB Jontez Williams, Wisconsin RB Abu Sama III and Wisconsin S Carson Van Dinter all previously played at Iowa State.
* USC CB Elbert "Rock" Hill IV and Wisconsin CB Bryce West are both from Cleveland, Ohio.
* USC RB Waymond Jordan and Wisconsin WR Zion Legree are both from Pensacola, Fla.
* USC WR Trent Mosley, USC QB Jonas Williams, USC DT Braeden Jones, Wisconsin RB Darrion Dupree, Wisconsin OLB Jaylen Williams and Wisconsin OLB Michael Garner are all from Chicago, Ill.
* USC S Kennedy Urlacher and Wisconsin WR Kash Brock are both from Chandler, Ariz.
* USC WR Corey Simms, Wisconsin WR Chris Brooks Jr., Wisconsin S Marvin Burks Jr. and Wisconsin CB Dashuan Moss are all from St. Louis, Mo.
* USC LB Ta'Mere Robinson and Wisconsin OLB Tyreese Fearbry are both from Pittsburgh, Pa.
* USC WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, USC TE Mark Bowman, USC LB Shaun Scott, USC TE Manoah Leiato, USC DT Tomuhini "Tom Tom" Topui Jr., USC TE Josiah Jefferson and Wisconsin QB Ryan Hopkins all prepped at Mater Dei HS in Santa Ana, Calif.
* USC CB Carrington Pierce, Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph, Wisconsin WR Shamar Rigby and Wisconsin OL Austin Kawecki all previously played at Oklahoma State.
* USC RB Tyson Park, Wisconsin QB Deuce Adams and Wisconsin WR Eli Adams are all from Austin, Texas.
* USC P Nate Hillenburg, Wisconsin TE Nizyi Davis and Wisconsin QB Danny O'Neil are all from Indianapolis, Ind.
* USC P Nate Hillenburg and Wisconsin QB Danny O'Neil prepped together at Cathedral HS in Indianapolis, Ind.
* USC DT Braeden Jones and Wisconsin RB Darrion Dupree prepped together at Mount Carmel HS in Chicago, Ill.
* USC OL Elijah Paige and Wisconsin OL Logan Powell are both from Phoenix, Ariz.
* USC DT Floyd Boucard and Wisconsin WR Keeyshawn Tabuteau are both from Montreal, Quebec.
* USC Senior Associate Athletic Director (Sport Administration) Lindsay Jaffe and Wisconsin Head Football Coach Luke Finkell held positions at the University of Cincinnati together in 2017.
WISCONSIN SCOUTING REPORT
* Wisconsin enters the matchup 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play following a 17-7 road loss to No. 12 UCLA. The Badgers had won four straight games after opening the season with a loss to Notre Dame.
* Wisconsin trailed UCLA 10-0 at halftime and scored its only points on a third-quarter rushing TD by QB Colton Joseph. The Bruins added the game's final TD with 11:31 remaining.
* The Badgers are averaging 27.5 points and 351.8 yards of total offense per game, including 199.7 passing yards and 152.2 rushing yards.
* QB Colton Joseph leads the Wisconsin offense. He has completed 81-of-143 passes for 1,132 yards, 10 TDs and 5 interceptions, and has scored 3 rushing TDs.
* Against UCLA, Joseph completed 6-of-16 passes for 66 yards and rushed 18 times for a game-high 71 yards, including Wisconsin's lone TD on a 3-yard run.
* Wisconsin was held to 214 yards of total offense and 13 first downs against UCLA. The Badgers rushed for 148 yards on 33 attempts and converted 3-of-10 third-down opportunities.
* The Badgers have rushed for 913 yards on 195 attempts this season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, with 7 rushing TDs.
* Wisconsin is converting 42% of its third downs (33-of-78) and 67% of its fourth downs (6-of-9).
* Defensively, Wisconsin is allowing 16.7 points and 286.7 total yards per game. Opponents are averaging 171.2 passing yards and 115.5 rushing yards.
* The Badgers have recorded 7 sacks and intercepted 3 passes this season. S Marvin Burks Jr. had both of Wisconsin's interceptions against UCLA.
* Wisconsin held UCLA to 120 rushing yards after the Bruins entered the game averaging 253.2 yards on the ground. The Badgers also recorded four pass breakups.
* LB Mason Posa led Wisconsin with 7 tackles against UCLA.
* Wisconsin has scored on 16-of-17 red-zone possessions, with 9 of those trips resulting in TDs. Opponents have scored on 16-of-18 red-zone trips and have recorded 7 TDs.
* The Badgers have committed 41 penalties for 364 yards, an average of 60.7 penalty yards per game. They were penalized 10 times for 108 yards against UCLA.
WISCONSIN TROJANS
* In USC's history, 6 football lettermen claim Wisconsin as their hometown and attended school in the state before coming to Troy: FB Stanley Burek, 1905-08 (Wisconsin); HB Gordon Campbell, 1921-23 (Wisconsin/St. John's Military Academy); LHB Phillip Duboski, 1936 (Beloit, Wis/Loyola HS); DT Gavin Meyer, 2024 (Franklin, Wis./Franklin HS/Wyoming); E John Milton, 1921-22 (Milwaukee, Wis.); QB Rodney Peete, 1985-88 (Green Bay, Wis./Shawnee Mission So.); RG Mel Pierson, 1947 (Milwaukee, Wis./Washington).
