The Wisconsin Badgers lost their second game of the season in a tough 38-21 loss to the USC Trojans on Saturday, dropping their first conference game of the year.

While Wisconsin’s 42-10 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 3 was tough from the start, the Badgers had their best half of football in the first half to take a 21-10 lead.

But things faltered from there, as USC outscored Wisconsin 28-0 in the second half, taking advantage of Badgers mistakes and great offensive execution to complete the comeback victory.

Offensively, Wisconsin got some explosives early, with Vinny Anthony catching a 63-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive by beating his 1-on-1 matchup. Braedyn Locke also caught a 35-yard pass to Bryson Green, who was also 1-on-1 in that scenario. Additionally, the run game saw success, with Tawee Walker rushing for 55 yards and two scores, while the Badgers combined for 105 yards on the ground at 4.4 yards per carry.

Defensively, the Badgers held their ground early, forcing Miller Moss into an interception while allowing just 10 points despite USC dominating time of possession and consistently driving down the field. Third downs led to their downfall, however, as the Trojans converted 11/17 in those situations, while also connecting on both of their fourth downs.

Speaking to reporters following the match, head coach Luke Fickell pointed out the underlying factors of the match. He said the team had what they were looking for in the first half, but must find a way to stay on course and take action throughout the game.

Listen to Fickell’s full introductory statement following the Badgers’ 38-21 loss to the USC Trojans earlier today.

In case you missed it, here’s our immediate reaction to the game, with Rohan Chakravarthi giving his analysis of Wisconsin’s 38-21 loss to USC.

Stay tuned for all Badgers postgame coverage soon!