A muffed punt was the Badgers football team’s big break. Another muffed punt resulted in the Badgers’ downfall in a 38-21 loss to No. 13 Southern Cal on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.

Leading 21-10 after halftime and fresh off stopping the Trojans on their first possession of the new half, Badgers punt returner Tyrell Henry muffed the kick, and the Trojans recovered at the Wisconsin 30. Nine plays later they found Miller Moss Ja’ Kobi Lane for a 6-yard score – the duo’s second touchdown connection of the day – to cut their deficit to 21-17 at the 9:18 mark of the third quarter.

The Trojans (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten) were on the run from there.

They forced a turnover by beating the Badgers’ ensuing possession before starting a nine-play, 67-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Moss to Duce Robinson that gave Southern Cal a 24-21 lead yielded by 1 minute. 33 seconds left to play in the third quarter.

Moss capped a seven-play, 77-yard fourth quarter drive with a 7-yard touchdown scamper on fourth-and-1 that gave the Trojans a 31-21 lead with 8:22 to play, nearly sealing the deal for Southern was sealed. Cal.

The final nail in the coffin was Mason Cobb’s 55-yard pick-6 off Braedyn Locke with 5:04 to play.

All told, it was 28 unanswered points for the Trojans after halftime.

The Badgers (2-2, 0-1) took their first lead of the game in the second quarter after Trojans returner Zachariah Branch muffed a punt that Wisconsin recovered at the USC 18-yard line. Tawee Walker ran in on the next play for an 18-yard touchdown to give the Badgers a 14-7 lead.

On their next possession, the Badgers went on a seven-play, 75-yard drive, capped by another Walker touchdown run from 4 yards out, making it a 21-7 game with 6:26 remaining in the quarter. The Badgers eventually took advantage of that advantage at halftime, but everything fell apart in half No. 2.

The Trojans got on the scoreboard first when Moss hit Lane for a 32-yard touchdown pass on their first drive of the first quarter. Moss was able to put on a show, completing 30 of 45 passes for 308 yards, three touchdowns and a pick. Moss also ran the ball five times for 17 yards and a score.

But the Badgers answered when Locke hit Vinny Anthony II for a 62-yard touchdown pass. Locke, making his second straight start in place of the injured Tyler Van Dyke, completed 13 of 26 passes for 180 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The Badgers let a chance for an upset slip away after halftime and will now have to wait another week before they can get their first Big Ten win. They host Purdue next Saturday for an 11 a.m. kickoff.