After a well-timed bye week, USC resumes play on Saturday, Oct. 24, traveling to Wisconsin with a 6-1 record. The Trojans, who last played on Aug. 29 without a break, now prepare for their next challenge following their first of two scheduled pauses this season.
Coming off an emotional road victory over Penn State on Oct. 10, the past week allowed the team to reset collectively. Several key starters, including left tackle Elijah Paige, defensive lineman Jide Abasiri, and freshman tight end Mark Bowman, all dealing with injuries, gained an extra week to recover.
The team also fully experienced the benefits of their new $225 million Bloom Football Performance Center. “It’s going to help a lot, it already has,” said head coach Lincoln Riley. “We’ve definitely felt the impact of it. Our team has advantages, and therefore is better because of it.”
A Test in Madison Before the Bigger Stage
A trip to Madison to face Wisconsin demands the Trojans’ full attention, knowing what awaits the following week against Ohio State on Oct. 31. The Buckeyes were among the games the Trojans circled heading into the season, along with Oregon and Indiana.
But that’s next week. Despite only one loss, nothing has changed with the team since their defeat to Oregon in late September. It remains a one-game season every week for Riley’s squad, and the pressure on him stays intense.
Wisconsin, coming off a 7-win season in 2023 and back-to-back losing campaigns in 2024 and 2025, has shown renewed momentum under coach Luke Fickell in 2026. While not the same team of recent years, the Trojans unquestionably has more talent and should handle the Badgers.
They can’t afford to stumble on the road, especially with matchups against top-10 teams looming. The Trojans played their best road game since joining the Big Ten against Penn State. They must now demonstrate whether they can replicate that performance.
Riley’s Message to the Rest of College Football
After the Penn State win, Riley said the victory would spark the team in the second half of the season. He also issued a warning, telling the rest of college football to “watch out” for the Trojans.
The Trojans are a young team with an extremely talented group of freshmen who are quickly ascending and don’t look or play like ordinary first-year players. However, Riley’s bold proclamations need to be backed up, starting with the Wisconsin game this week rather than the highly anticipated matchup with Ohio State next week.
