Whicker: Trojans outmuscled by Badgers in Holiday Bowl

The Wisconsin Badgers play the Southern California Trojans in the Holiday Bowl on Wednesday, December 30 kick off time at 10:30 PM ET, at Qualcomm Stadium. The 14-team Big Ten Conference has a 3-1 bowl record.

The Trojans seized their first lead of the game, 21-20, with 10 minutes remaining when Kessler clicked with wide receiver Darreus Rogers on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Kessler was flushed from the pocket and extended the play before spotting Rogers streaking across the end zone. Kessler’s arm was hit as he tried to fire one into the left flat and cornerback Sojourn Shelton picked it off, ending the drive and seemingly USC’s shot at a comeback with 1:44 left.

USC quarterback Cody Kessler might have the most name recognition in the Holiday Bowl, but it was the Trojans’ rushing attack that had a significant impact on the team’s surge from late October into November. Maybe they could have mentioned to him that fresh legs don’t much matter if you can’t get the ball to your speed guys.

Following that scoring drive by the Trojans, Wisconsin went three and out in their next two drives, but in between those two Wisconsin drives, USC had that ball and that is when a star broke out on to the scene for the Badgers on defense.

Imagine if he could have gotten the 19 carries that Wisconsin’s Corey Clement, whose health status was uncertain coming in to the game, managed to get. That game plan hasn’t been as effective this season, but with Clement and Dare Ogunbowale providing a running threat, Stave playing one of the best games of his up-and-down career and the defense limiting the Trojans to 21 points, it showed the old formula still works and that Chryst will only improve on that in the future.

Stave, selected the offensive player of the game, threw for 217 yards and a touchdown while completing 18 of 27 attempts.

UW no doubt will miss wide receiver Alex Erickson (five catches, 54 yards) but junior Robert Wheelwright appears ready to explode.

Second-team All-American JuJu Smith-Schuster ranks among the national leaders with 85 receptions and 10 TDs, and entered the bowl season third in the FBS with 1,389 receiving yards.

USC started the second half going three-and-out which was followed by a 12-play, 64 yard drive in 6:16 for a Wisconsin touchdown.

The score came after freshman Ronald Jones II’s two-yard touchdown run was negated by a holding penalty and Smith-Schuster was tackled just short of the goal line on a third-down catch. Wisconsin has won six of its last seven games. The last time USC was in the 60s in rushing came in the 2014 UCLA game. The Trojans beat the Badgers in the 1953 and 1963 Rose Bowls….

He also represents a break from the Pete Carroll coaching tree, something that USC arguably desperately needs: Kiffin and Sarkisian, co-offensive coordinators under Carroll, had tumultuous tenures as the lead Trojans, never winning the Pac-12 under either man’s watch and getting let go in ignominious ways.

Kessler opting to throw a sideline route on fourth down and ten, with seven seconds left, in Hail Mary territory, was just the cherry on top. This season also marked the second straight year the Aggies finished 8-5 after starting 5-0.

But there is this characteristic of the Trojans since Clay Helton took the reins. His 851 career completions and 88 touchdown passes are both good for No. 3 all-time at USC and his 10,339 career passing yards are No. 4 all-time at USC. The Badgers’ three losses this year-to Alabama in the opener, Iowa by four points in early October and Northwestern at home-felt increasingly sour for Badgers fans.

The Badgers answered with a 33-yard field goal by Rafael Gaglianone and took a 13-7 lead into halftime. – USC QB Cody Kessler completed 18-of-32 passes for 221 yards and a score with a pick, and ran five times for 17 yards.