Can USC's loss be considered progress?

LOS ANGELES – A look back at Wisconsin’s 38-21 loss to No. 16 USC on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

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The Badgers suffered their second straight loss to a top-16 team, although it offered more of a taste of UW’s promise. The team forced three turnovers in the first half and led 21-10 at halftime. However, the second half was a disaster. USC held the Badgers to 82 total yards and three first downs. It was one of those afternoons where Wisconsin teased fans with its potential, only to have it come to a frustrating end.

What does it mean? Time will tell. Wisconsin has some winnable games on the schedule. Can this team get some wins in this core business?

More: Wisconsin football fans are criticizing the decisions made by Luke Fickell, who played the crucial fourth down in the Badgers’ 38-21 loss to USC in their Big Ten opener

Turning point: Bad punt sets the tone for the final two quarters

USC came out of the locker room energized in the third quarter, and it showed on its first possession when it forced the Badgers into a three-and-out.

The UW defense overcame that initial challenge by forcing the Trojans into a three-and-out on their ensuing possession. However, a missed point by Tyrell Henry gave USC a first down at the Badgers 30, a second life on that drive and also gave it a short field.

It was a break Wisconsin couldn’t afford. Nine plays later, the Trojans were in the end zone and scored the first of 28 unanswered points in the second half.

The Badgers never recovered from the momentum shift.

Thumbs up: Bertrams turns the field around; Anthony and Brown have career days

* Sophomore Atticus Bertams turned the field twice in the first half. His 74-yard punt moved the ball from the UW 25 to the USC 1. His 39-yard punt in the second quarter caught a nasty bounce and was mitigated by Zachariah Branch, a turnover that led to an 18-yard touchdown run of Wisconsin led Tawee Walker.

* Vinny Anthony’s 63-yard touchdown in the first quarter was his first college touchdown. It was also UW’s longest game of the year until he returned a 74-yard kickoff in the fourth quarter. He finished with 162 all-purpose yards.

* Safety Austin Brown recorded nine tackles and a strip sack of Miller Moss that was recovered by Ben Barten.

* Running back Darrion Dupree got work early, scoring twice on the team’s second possession of the first quarter. It was perhaps a sign of the coaches’ growing confidence in the rookie.

MORE: Box Score | UW Schedule | Big Ten Standings | College football scores

Thumbs down: UW doesn’t do itself any favors with short-yardage struggles and penalties

* For the second week in a row, Wisconsin failed to convert a four-on-one situation. Walker was taken out of the game at the 33 mark and the team was denied the chance to tie USC’s first goal of the second half.

* Jaheim Thomas was assessed two offside penalties on third down. In both cases, USC scored the first down.

* No one would question Hunter Wohler’s ability to make plays, but the senior safety was tackled by Trojans QB Miller Moss for a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. This piece will likely make the rounds on highlight shows.

* Tackett Curtis was somehow called for a facemask penalty on the opener, which was a touchback.

Wisconsin Football Insider: The Badgers return to Camp Randall for a matchup against Purdue

The Badgers need a win. So what better team to visit than the Boilermakers? UW has won 17 straight times in this series.

Purdue (1-3, 0-1) comes into town on a three-game losing streak that included a 59-point margin against Notre Dame, 17 against Oregon State and 18 against Nebraska.

More: Have a question about Wisconsin’s loss at USC? Ask Mark Stewart

USC 38, Wisconsin 21: The Badgers fell short in the second half, cheered on by Miller Moss, highlights, scoring opportunities, review

Can USC’s loss be considered progress?

ByJasper

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Turning point: Bad punt sets the tone for the final two quarters

Thumbs up: Bertrams turns the field around; Anthony and Brown have career days

Thumbs down: UW doesn’t do itself any favors with short-yardage struggles and penalties

Wisconsin Football Insider: The Badgers return to Camp Randall for a matchup against Purdue

By Jasper

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