2026 USC vs 2026 Wisconsin

Hypothetical

USC by 3.7

61% to win

High confidence — 7 games in — see our accuracy

Hypothetical forecast · SBR sbr-2r

Why this number

USCPreseason baseline +19.1In-season results −1.1

WisconsinIn-season results +8.5Preseason baseline +5.8

Neutral site

How they're built

0–100 percentile · higher is stronger

Compare the whole profile, then explore each dimension.

Offensive production relative to that season’s field. Compare an offense with the opposing defense in the scouting report.

Recruiting and experience add context; the five axes aren't equal weights in the forecast.

The numbers behind the profiles

Measure	2026 USC	2026 Wisconsin
Offensive / play	0.3190th percentile	0.1753rd percentile
PPA allowed / play	0.1426th percentile	−0.1297th percentile
Points per game	36.478th percentile7 games	31.658th percentile5 games
per game	25.142nd percentile7 games	16.683rd percentile5 games

Programs don't stand still

SP+ percentile among FBS teams, by season. The marked point is each compared season.

2026 USC2026 Wisconsin

Momentum

USC→ steady (+2 pctl over 3 seasons)

Wisconsin↗ rising (+19 pctl over 3 seasons)

Talent in, results out

Recruiting-class percentile feeding each roster, compared with its SP+ result.

2026 USC

Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026: 93rd percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026: 85th percentile

Matching its talent (−8)

2026 Wisconsin

Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026: 66th percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026: 74th percentile

Matching its talent (+8)

Campus distance

1670 miles apart

There's more to the matchup.

Supporting context, ready when you want it.

In the trenches · both directions

Matchup	O-line	D-line
2026 USC OL vs 2026 Wisconsin DL	318.6 lbs	302.4 lbs
2026 Wisconsin OL vs 2026 USC DL	317.7 lbs	276.7 lbs

2026 USC line yards 3.15 · 2026 Wisconsin stuff rate 10.9%

2026 Wisconsin line yards 3.04 · 2026 USC stuff rate 17.2%

Fans swear big lines win games. They're half right — big-line teams do win more, but only because good programs recruit big linemen. Once we account for talent and last season, line size adds nothing to the prediction. Across 11 seasons, no measurable effect on margin.

Roster size is context. It isn't a forecast advantage.

Backtested effect: 0.42 pts at 1σ.

Head-to-head · series tied 1–1 since 2000

USC has won 1 straight

Season	Score	Venue
2024	USC 38–21 Wisconsin	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum · USC home
2015bowl/playoff	USC 21–23 Wisconsin	Neutral site

Coaching & program context

2026 USC

Lincoln Riley

Luke Huard

career average +28.1 SP+ offense

Scheme: Power raid (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Pass-heavy, up-tempo (threw on 49% of its run–pass plays, 74th percentile of 2026 FBS; 70.9 plays a game, 75th percentile)

Gary Patterson

no career track record on file

Scheme: 4–2–5 (listed on Wikipedia)

2026 Wisconsin

Luke Fickell

Jeff Grimes

career average +29.8 SP+ offense

Scheme: Multiple (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Balanced, grind-it-out (threw on 47% of its run–pass plays, 54th percentile of 2026 FBS; 62.0 plays a game, 14th percentile)

Mike Tressel

career average +17.4 SP+ defense

Scheme: 4–2–5 (listed on Wikipedia)

A new coordinator feels like it should swing a game. Across 11 seasons, the change doesn't move the final margin beyond what the roster already tells us. Shown as context, not a factor in our number.

Run-heavy team meets a defense that can't stop the run — feels like extra points waiting. Across 7 seasons the matchup adds nothing beyond what the two ratings already say; if anything the point estimate leans the other way.