Saturday, October 24

Compare these teams

USC

6–1 · AP #19

at

Wisconsin

4–1

Time TBACamp Randall StadiumMadison, WI

Weather

Forecast available from Friday, October 16.

Weather is not an input to the SBR forecast.

Game forecast

Our forecast for this game posts the Tuesday of game week.

The game in a minute

01 · USC's case

USC's defense leads its matchup in allowed

USC's defense is in the 45th percentile for success rate allowed this season. Wisconsin's offense is in the 24th percentile for success rate.

See the underlying numbers

02 · Wisconsin's answer

Wisconsin's offense leads its matchup in per-play efficiency

Wisconsin's offense is in the 53rd percentile for per play this season. USC's defense is in the 26th percentile for PPA allowed.

See when each team has the ball

03 · What could swing it

No forecast yet

There is no published forecast to cite for this game right now.

See the forecast

When each team has the ball

Offensive efficiency meets defensive efficiency. Percentiles run from 0 to 100.

When USC has the ball

USC offense
90th
Wisconsin defense
97th
Show the underlying numbers
USC offensive PPA per play
0.3190th percentile · #12 nationally
Wisconsin PPA allowed per play
−0.1297th percentile · #5 nationally
USC success rate
52%95th percentile · #8 nationally
Wisconsin success rate allowed
35%84th percentile · #23 nationally
USC points per game
36.478th percentile · #31 nationally
Wisconsin per game
16.683rd percentile · #24 nationally

PPA and success rate: CFBD, 2026 season to date, garbage time included. Points per game: 2026 games so far. Percentiles and ranks are among 2026 teams.

USC offense · Last 7 games · garbage time excluded

Explosiveness
1.22
Rush success
46.5%

Wisconsin defense · 4 of the last 5 games · garbage time excluded

Explosiveness allowed
1.03
Rush success allowed
36.2%

When Wisconsin has the ball

Wisconsin offense
53rd
USC defense
26th
Show the underlying numbers
Wisconsin offensive PPA per play
0.1753rd percentile · #61 nationally
USC PPA allowed per play
0.1426th percentile · #101 nationally
Wisconsin success rate
40%24th percentile · #105 nationally
USC success rate allowed
41%45th percentile · #77 nationally
Wisconsin points per game
31.658th percentile · #58 nationally
USC points allowed per game
25.142nd percentile · #80 nationally

PPA and success rate: CFBD, 2026 season to date, garbage time included. Points per game: 2026 games so far. Percentiles and ranks are among 2026 FBS teams.

Wisconsin offense · Last 5 games · garbage time excluded

Explosiveness
1.53
Rush success
34.3%

USC defense · Last 7 games · garbage time excluded

Explosiveness allowed
1.34
Rush success allowed
39.7%

Defense is oriented so a higher percentile is stronger.

Where they attack.

Follow the direction. Check the production.

Offense on the field
Play type
Passer
Field measure
Share of charted attemptsDirectional schematic
Direction, from the offense's perspective

Offense moving upfield ↑

Select left, middle or right. The paths show direction only; alignment, routes and throw depth are schematic.

Jayden Maiava · 77% of charted pass attempts

Throwing right

Share of charted plays
39%
Usage: charted in this direction
61 attempts
Yards / attempt
10.0
over 59 attempts with a result
Completion rate
80%
over 59 attempts with a result

156 of 158 have a direction · 2 unknown, excluded · rounded

Charted 6 of 7 games

Efficiency charted in 6 of 7 games

Depth as written in the play-by-play: 140 short · 16 deep · 2 not stated

Who's driving the offense?

The USC offense in 2026

Featured players for

Jayden Maiava

QB · 7 games

Jayden Maiava

Photo: ESPN

152/224 · 68% season

Passing yards
2,045
Touchdowns
18
Interceptions
3

Last game

Penn State · Oct 10, 2026: 21/33, 301 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT

King Miller

RB · 7 games

King Miller

Photo: ESPN

Carries
114
Rushing yards
595
Touchdowns
4

Last game

Penn State · Oct 10, 2026: 19 carries, 102 yds, 1 TD

Kayden Dixon-Wyatt

WR · 6 games

Kayden Dixon-Wyatt

Photo: ESPN

Receptions
27
Receiving yards
400
Touchdowns
4

Last game

Penn State · Oct 10, 2026: 2 rec, 28 yds, 1 TD

USC player tables

Who is producing

USC player production

2026 evidence · 7 games in this window · 7 with recorded rows in this view

Statistic category

Sorted by Completions and attempts, highest first

USC — Passing production
Player
Jayden MaiavaQB7152 / 2242,0459.1183
Jonas WilliamsQB312 / 141269.001

2 players with recorded rows

Rows are recorded player-game box lines for the games listed above. A missing row is missing data, not proof that a player did not appear, and none of these figures describe targets, snaps, starters or availability.

Wisconsin player tables

Who is producing

Wisconsin player production

2026 evidence · 5 games in this window · 5 with recorded rows in this view

Statistic category

Sorted by Completions and attempts, highest first

Wisconsin — Passing production
Player
Colton JosephQB581 / 1431,1327.9105

1 players with recorded rows

Rows are recorded player-game box lines for the games listed above. A missing row is missing data, not proof that a player did not appear, and none of these figures describe targets, snaps, starters or availability.

In the trenches

USC's line averages 318.6 lbs against Wisconsin's 302.4 lbs front — an edge of 16.2 lbs a man.

Typical FBS gap: 31.7 lbs.

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

MatchupO-lineD-line
USC OL318.6 lbs302.4 lbs
Wisconsin OL317.7 lbs276.7 lbs
  • USC
  • Wisconsin

Average listed roster weight, 2026 · bars run from 0 to 350 lbs.

How these teams stack up

2026 season. Percentiles and ranks are among 2026 FBS teams.

USC

Points per game
36.4#31 nationally · 78th percentile · 7 games
Points allowed per game
25.1#80 nationally · 42nd percentile · 7 games
Returning production
59% of 2025 PPA returns · 70th percentile
Upperclassmen
31% · 127 of 127 with a class year

Wisconsin

Points per game
31.6#58 nationally · 58th percentile · 5 games
Points allowed per game
16.6#24 nationally · 83rd percentile · 5 games
Returning production
31% of 2025 PPA returns · 36th percentile
Upperclassmen
39% · 119 of 119 with a class year

Recruiting

USC

2026 signing class · #1 nationally
100th percentile · 310.7 pts
4-year recruiting composite (Saturday Bias) · classes 2023–2026 · #7 nationally
96th percentile · 1.86 (0 is the FBS average)
Roster talent (CFBD Team Talent) · 2026 · #9 nationally
94th percentile · 899.0

Wisconsin

2026 signing class · #78 nationally
44th percentile · 186.8 pts
4-year recruiting composite (Saturday Bias) · classes 2023–2026 · #47 nationally
66th percentile · 0.33 (0 is the FBS average)
Roster talent (CFBD Team Talent) · 2026 · #30 nationally
79th percentile · 767.7

Recruited classes aren't the roster that takes the field.

Season percentile profiles

Offense · SP+ 2026Defense · SP+ 2026Special teams · SP+ 2026Recruiting · 2026 signing classExperience · returning production 2026USC Offense · SP+ 2026: 38.5, 94th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)USC Defense · SP+ 2026: 24.2, 61st percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)USC Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.1, 50th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)USC Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 310.7 pts, 100th percentile (CFBD, 2026 signing class)USC Experience · returning production 2026: 59% returning, 70th percentile (CFBD, 2026 roster)Wisconsin Offense · SP+ 2026: 26.3, 45th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)Wisconsin Defense · SP+ 2026: 15.8, 91st percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)Wisconsin Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.1, 50th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)Wisconsin Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 186.8 pts, 44th percentile (CFBD, 2026 signing class)Wisconsin Experience · returning production 2026: 31% returning, 36th percentile (CFBD, 2026 roster)0100
  • USC Offense · SP+ 2026: 38.5, 94th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • Wisconsin Offense · SP+ 2026: 26.3, 45th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • USC Defense · SP+ 2026: 24.2, 61st percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • Wisconsin Defense · SP+ 2026: 15.8, 91st percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • USC Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.1, 50th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • Wisconsin Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.1, 50th percentile (CFBD, 2026 season to date)
  • USC Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 310.7 pts, 100th percentile (CFBD, 2026 signing class)
  • Wisconsin Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 186.8 pts, 44th percentile (CFBD, 2026 signing class)
  • USC Experience · returning production 2026: 59% returning, 70th percentile (CFBD, 2026 roster)
  • Wisconsin Experience · returning production 2026: 31% returning, 36th percentile (CFBD, 2026 roster)

Season percentiles · outward is stronger · recruiting and experience are context, not forecast weights

USC: solid line, circles · Wisconsin: dashed line, squares

USC

Offense · 2026
38.5 · 94th percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Defense · SP+ 2026
24.2 · 61st percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Special teams · SP+ 2026
0.1 · 50th percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Recruiting · 2026 signing class
310.7 pts · 100th percentile
CFBD, 2026 signing class
Experience · returning production 2026
59% returning · 70th percentile
CFBD, 2026 roster

Wisconsin

Offense · SP+ 2026
26.3 · 45th percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Defense · SP+ 2026
15.8 · 91st percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Special teams · SP+ 2026
0.1 · 50th percentile
CFBD, 2026 season to date
Recruiting · 2026 signing class
186.8 pts · 44th percentile
CFBD, 2026 signing class
Experience · returning production 2026
31% returning · 36th percentile
CFBD, 2026 roster

USC's recent games

Most recent completed 2026 games · play stats exclude garbage time

  1. Oct 10 · 64 recorded plays

    at Penn State

    W 31–23

    50%

    Success rate

    0.44

    PPA / play

  2. Oct 3 · 71 recorded plays

    vs Washington

    W 25–21

    44%

    Success rate

    0.18

    PPA / play

  3. Sep 26 · 76 recorded plays

    vs Oregon

    L 27–41

    43%

    Success rate

    0.27

    PPA / play

The coaching staff

USC

Head coach
Lincoln Riley

Lincoln Riley

career +18.3 SP+ overall

Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0

Offensive coordinator

Luke Huard

career +28.1 SP+ offense

Defensive coordinator
Gary Patterson

Gary Patterson

no career rating on file

Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0

Wisconsin

Head coach
Luke Fickell

Luke Fickell

career +8.2 SP+ overall

Photo: Apyanac, CC BY-SA 4.0

Offensive coordinator

Jeff Grimes

career +29.8 SP+ offense

Defensive coordinator

Mike Tressel

career +17.4 SP+ defense

Head-to-head

Series tied 1–1 since 2000
  1. 2024 · USC 38, Wisconsin 21

    Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

  2. 2015 · Wisconsin 23, USC 21

    Neutral site · Qualcomm Stadium

Evidence and sources

Evidence window: 2026 season to date

  • USC: 7 games
  • Wisconsin: 5 games
  • The game in a minute: 2026 season to date, garbage time included · compared with 2026 FBS teams · CFBD
  • When each team has the ball: 2026 season to date, garbage time included · compared with 2026 FBS teams · CFBD
  • Where they attack: 2026 season to date, garbage time included, regular season only · per team, not ranked · NCAA
  • Featured players: 2026 season to date, garbage time included · per team, not ranked · CFBD
  • In the trenches: 2026 roster snapshot · compared with 2026 FBS teams · CFBD
  • Team profiles: 2026 season to date · compared with 2026 FBS teams · CFBD
  • Recent games: 2026 recent games, garbage time excluded · this game · CFBD
  • Coaching staff: 2026 coaching staff · per team, not ranked · CFBD (head coaches, SP+) and Wikipedia (coordinators)
  • Head-to-head: completed meetings since 2000 · games between these two programs · CFBD
Compare these teams