Wisconsin Beats No. 15 USC 24-7 at Camp Randall for Ranked Upset Win

Wisconsin beat No. 15 USC 24-7 on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. The Badgers led 10-7 at halftime after two first half interceptions of USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, scored in every quarter, and finished the upset with a 1-yard touchdown run by Ryan Schwendeman with 5:02 left in the fourth quarter.

USC came into the game 6-1 and ranked No. 15. Wisconsin had no signature ranked home win this season before Saturday, which is what made the result stand out on the Week 8 schedule. The quarter scores show a game Wisconsin never let go: 3-0 after the first, 10-7 at halftime, 17-7 after the third, and 24-7 at the end, with USC held scoreless in the second half.

Interceptions set up the halftime lead

Maiava threw two interceptions in the first half. A pass interference penalty on Jontez Williams also helped Wisconsin take its 10-7 halftime lead, and reports from the game said USC's offensive line was outplayed by Wisconsin's defensive line in the first half.

Through three quarters the total yardage still favored USC, 168 yards to Wisconsin's 139. The turnovers did not. USC had lost two turnovers to Wisconsin's none through three quarters, and the rushing gap was wide, with Wisconsin running for 96 yards to USC's 6 in that span. Wisconsin turned that edge in the run game and the turnover count into points, while USC kept leaving its defense on the field.

Brooks scores on fourth down, Schwendeman finishes it

Chris Brooks caught a bubble screen and scored on a 16-yard touchdown on fourth down, diving across the goal line to extend Wisconsin's lead. That play gave the Badgers the two score cushion that changed how the fourth quarter was played, with USC chasing the game and Wisconsin able to run the ball and the clock.

The last score was the clearest example. Schwendeman scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 13-play, 59-yard drive that ate up just over eight minutes, giving Wisconsin a 24-7 lead with 5:02 left in the fourth quarter. Colton Joseph had quarterback sneaks on the drive and Bryan Jackson had two big carries, and the long series left USC with little time and a 17 point gap.

USC's late chances come to nothing

USC missed a 58-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter, after a delay of game penalty pushed the try back. Late in the quarter, USC failed to convert on fourth-and-18, and Wisconsin took over at the USC 25-yard line with a 17-point lead and 3:43 left. From there the result was settled, and Camp Randall had its ranked win: Wisconsin 24, USC 7, with the visitors shut out for the full second half after scoring their only touchdown in the second quarter.