{
  "id": 16422812,
  "title": "Five takeaways from USC’s embarrassing 24-7 loss to Wisconsin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/five-takeaways-from-uscs-embarrassing-24-7-loss-to-wisconsin",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-25T03:36:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/five-takeaways-usc-embarrassing-24-033628155.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Saturday evening, the USC football team suffered a devastating 24-7 defeat against Wisconsin, marking the Trojans' lowest point in terms of performance this season. As a result, USC's record dropped to 6-2 overall and 3-2 within Big Ten play. This analysis will highlight five crucial takeaways from the game.\n\nFirst and foremost, USC's offensive performance was a complete disaster. The team managed to score only seven points in total during the game, making it the fewest points scored in head coach Lincoln Riley's career and the least points the Trojans have accumulated in a game since 2018. The offense struggled in every aspect, leaving fans and analysts alike utterly disappointed.\n\nSecond, the Trojans had significant difficulties running the ball, finishing with an astonishing negative seventeen rushing yards. This statistic underscores the offensive struggles during the game, as the lack of a reliable ground game could not provide the necessary momentum to overcome Wisconsin's defense.\n\nThird, while Wisconsin entered the game as a relatively average team, the fact that they managed to defeat the heavily favored USC was a shocking revelation. The Badgers, under head coach Luke Fickell, who is under considerable pressure to improve, showcased their ability to outperform expectations and dethrone a team with a higher ranking.\n\nFourth, it appears almost impossible to envision head coach Lincoln Riley staying with USC in light of this embarrassing defeat. With the recent performance being the worst in Riley's head coaching career, it is highly probable that a new coach will be appointed soon to turn USC's fortunes around.\n\nLastly, USC's next match-up presents a daunting challenge as they will be hosting Ohio State at the Coliseum on a coming week. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Pacific time on NBC, and fans can look forward to another intense battle for the Trojans.",
  "summary": "What did we learn from the Trojans’ pathetic performance in Madison Saturday evening?",
  "key_points": [
    "USC's offense scored only seven points, lowest in head coach Lincoln Riley's career",
    "Trojans struggled running the ball, finishing with negative seventeen rushing yards",
    "Wisconsin upset heavily favored USC, highlighting defensive strength"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Trojans' offensive collapse and historical low under Lincoln Riley signals a crisis of leadership that likely necessitates a coaching change before their upcoming matchup against Ohio State.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}