The Badgers, who ranked 53rd with a 5.3 rating entering the week — fell to 66th with a 3.6 rating following their loss to the Trojans at LA Memorial Coliseum. Phil Longo's sputtering offense is currently rated No. 92 by SP+, while Mike Tressel's defensive unit sits at a more respectable No. 27.

Wisconsin opened Big Ten play in the same manner it closed nonconference play: with a demoralizing blowout loss. That was a 38-21 loss to No. 13 USC. The defeat mostly came thanks to a 28-0 second-half margin in favor of the Trojans.