Wisconsin Badgers during an NCAA football game vs Alabama September 14, 2024 in Madison, WI.

2024 David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications

Football September 26, 2024 Andy Baggot

Baggot: Five things to know - Badgers open Big Ten action in L.A.

Wisconsin hits the road to take on No. 13 USC

When the unranked Wisconsin football team faces No. 13 Southern California at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, it will look to extend an unusual, but important, streak of success.

Going back to 1896 when the Big Ten Conference was initially formed, the league has expanded six times: 1899 (adding Iowa and Indiana), 1912 (Ohio State), ’50 (Michigan State), ’90 (Penn State), 2011 (Nebraska), ’14 (Maryland and Rutgers) and 2024 (Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington).

UW (2-1 overall) has not lost to an expansion school under those circumstances.

In 1906, the Badgers knocked off Iowa 18-4 and, a season later, derailed Indiana 11-8. Both outings were played in Madison and UW went on to claim its fourth Big Ten title.

In 1913, Wisconsin opened an 86-game series with Ohio State with a 12-0 victory at home.

In 1954, the fifth-ranked Badgers went on the road to register a 6-0 victory over Michigan State.

In 1995, UW played at sixth-ranked Penn State and came away from its first visit to Happy Valley with a 17-9 triumph.

In 2011, seventh-ranked Wisconsin hosted No. 8 Nebraska and rolled to a 38-17 win, a season that ended with UW winning its 13th conference championship.

In 2014, the Badgers played Rutgers and Maryland on consecutive weekends and came away with 52-7 and 37-0 blowouts, respectively.

The final rundown: Wisconsin is 8-0 vs. expansion teams all-time, including three victories on the road, going into its duel with USC (2-1, 0-1 in the Big Ten).

Here are five more things to know:

K Rafael Gaglianone converted a go-ahead FG with 2:27 remaining to lift UW past USC in the 2015 Holiday Bowl

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

The Badgers are 6-9-1 in regular-season games played in the state of California. They are 1-2 vs. Cal, 1-0 vs. Fresno, 1-1 vs. San Diego State, 1-0 vs. San Jose State, 1-0-1 vs. Stanford, 1-2 vs. UCLA and 0-4 vs. USC. They haven’t played a regular-season game there since knocking off Fresno State 13-10 in 2008.

UW is 4-7 in bowl games staged in California, including Rose Bowl losses to Southern Cal in 1952 and ‘63. Wisconsin’s only bowl victory over the Trojans was in 2015 when it rallied for a 23-21 win in the Holiday Bowl played in San Diego.

LB Jack Cichy recorded sacks on 3 straight plays during UW's win over USC

DUELING MILESTONES

USC earned its 400th victory as a major-college football program by virtue of its 38-3 win over the Badgers in 1966. UW returned the favor during its Holiday Bowl triumph over the Trojans. It not only ended USC’s streak of 13 consecutive bowl victories, it snapped Wisconsin’s six-game losing streak vs. the Trojans.

Wisconsin trounced No. 8 Michigan State in its 2016 Big Ten opener on the road

CHALLENGING START

Since 1990, the Badgers have begun Big Ten play on the road 14 times and are 7-7 in those outings. Seven of those games came against ranked opponents (No. 3 Ohio State in 2022; No. 8 Michigan State in ’16; No. 22 Nebraska in ’12; No. 24 Michigan State in ’10; No. 6 Michigan in ’06; No. 6 Penn State in 1995; and No. 14 Ohio State in ’91). UW topped Michigan State 30-6 in 2016 and Penn State 17-9 in 1995.

HC Luke Fickell has led the Badgers to victories in 4 of the last 5 regular season games

GOOD BYES

UW coach Luke Fickell is 7-1 in his head coaching career following regular-season scheduled bye weeks. The Badgers had one previous to their game with USC. They also have one the weekend of Nov. 9.

L.A. Memorial Coliseum is home to the USC Trojans

YOU BETTER GET GOING

If you can’t afford an airline ticket to Los Angeles, Calif., but are intent on catching this historic meeting – USC’s first home football game as a Big Ten member – you can always drive. If that’s your chosen mode of travel, it will take you approximately 29 hours to make the one-way 1,974-mile journey.

1st & 10 with Darryl Peterson

Is there a book that’s had a significant impact on your life?

The Bible. It’s something I read every day. It’s something I try to model my life after. I just finished reading the gospels not too long ago. I’ve grown in my faith a lot over the last year or so.

What’s your favorite thing about you?

How easy I am to talk to. I can talk to anybody, have a conversation with anybody. I can make anybody feel comfortable.

What’s your worst habit?

I used to bite my fingernails, but not anymore. I’ll say it has to do with my diet. If I have any type of a good game or anything like that, then the diet goes out the window for the day.

How do you deal with stress?

Pray. Meditation. Stuff like that. I’m big into meditating.

What’s something people would never guess just by looking at you?

That I love 2010 pop music. It’s my favorite type of music. I love “One Republic.’’ The earlier Taylor Swift. I love “Maroon Five.’’

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

I just turned 21 and my dad got me a car, a Jeep Cherokee. That’s a pretty nice gift, I’d say.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever given to someone?

I got my mom a Louie Vuitton purse for Mother’s Day this past spring. She loved it.

Is there a new teammate you’ve come to admire?

Jaheim Thomas. He didn’t say much, just came in and worked. He just worked and earned everyone’s trust. I like the way he goes about his business.

What are you good at besides football?

I’m a good cook. I like to cook. I cook a lot. I make a mean chicken Alfredo. I make the sauce from scratch.

What personality trait are you most proud of?

I’d say being trustworthy. I feel like I’m somebody you can confide in when there’s tough stuff going on. If someone needs me to keep things confidential, I feel like I’m pretty good at that.

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