The Badgers see their big halftime lead disappear in a loss to No. 13 Southern Cal

A botched punt was the Badgers football team's big breakthrough. Another botched punt led to the Badgers' downfall in a 38-21 loss to No. 13 Southern Cal on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.

They led 21-10 after halftime and stopped the Trojans on their first possession of the new half. Badgers punt returner Tyrell Henry parried the punt, and the Trojans recovered at the Wisconsin 30. Nine plays later, Miller Moss found Ja' Kobi Lane for a 6-yard score – the duo's second touchdown connection that day – and cut its deficit to 21-17 with 9:18 left in the third quarter.

The Trojans (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten) were on the run from then on.

They forced a turnover on downs on the Badgers' ensuing possession before launching a nine-play, 67-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Moss to Duce Robinson that tied Southern Cal within a minute 24-21 lead. There are 33 seconds left to play in the third quarter.

Moss capped a seven-play, 77-yard drive in the fourth quarter with a 7-yard touchdown sprint on fourth-and-1 that gave the Trojans a 31-21 lead with 8:22 to play and sealed the deal for Southern good as sealed cal.

The final nail in the coffin was Mason Cobb's 55-yard pick-6 to Braedyn Locke with 5:04 left.

The Trojans had a total of 28 points after halftime.

The Badgers (2-2, 0-1) took their first lead of the second quarter after Trojans punt returner Zachariah Branch thwarted a punt that Wisconsin recovered at the USC 18-yard line. Tawee Walker ran in for an 18-yard touchdown on the next play, giving the Badgers a 14-7 lead.

On their next possession, the Badgers went on a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by another 4-yard Walker touchdown run, making it a 21-7 game with 6:26 remaining in the quarter . The Badgers finally capitalized on that advantage at halftime, but it all fell apart in half #2.

The Trojans got on the scoreboard first when Moss hit Lane for a 32-yard touchdown pass on their first drive of the first quarter. Moss was able to put on a show, completing 30 of 45 passes for 308 yards, three touchdowns and one pick. Moss also ran the ball five times for 17 yards and a score.

But the Badgers answered when Locke hit Vinny Anthony II for a game-winning 62-yard touchdown pass. Locke, starting for the second straight season in place of the injured Tyler Van Dyke, completed 13 of 26 passes for 180 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Badgers missed an opportunity to pull off an upset after halftime and will now have to wait another week to get their first Big Ten win. They host Purdue next Saturday for an 11 a.m. kickoff.