The Holiday Bowl is always a game that that is exciting and creates great matchups, and the 38th annual edition of the game did just that and ultimately came down to the fourth quarter between the Wisconsin Badgers and the USC Trojans.

This was a close matchup throughout, but early on, the Wisconsin defense was clicking and the USC offense had no answers. The first quarter was a bit of a quiet one as both defenses were up to the task early on, but in the second quarter, things got going on the scoreboard.

Wisconsin dominated the time of possession and the total yardage in this game, and ultimately USC just didn't have enough to get by Wisconsin on this night in San Diego.

Back and Forth Second Quarter

Wisconsin broke the seal on the scoreboard as they scored the first 10 points of the game first on a nine play, 50 yard drive that resulted in a field goal. Then just under five minutes later, running back Corey Clement ran it in from six yards off that capped a six play, 74 yard drive. That had Wisconsin up 10-0, but USC wasn't going away.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America

After the Wisconsin touchdown drive, USC was set up with good field position following a Justin Davis kick return out to the USC 45. That drive ended with Davis punching it in for USC from one yard out to cut into the Wisconsin lead and put the Trojans right back in it.

Just before the half, however, the Badgers tacked on a field goal to give them a 13-7 advantage heading into halftime.

Building to the Finish

Once the team's came back out for the second half, both sides really got going and started to put some points up on the board.

USC started the second half going three-and-out which was followed by a 12-play, 64 yard drive in 6:16 for a Wisconsin touchdown. It was Stave making a nice play and found Austin Traylor from four yards out to give Wisconsin a 20-7 advantage. After that, USC got the momentum back on their side.

After the Badgers' touchdown drive, the Trojans wasted no time in going down the field and getting one of their own. It was Davis once again punching it in from four yards out, but it was set up by a 39 yard connection from Cody Kessler to JuJu Smith-Schuster that put USC in position to score.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America

Following that scoring drive by the Trojans, Wisconsin went three and out in their next two drives, but in between those two Wisconsin drives, USC had that ball and that is when a star broke out on to the scene for the Badgers on defense. Jack Cichy had two sacks coming into this game, but picked up three sacks on one possession and was Wisconsin's most effective defensive player in the second half.

Coming Down to the Wire

Once the game moved to the fourth quarter, USC was down six and needed to make something happen. Kessler led the Trojans on a 12 play, 84 yard drive which was capped off by a seven yard pass from Kessler to Darreus Rogers. Kessler was scrambling around looking for someone in the endzone and finally found Rogers to give USC a 21-20 lead. It wasn't much of a lead, but the USC defense was now going to need to come through in the clutch.

Nothing was going either way on the next few possessions until the Badgers drove down and knocked through a 29-yard field goal with just 2:27 left. They then led 23-21 and at that point, the ball was in the court of the Trojans offense to go on a game winning drive.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America

That didn't last long however as Kessler immediately threw a pick on a tip, but the Trojans defense forced another three and out and Kessler had a chance to redeem himself.

Kessler got the Trojans to midfield with seven seconds on the clock and the down being fourth. The play according to coach Clay Helton was supposed to be a hail mary, but Kessler threw it short and didn't reach the first down marker which ended the game and gave the Badgers the win.

Stats of Note

Wisconsin had the ball for nearly 15 more minutes and that was because the Badgers offensive attack was so balanced throughout. They outgained the Trojans 394-286 while the Badgers rushed for 177 yards led by Corey Clement who had 66 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Joel Stave ended 18-for-27 with 217 yards and a touchdown as well.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America

As for USC, they had struggles moving the ball consistently against the Wisconsin defense. Kessler ended 18-for-32 with 221 yards and one touchdown and interception a piece. Smith-Schuster had four receptions for 65 yards while Jones had eight carries for 47 yards.

USC finishes with a record of 8-6 while Wisconsin finishes 9-4 on the year.

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About the author
Josh Eastern
I live in Seattle, Washington and attend Indiana University as a journalism major. You can follow me on Twitter (@JoshEastern) and feel free to email me at [email protected] with any questions/thoughts.