USC nearly registered its first Big Ten win last week before faltering on the road vs. Michigan. At home in Week 5, the Trojans allowed Wisconsin to race out to an 11-point halftime lead — in large part due to some miscues — while setting the stage for a major 2nd-half rally.

And what a rally it was.

After surrendering 21 points to the Badgers in the first half, USC pitched a shutout in the 2nd half while controlling the time of possession the entire way. Offensively, Miller Moss also exploded after the break to keep the offense on the field and tearing up the Badger offense.

It ultimately culminated in the Trojans pulling away down the stretch for a 38-21 win. Here are the key takeaways from the showdown:

Miller Moss delivers brilliant — and gutsy — performance

Moss and the Trojans knew what they were facing coming out of halftime, and the star QB went right to work with the offense. USC would score 14 points in the period to immediately erase the deficit, converting 5-of-6 3rd downs in the period with touchdowns thrown to Ja’Kobi Lane and Duce Robinson.

In spite of the 24-21 lead, the final outcome was still in question late in the game. Then, Moss delivered a gutsy spinning and whirling touchdown run from a 4th-and-1 play to put the final outcome out of question late.

Moss was clearly banged up on his touchdown carry and would be evaluated with for an injury, but he quickly returned to the lineup. Fortunately, he had already delivered enough damage.

Moss’s final numbers went down as 30-for-45 through the air with 308 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception while adding his touchdown on the ground. The QB accounted for every offensive touchdown for the Trojans and continues to look like one of the top players at his position in the entire conference.

USC’s defensive steps up

USC has been a tale of 2 halves lately in the first 2 games of the B1G season. That includes against Wisconsin after the Trojans surrendered 3 first-half touchdown droves, including 2 drives of 75 yards.

After halftime, the Trojans pitched a shutout. In fact, the Badgers barely had over 75 yards of offense in the entire 2nd half after a pair of 75-yard drives before the break.

Twice Wisconsin turned it over on downs in the 2nd half, and the Badgers also had a pair of 3-and-outs after only 1 such drive in the 1st half.

Where is Wisconsin’s identity?

It must be said Wisconsin lost starting QB Tyler Van Dyke in the loss to Alabama. But it’s also true Michigan is 2-0 with a starting QB who has thrown for less than 100 yards, so a team cannot pin it all on the QB.

The real problem with the Badgers is they are still in search of an identity under Luke Fickell. It’s not strictly an offensive problem, but the offense cannot run from that fact.

Tawee Walker, Wisconsin’s most effective runner Saturday, had just 12 carries in the game (for 55 yards and 2 touchdowns). Overall, the rushing attack averaged 4.4 yards per carry on 24 carries.

And the passing attack after halftime was particularly brutal. Braedyn Locke finished the game just 13-for-26 for 180 yards and a touchdown with a pick-6 late in the game.

That lack of identity is apparent in everything Wisconsin does offensively right now. There is no go-to player — or style — to lean into when things get tight or you need a play, and blaming it all on the loss of Van Dyke isn’t going to cut it.

This is the roster Fickell and his staff compiled. They better make the most of it and find an identity or it’s going to be a rough performance in the B1G.