Holiday Bowl Capsule

Southern Cal (8-5) vs. No. 23 Wisconsin (9-3), Wednesday, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

Line: USC by 3 1/2.

Series Record: USC leads 6-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Call this the Rose Bowl Light. While this normally would make a good New Year's Day matchup in Pasadena, the Trojans are in the Holiday Bowl for the second straight year while the Badgers are making their first trip to the bowl. USC won a pair of Rose Bowls against Wisconsin in 1953 and `63.

KEY MATCHUP

Wisconsin's defense, which leads in the nation in allowing only 13.1 points per game, against a Trojans offense loaded with offensive stars.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wisconsin: OLB Joe Schobert was named second-team AP All-American after amassing 9 1/2 sacks, five forced fumbles and 18 1/2 tackles for loss.

USC: QB Cody Kessler was 2014 Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP after throwing for 321 yards and three TDs in 45-42 victory against Nebraska. In 2015, he threw for 3,315 yards and 28 TDs.

FACTS & FIGURES

Teams last played each other in 1966. ... USC has won last 13 games against Big Ten teams, including last eight bowl games against the conference. ... Clay Helton became head coach at USC on Nov. 30, when AD Pat Haden dropped the interim tag. ... Wisconsin makes its 14th straight appearance in a bowl game, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and tied for seventh-longest in the nation. ... A victory would earn senior QB Joel Stave his 31st win as Wisconsin's starter and break the school record for QB wins he shares with Brooks Bollinger (1999-2002). ... Wisconsin first-year coach Paul Chryst was tight ends coach of the San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001.

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AP College Football website: collegefootball.ap.org