SAN DIEGO – A Holiday Bowl victory is not exactly a rousing way to end the season.
But it beat the alternative Wednesday night when USC again came up short in a close game, losing to No. 23-ranked Wisconsin, 23-21, before 48,329 at Qualcomm Stadium.
USC proved it was not a comeback team this season, whether in losses to Stanford or Washington or Wisconsin. And the focal point, quarterback Cody Kessler, again came up short.
More importantly, it hardly gives new USC coach Clay Helton a massive springboard toward the 2016 season-opener against Alabama. A win would give USC something to silence the doubters.