Holiday Bowl preview: USC vs. Wisconsin

USC will play Wisconsin on Wednesday in a second consecutive trip to the Holiday Bowl.

The Trojans defeated Nebraska, 45-42, last season.

USC is 8-5 overall and lost to Stanford earlier this month in the Pac-12 Conference championship game.

Wisconsin, from the Big 10 Conference, is 9-3.

USC will play with a makeshift coaching staff after Coach Clay Helton fired defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, defensive line coach Chris Wilson, defensive backs coach Keith Heyward and offensive line coach Bob Connelly after the conference championship game.

Linebackers coach Peter Sirmon will be the interim defensive coordinator for the bowl game and four other assistants are expected to fill in on the headsets.

Helton promoted Tee Martin to offensive coordinator before bowl practices began, however Helton will continue to call plays to close the season.

USC will play without starting left tackle Chad Wheeler, who did not join the team in San Diego after an incident involving the police. Right tackle Zach Banner will move to the left side and freshman Chuma Edoga will start at right tackle.

Cornerback Kevon Seymour will be sidelined after he suffered a high ankle sprain last week.

Receiver Isaac Whitney was on track to return from a broken collarbone that he suffered earlier this season, but a setback during bowl practices will keep him sidelined.

The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.