No. 20 Iowa is back on the road for another Big Ten test, and this one comes fast.
After a disappointing 31-14 loss, the Hawkeyes head to Seattle on a short week to face Washington, a team that’s also trying to steady itself after back-to-back tight defeats. The Huskies fell 27-24 against Minnesota in week four and then lost 25-21 at USC in week five. For Iowa, the trip offers a chance to reset before the bye week.
Here’s the setup for No. 20 Iowa at Washington.
The game will be shown on Friday night, with the broadcast crew listed for the matchup.
The betting numbers have Washington as a slight home favorite. Iowa is +3.5 (-120) on the spread, while Washington sits at -3.5 (-102).
On the moneyline, Iowa is +134 and Washington is -162. The total is 41.5, with the over at -105 and the under at -115.
Iowa’s injury list includes QB Hank Brown and DB Ty Hudkins as questionable.
Washington has a longer list to manage. RB Quaid Carr, S CJ Christian, RB Jayden Limar, WR Christian Moss, and RB Jordan Washington are all out. CB Jeron Jones is doubtful, and OL Landon Hatchett is questionable.
Weather shouldn’t be a major factor, even if it will feel like a real October night in the Big Ten. Kickoff in Seattle is expected to be 48 degrees, with little wind and just a 25 percent chance of precipitation.
These two programs haven’t met often. Since Washington joined the Big Ten, Iowa and the Huskies have played only seven times. The Hawkeyes lead the series 4-3, including a 40-16 win in October 2024 at Kinnick Stadium.
The matchup points toward a defense-first game, especially with Washington’s recent offensive numbers. Over its last two games, the Huskies have averaged 299.0 total offensive yards, with the higher number coming in last week’s 319-yard outing against a suspect USC defense. The bigger issue is balance: Washington has been much more effective through the air, averaging 221.0 passing yards per game over that stretch, compared with 77.5 rushing yards.
That plays into Iowa’s hands. The Hawkeyes have been a little better at stopping the pass than the run, and they’ll get another shot to prove it against a Washington offense that hasn’t found enough to finish games.
Iowa’s defense has had to do a lot lately, and it hasn’t quite looked like the dominant unit fans are used to seeing. Part of that has been a lack of pressure up front, though that started to change against Ohio State. Phil Parker brought more blitzes and used more bodies on the line, and while Julian Sayin still got what he wanted, Iowa did get more heat on the quarterback.
The bigger concern remains on offense, especially if Hank Brown can’t go. Jeremy Hecklinski flashed in limited action against Ohio State, and he may be called on again. Kirk Ferentz has shown confidence in Hecklinski, and that could matter if Iowa needs a spark.
The run game has been sluggish over the last two weeks, but this is a chance to get it moving again. In the prediction, Hecklinski’s legs and arm become part of the answer, with the quarterback run game taking on a bigger role. The forecast has him throwing for two touchdowns and adding another on the ground, while Iowa’s defense shuts down Washington’s rushing attack and helps the Hawkeyes leave with a win.
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The rest of the roster has to steady things around whichever signal-caller takes the first snap, which puts extra pressure on the supporting cast to carry its end of the bargain. Tony Diaz is expected to be part of that effort, and L.J. Phillips Jr. is coming off a high-ankle sprain but remains a key piece as Iowa tries to keep its postseason path alive. For a team with so much riding on one afternoon, the quarterback answer may end up shaping everything. [Read more 🡒]