Penn State’s trip to Washington brings a familiar kind of problem: a team that can hurt you in a few very specific ways, even if the overall picture looks uneven.
The Huskies are expected to have quarterback Demond Williams Jr. back on Saturday, and that changes the shape of everything they do. Washington also has safety Alex McLaughlin listed as questionable, though he played in the win over Nebraska. On the other side of the ball, the Huskies’ defense has shown more against the run than Penn State saw from Purdue.
The biggest name to track is Williams, because Washington’s offense leans on him so heavily when he’s available. He has missed time over the last three games, appearing in only two, and has shared snaps with backup Elijah Brown, who transferred in from Stanford after the 2025 season. Even with the health questions, Williams remains the engine.
Matt Campbell described him Wednesday as “the most mobile quarterback in our conference,” and that mobility is what keeps defenses on edge. Williams has 211 rushing yards, but he’s also been sacked 21 times, the most in the Big Ten. He has carried the ball 68 times and averages just under 10 rushes per game, which is why Penn State’s defense has to treat him like Washington’s run game when he’s right.
The top receiving threat to watch is Dezmen Roebuck, who leads the Huskies in catches. He has 53 receptions for 509 yards and three touchdowns, and he’s already topped his freshman-year total of 42 catches. While Penn State’s cornerbacks have been among the best in the conference, the Nittany Lions had trouble against USC’s receivers, and Roebuck brings a similar kind of challenge with his quickness and route running.
Roebuck isn’t carrying the passing game alone, either. Chris Lawson leads Washington with 638 receiving yards, giving the Huskies a true one-two punch on the outside. That balance matters, because it prevents defenses from locking onto just one target.
Washington’s most important defender in the middle is Jacob Manu, the team’s leading tackler in the front seven. Manu has 28 solo tackles and has settled in during Big Ten play after opening with a season-high 11 tackles against Washington State. He has reached at least five tackles in each of the last four games and is on pace for his best tackle total since 2023, when he posted 105 at Arizona before following Jedd Fisch to Washington in 2024.
Manu’s size could matter in coverage, especially if Penn State gets its tight ends involved. Still, he’s expected to be a major factor Saturday as Washington’s middle linebacker against a Penn State rushing attack that woke up in Week 9.
In the secondary, McLaughlin is the name to circle if he’s cleared to go. He leads Washington with 56 tackles, has 2.5 sacks, and shares the team lead with three interceptions. His biggest pick came against Nebraska, when he intercepted Anthony Colandrea to seal the game after Washington scored two touchdowns in 15 seconds of game time.
If Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht starts pushing the ball downfield, McLaughlin is likely to be around it.
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Penn State Just Got A Bigger Problem For Washington Trip
Washingtons quarterback situation is suddenly worth watching again heading into Penn States trip west. Jedd Fisch said Demond Williams is expected to start against the Nittany Lions if he feels healthy, a notable development for a Washington offense that has had to navigate both injuries and uneven play from its signal-caller this season.
Williams has already shown why his availability matters, returning late in a recent game and helping Washington close out a win. For Penn State, the uncertainty is less about the name on the depth chart than the challenge of preparing for a quarterback who can change the feel of a game when hes on the field, even if his season has been anything but steady. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State May Have Found An NBA Talent Nobody Saw Coming
Roko Prkain arrived at Penn State with a rsum that already looked different from the usual college transfer story. The Croatian forward had played professionally in Europe, once pulled his name out of the 2021 NBA draft, and later went undrafted in 2023 before the NCAA cleared him to suit up just before the 2024-25 season opener. For a program trying to add immediate talent, the timing could hardly have been better.
Prkain wasted no time showing why there was buzz around his name, going off for 28 points in his debut for the Nittany Lions. It was the kind of opening-night performance that can change the conversation fast, especially when a player with pro experience starts looking like a potential NBA-level piece in a college uniform. The bigger question now is how quickly Penn State can turn that kind of individual flash into something lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces A Real Road Test In Washington Turnaround Bid
Penn State finally got the Big Ten win it needed against Purdue, and now the bigger question is whether that start can actually travel. The Nittany Lions head to Husky Stadium looking to build on signs of progress on both sides of the ball, with a healthier roster giving the staff more options as the season starts to settle in.
Washington brings its own momentum into the matchup after a recent victory sparked by quarterback Desmond Williams Jr., and that makes this trip a real test for Penn States turnaround bid. The Lions have shown enough improvement to believe they are moving in the right direction, but this is the kind of road game that can quickly show how much of that progress holds up away from home. [Read more 🡒]