Penn State heads to Seattle with a simple task in front of it: find a way to win a Big Ten road game.
The Nittany Lions are 0-2 away from home in conference play after losses to Northwestern and Michigan by a combined 55-31, and Saturday’s matchup with Washington gives them another shot to change that. Penn State enters at 5-4 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten, while the Huskies are 5-3 and 2-3.
One of the biggest priorities for Penn State is controlling the game’s rhythm. The Lions held the ball for 43:27 in last Saturday’s win over Purdue, but matching that kind of possession time against Washington is a tall order.
Still, a 35-minute edge is a realistic target against a Huskies team that ranks 93rd in FBS in time of possession at 29:10. Penn State also showed it can extend drives when it needs to, converting all three of its fourth-down tries against the Boilermakers.
The tight ends should remain central to the plan. Ben Brahmer and Andrew Rappleyea have been a steady part of Penn State’s passing attack, combining for 54 catches, 489 yards and six touchdowns.
Against Purdue, quarterback Rocco Becht looked their way 12 times, and the pair responded with eight receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown. That kind of usage should continue if Penn State wants to keep Washington’s defense under pressure.
Defensively, the Lions have one clear name to track: Chris Lawson. The sophomore wide receiver leads Washington’s passing game with 44 catches for 638 yards and three touchdowns, and he has been especially productive lately with 26 receptions for 344 yards and two scores over the Huskies’ last three games.
Penn State cornerbacks Audavion Collins and Daryus Dixson, who have combined for 12 passes defensed, figure to be heavily involved in the coverage plan. Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn could also turn to Zion Tracy and Josiah Zayas to help contain Lawson.
The other major test is Washington quarterback Demond Williams. He can hurt defenses with his legs, and Penn State cannot let him turn broken pocket movement into chunk plays. Williams has run for 10 touchdowns since the start of the 2024 season, including six last year, so the Lions’ defense has to keep him contained and force him to operate from the pocket.
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The uncertainty is the part that stings most for Penn State, because this is no longer a short-term absence with a clean timetable attached. Howard has been listed as questionable for upcoming games, but the available signs point to a recovery that is moving slowly, if it is moving at all. For a team that expected to have him available by now, the wait has turned into a real roster concern. [Read more 🡒]