Penn State’s trip to Washington on Saturday carries a little extra weight just because of how rare it is. The Nittany Lions haven’t played in Seattle in 105 years, and the last time they were there, they left with what Lou Prato called “a lesson in Eastern football,” in the Penn State Football Encyclopedia.
Now they’re back at Husky Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff, with a chance to push their record at Washington to 2-0.
FS1 will carry the game, with Dan Hellie and Robert Smith on the call. It’s Penn State’s second FS1 appearance this season, following the opener against Marshall.
Fans can also stream the game on FOX One, the subscription streaming service from FOX.
On the radio side, Steve Jones and Jack Ham will handle the Penn State Sports Network broadcast, which airs across dozens of stations in the Northeast. The game will also be simulcast on Sirius XM channels 175, 263 and 973, plus the XM app, and it will be available online through the Penn State Sports Network.
Washington enters as a 2.5-point favorite at DraftKings. The Huskies have been the favorite all week after their 17-10 comeback win over Nebraska. DraftKings lists Washington at -135 on the money line, with Penn State at +114, and the over/under is 44.5 points.
These two programs have crossed paths only four times, but the history is memorable. Penn State’s lone previous trip to Seattle came in 1921, when the team traveled by train from Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving Day and won 21-7 to finish its second straight unbeaten season, though that year included two ties.
The teams later met twice in bowl games. In the 1983 Aloha Bowl, D.J.
Dozier scored Penn State’s only touchdown in a 13-10 win. In the 2017 Fiesta Bowl, Saquon Barkley rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns, including a 92-yard score, in a 35-28 Penn State victory.
Barkley then took a farewell lap around University of Phoenix Stadium before declaring for the NFL draft the next day. Penn State also beat Washington 35-6 at Beaver Stadium in 2024.
The Nittany Lions’ backfield has a new face at the center of the conversation. Cam Wallace was Penn State’s fourth-string running back three weeks ago, didn’t play in three straight games against Northwestern, USC and Michigan, and logged just two carries against Wisconsin.
He entered the bye week as a transfer-portal contender. Then came his 135-yard performance against Purdue, a game that changed his trajectory.
He is now Penn State’s No. 1 back, and coach Matt Campbell pointed toward Wallace leading the backfield again Saturday. If Penn State doesn’t give him 20 carries, the position could drift back into the season-long uncertainty it has dealt with.
Penn State may also need production at receiver, especially with its availability report taking shape. Brett Eskildsen could have a bigger role, while Koby Howard and Zay Robinson are listed as questionable.
Howard’s return from a five-game absence is doubtful, and Robinson was added to Thursday’s report. Chase Sowell is listed as probable, which makes his return even more important.
Up front, Penn State’s defensive line is worth watching, particularly ends Yvan Kemajou and Caleb Bacon. The numbers point to an opening: Penn State is tied for last in the Big Ten in conference sacks with five, while Washington has allowed a conference-high 23 sacks. If the Nittany Lions can pressure the quarterback, that could be a major edge.
Washington’s offense has struggled, but receiver Chris Lawson has been a bright spot. He nearly carried the Huskies to a win at Nebraska last week, catching 12 passes for 155 yards and Washington’s only offensive touchdown. A matchup between Lawson and Penn State cornerback Audavion Collins could be one of the game’s most interesting individual battles.
At quarterback, Penn State fans already know Demond Williams Jr. from his college debut against the Nittany Lions two years ago. Washington was trailing 28-0 at halftime in that game when it turned from starter Will Rogers to Williams, who added a 43-yard run in the second half.
Williams eventually started 21 straight games before fracturing a rib last month and being replaced by Elijah Brown. He returned against Nebraska last week and is expected to start Saturday.
Washington coach Jedd Fisch said this week, “We’ll make a decision here at the end of the week, but if Demond is feeling good, I don’t see why he wouldn’t play and start,”
The bigger question for the Huskies is the line in front of him. Washington has allowed 26 sacks, the most in the Big Ten, and only one starter - right tackle Drew Azzopardi - has started all eight games at the same position. One starter is out, and two more are listed as questionable.
In Other News...
Penn State Wrestling Lineup Just Got A Huge Preseason Shakeup
Penn States wrestling plans took a hit this week when Levi Haines was ruled ineligible for a fifth season, a decision that immediately changes the look of the lineup heading into the opener against Bloomsburg. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the NCAA in denying additional eligibility for athletes from the 2022 class who did not redshirt, closing the door on a possible return for one of the programs most accomplished recent wrestlers.
Haines leaves after four seasons in Happy Valley with multiple titles to his name, and his recent world championship at 79 KG only underscored how much firepower he would have brought back. Instead, Penn State now has to sort out weight class assignments and adjust quickly before the season begins, with the ripple effects likely felt well beyond just one spot in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Wasted A Breakout Night In Another Brutal Collapse
Shea Busch gave Penn State exactly the kind of offensive jolt it needed at Pegula Ice Arena, scoring twice for the first goals of his college career in a game that looked like it might finally turn in the Nittany Lions favor. Justin Poirier and Lev Katzin also chipped in, and Penn State built a lead of two goals twice while showing the kind of attack that has been missing at times this season.
But the night unraveled again in the kind of finish that has become too familiar. Notre Dame answered with three straight goals, then ended it in overtime on Evan Werners winner, leaving Penn State with a 5-4 loss and another frustrating reminder that a strong start has not been enough to protect it when the game gets tight late. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Have Plenty To Say About These Offseason Changes
Penn State Athletics spent part of the offseason giving fans a clearer picture of what is changing around the program, and Beaver Stadium remains front and center. The renovation update included new chairback seats and more legroom in the west lower bowl, a small but meaningful comfort upgrade for a fan base that knows every inch of the stadium well. Alongside the construction news, the department also rolled out a student rewards program designed to keep campus crowds engaged by offering extra entries into the 2027 football ticket lottery for attending sporting events.
There was plenty more in the latest wave of updates, too, with the 2027 baseball schedule now out and set to begin with a series in the Bahamas. Wrestling also got a boost in the recruiting conversation, as three Penn State commits were ranked among the top 10 in the 2027 class by MatScouts. For a program that lives on constant momentum across sports, it was the kind of offseason news cycle that reminded fans there is always something developing in State College. [Read more 🡒]