Penn State and Washington arrive at Husky Stadium in very different places, but the betting market still sees them as nearly even. Washington is a 2.5-point home favorite for the Week 10 matchup, with the total set at 44.5.
That line makes sense after what both teams did in Week 9. Penn State beat Purdue 31-17, finally picking up its first conference win of the Matt Campbell era and easing some of the frustration around the program, at least for now. Washington also found a way to get right, edging Nebraska 17-10 with a late push in the fourth quarter.
A year ago, these were two teams living in the same neighborhood of the preseason conversation. They opened the season ranked back-to-back at No. 17 and No. 18 in the AP Poll, both carrying College Football Playoff hopes that now feel long gone. Washington enters at 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while Penn State sits at 4-4 and 1-4.
Even if the national spotlight has moved on, this one still carries weight inside both programs. Matt Campbell is trying to shake off the damage from that 0-4 start in Big Ten play, and Washington quarterback Demond Williams is trying to hold onto his job after backing up Elijah Brown because of injury and performance.
The biggest reason Penn State has a path here is the run game. Against Purdue, the Nittany Lions bullied the Boilermakers on the ground, piling up more than 250 rushing yards, topping 5.0 yards per carry and controlling the ball for over 43 minutes. For the first time against a Power Conference opponent, Penn State dictated the game on its own terms.
Doing that again will be a much tougher ask. Washington’s defensive front has been nasty, posting a 96th-percentile stuff rate and a 91st-percentile opponent EPA/rush. That’s the kind of front that blows up early-down runs, forces obvious passing situations and closes down space before an offense can get rolling.
Penn State should still get some help from the changes Taylor Mouser has made on offense, but Washington is not Purdue. The Huskies are built to make life harder on the ground, which shifts the burden toward the passing game and the quarterbacks.
That’s where the matchup gets interesting. The source of Penn State’s offensive upside is Rocco Becht, and the assumption here is that Koby Howard may not be available, while Chase Sowell could be on the field. Washington is more vulnerable through the air, and that opens the door for Becht to make enough plays if Penn State can keep the game manageable.
The other side of the ball matters just as much. Washington has struggled badly on offense, ranking No. 121 in rushing success rate, No. 123 in average third-down distance and in the 21st percentile in late-down success rate. The Huskies are constantly behind the chains and leaning on Williams to rescue drives.
He has done that at times, but Penn State’s secondary is a much tougher assignment. Both quarterbacks come in flawed and turnover-prone, but Becht should be operating in the cleaner setup. If Penn State’s defense can keep Washington from finding rhythm, the Nittany Lions have enough to pull this one out on the road.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Need To Hear Franklin On Whats Going Too Far
Recent college football weekends have brought an uncomfortable reminder that the sports passion can cross a line, especially when it spills over from the field to the people around it. Reports of harassment aimed at coaches families have become part of the conversation, and it has put a sharper spotlight on the responsibilities that come with being a fan, even in places where the emotion runs deepest.
For Penn State, the issue lands with extra weight because James Franklin has long had to navigate the intensity that comes with a high-profile job in a demanding environment. The broader backdrop includes everything from coaching changes and player evaluation to the grind of attendance and travel that shapes the college football experience, but the central point is simpler: there is a difference between being invested and going too far, and Franklins view on where that line sits is worth hearing. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Suddenly Face A Scary Jack Ham Situation
Jack Ham was supposed to be part of the familiar soundtrack around Penn State football in Seattle, but instead the longtime radio color commentator and former NFL linebacker dealt with a medical emergency before the Nittany Lions game against Washington. He was transported to the University of Washington Medical Center for treatment, leaving a sudden and unsettling absence around a trip that was already far from home.
For Penn State fans, Ham is more than a voice on the broadcast. He is one of the programs enduring links to its history, and news like this lands hard because it arrives with so little detail attached. No further information about his condition has been released, which leaves the focus squarely on his recovery and on the concern that comes with waiting for an update. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Wasted A Breakout Night In Another Brutal Collapse
Shea Busch gave Penn State a much-needed spark at Pegula Ice Arena, scoring twice for the first goals of his college career in a game that looked like it might finally turn into a breakthrough night. Justin Poirier and Lev Katzin also chipped in offensively, and the Nittany Lions built a lead of two goals twice against Notre Dame, putting themselves in position to bank a result they badly needed.
Instead, the game slipped away in the kind of fashion that has haunted Penn State too often. Notre Dame answered with three straight goals to erase the advantage, then finished the comeback in overtime when Evan Werner scored the winner in a 5-4 loss. For a team that had enough offense to win, the collapse was the painful part, and it left another promising performance hanging without the payoff. [Read more 🡒]