Penn State’s trip to Seattle comes with a clear defensive assignment: deal with Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr., a dual-threat problem who can hurt a defense in more ways than one.
Williams has completed 123 of 187 passes, good for 67.8 percent, and has thrown for 1,495 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s added 282 rushing yards and three more scores on the ground, and his 1,104 career rushing yards make him one of only three Washington quarterbacks to top 1,000.
That kind of production has Penn State’s defense and coaching staff focused on the balancing act that comes with chasing him. The Nittany Lions’ pass rush managed only one sack against Purdue, but it still affected Ryan Browne and helped disrupt the Boilermakers’ offensive line in other ways.
Matt Campbell said Williams’ ability to threaten defenses as both a runner and a passer makes the challenge obvious, especially with Penn State having been vulnerable to big quarterback runs.
“You talk about the game plan this week and obviously you’ve got the most mobile quarterback in our conference and a guy that is as dangerous as anybody,” Campbell said. “So there’s a fine line of getting sacks and containing the quarterback too.”
Defensive tackle Keanu Williams, who knows the quarterback from his time at Oregon and UCLA before transferring to Penn State, made the same point from the defensive side.
“Those types of people, you don’t just stop them, you’ve got to contain them,” Williams said. “We’ve got to limit his running, we’ve got to sit here and keep him in the pocket and make him play quarterback.”
Washington’s protection has given up 21 sacks this season, so there are openings for a pass rush to exploit. But Williams has also shown how quickly a defense can get punished if it overcommits, and he hasn’t thrown an interception since Sept. 26 against Minnesota.
“That’s the biggest thing and that’s going to be our challenge for this week because a guy like him, he’s slippery,” Williams said. “He can play, he can run, he can do a lot of those things so I respect him as a quarterback and I respect that unit, so I just want to sit there and we can’t be as careful. We’ve got to rush and do what we’ve got to do.”
In Other News...
Penn State Just Got A Bigger Problem For Washington Trip
Washingtons quarterback situation is suddenly worth watching closely heading into Penn States trip west, because Jedd Fisch said Demond Williams is expected to start if he feels healthy. Williams has dealt with injuries and uneven play throughout the 2026 season, but he also showed why Washington wants him back on the field when he returned late in a recent game and helped finish off a win.
For Penn State, that changes the shape of the matchup in a hurry. Williams has already been through enough this season to make his availability a real week-to-week question, yet his presence gives Washington a different ceiling and a more dangerous look than the backup plan would offer. The Nittany Lions will be preparing for the possibility that the Huskies get their quarterback back at close to full strength, even if the final call still hinges on how he feels before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Biggest Injury Concern Just Got More Interesting
Penn States injury report brought a little more clarity heading into its matchup with Washington, with left tackle Malachi Goodman and receiver Chase Sowell both listed as probable. Goodman has been a steady presence up front all season, starting all eight games and leading the Nittany Lions in offensive snaps, so his status matters well beyond one lineup note. Defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim is also probable, giving the team a better look on both sides of the ball as the week moves along.
Koby Howard is the one name still worth watching, though, after being listed as questionable. For a Penn State offense that has leaned on continuity in the trenches and depth at receiver, the final call there could shape how the staff approaches its options against Washington. The update leaves the Nittany Lions in a better spot than they might have been, but not quite out of the woods yet. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Campbell Just Gave Penn State Fans A New Reason To Hope
Matt Campbells approach against Purdue offered Penn State fans something they have not seen enough of this season: a little more edge. The fake field goal was the kind of call that immediately changes the feel of a game, and it fit with a broader willingness to take chances instead of settling into the safer, more conservative script that had defined much of the year.
Campbell also showed he was willing to trust his offense in a spot where most coaches would think twice, going for it on fourth down from his own 28-yard line. For a fan base that has spent plenty of time waiting for the Nittany Lions to play with more conviction, those choices mattered, and they left a real question hanging over the rest of the season: was this a one-game shift, or the start of a bolder Penn State identity? [Read more 🡒]