No. 20 Iowa heads to Washington this week looking to steady itself after a rough night against Ohio State, and the setting is a tricky one: a short turnaround, a road trip, and a Huskies team that has been close in back-to-back losses without finding the finish it needs.
The Hawkeyes arrive in Seattle after a 31-14 defeat and now have to answer a simple question: how quickly can they reset? That’s the challenge before heading into a bye week. Washington, meanwhile, is coming off a 27-24 loss to Minnesota in Week 4 and a 25-21 defeat at USC in Week 5, so both teams are trying to stop a slide.
Iowa is listed as a slight underdog for the matchup. The numbers are tight across the board, with Washington favored by 3.5 points. The moneyline has Iowa at +134 and Washington at -162, while the total sits at 41.5.
There are some injury situations worth watching on both sides. Iowa lists quarterback Hank Brown and defensive back Ty Hudkins as questionable.
Washington has several players out: running backs Quaid Carr, Jayden Limar and Jordan Washington, safety CJ Christian and wide receiver Christian Moss. Cornerback Jeron Jones is doubtful, and offensive lineman Landon Hatchett is questionable.
Kickoff in Seattle should feel like a true October Big Ten night. The forecast calls for 48 degrees, little wind and only a 25 percent chance of precipitation.
This is still a short series, even with both programs now in the same conference. Iowa and Washington have played only seven times since the Huskies joined the Big Ten, and the Hawkeyes hold a 4-3 edge. Iowa also beat Washington 40-16 in October 2024 at Kinnick Stadium.
From a matchup standpoint, Washington’s recent offensive numbers point to a team that’s been better through the air than on the ground. Over its last two games, the Huskies have averaged 299.0 total yards, with 319 of those coming last week against USC. In that stretch, Washington has averaged 221.0 passing yards and just 77.5 rushing yards per game.
That lines up with an Iowa defense that has been a little better at slowing the pass than the run. The Hawkeyes have also been dealing with the wear and tear of spending too much time on the field, though there was some improvement up front against Ohio State after Phil Parker mixed in more blitzes and more bodies along the defensive line. Julian Sayin got his production, but Iowa did create pressure.
The bigger concern remains Iowa’s offense, especially if Hank Brown can’t go. Jeremy Hecklinski looked good in limited action against Ohio State and could be needed again, and Kirk Ferentz has voiced confidence in him. If Brown is sidelined, the quarterback run game becomes part of the equation.
The Hawkeyes’ rushing attack has been quiet over the last two games, which makes this a good chance to get that part of the offense moving again. The prediction here is that Hecklinski throws for two touchdowns and runs for another, while Iowa’s defense clamps down on Washington’s ground game and gets the Hawkeyes back on track.
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