Huskies Show Fight, But Familiar Struggles Doom Them in 26-14 Loss to Oregon
The Huskies had their shot. On Senior Day, with a chance to knock off a top-10 rival and close the regular season on a high note, Washington came out hoping to land a statement win. But against a team as disciplined and explosive as Oregon, there’s no room for error - and the Huskies made just enough of them to let this one slip away.
The 26-14 final doesn’t tell the whole story. Washington’s defense kept them in it deep into the fourth quarter.
But the offense - particularly early - just didn’t have the juice to match Oregon’s firepower. That’s been a recurring theme this season, especially against the Big Ten’s upper tier.
Let’s break it down.
A Tale of Two Quarterbacks
Oregon’s Dante Moore didn’t light up the stat sheet with volume, but he didn’t have to. What stood out was his precision.
He consistently hit receivers in stride and capitalized on mismatches downfield. The Ducks’ top three wideouts each had a long reception of over 30 yards - with gains of 64, 41, and 31 - and all averaged at least 20 yards per catch.
That’s not just chunk yardage; that’s backbreaking efficiency.
Compare that to Washington’s Demond Williams Jr., who struggled with accuracy throughout. He finished with a 50% completion rate and managed just one pass over 16 yards.
His top target, Dezmen Roebuck, was held to 27 yards. The final passing totals?
Oregon 286, Washington 129 - a lopsided stat that mirrored the eye test.
Another Slow Start
Washington’s first five drives went like this: punt, punt, punt, punt, interception. That’s four three-and-outs and a turnover.
Against a top-10 opponent, that’s a recipe for falling behind fast - and it continued a troubling trend. In nine Big Ten games this season, the Huskies have failed to score in the first quarter six times.
Against the league’s top teams - Oregon, Michigan, Ohio State - they never scored more than seven points in the first half.
It’s hard to win when you’re constantly digging out of an early hole.
The Turning Point
Despite the offensive struggles, Washington had a real chance late. Down just five points with eight minutes to play, the defense had Oregon staring at a 3rd-and-9 deep in their own territory. Get a stop there, and who knows?
But instead, Moore found a receiver streaking across the middle, and 64 yards later, the Ducks were in the end zone. That play didn’t just flip field position - it broke the game open. It was the kind of explosive moment Oregon had been threatening all day, and it came at the worst possible time for the Huskies.
Bright Spots on Defense
Now, credit where it’s due: Ryan Walters’ defense has been steadily improving. They didn’t generate much pressure - the pass rush remains a work in progress - but they held their own against a balanced Oregon offense.
Tight end Kenyon Sadiq, a John Mackey Award finalist, was held to just four catches for 11 yards. And Oregon’s run game, usually a strength, was limited to 106 yards on 2.5 yards per carry.
That’s solid work against one of the Pac-12’s most consistent rushing attacks.
Ground Game Gains
Offensively, the Huskies found some rhythm on the ground. Freshman running back Adam Mohammed was a bright spot, racking up 105 yards at a blistering 7.5 yards per carry. As a team, Washington finished with 154 rushing yards - not eye-popping, but a sign of life in an offense that’s still searching for consistent identity.
Looking Ahead
National Signing Day is just around the corner, and there’s reason for optimism. Washington currently boasts the No. 16 recruiting class in the country, and they’re ranked fifth in the Big Ten. That’s a strong foundation - and a sign that Jedd Fisch and his staff are building something that could take shape in the years ahead.
For now, the Huskies will have to sit with this one. A rivalry loss always stings, but especially when it feels like you were a few plays away from flipping the script.
The good news? The pieces are starting to come together - just not quite fast enough to pull off the upset on Saturday.
The climb continues.