Purdue heads into Friday night with momentum, and Washington is limping into West Lafayette with plenty of questions.
The Boilermakers have stacked back-to-back Big Ten wins and come home after blowing past Minnesota in their last outing, a result that looks even better considering the Huskies lost to that same Golden Gophers team earlier this season. Purdue is also getting the market’s respect here, with the home side favored against a Washington team that has now dropped three straight.
Washington’s biggest issue isn’t just the losing streak. Starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr. left last week’s loss to a ranked Iowa team early and is now in concussion protocol.
He’d have to clear it by Friday to be available, and if he can’t go, backup Elijah Brown could get the nod. Brown has completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 276 yards and four scores this season.
Williams has given Washington production on both levels, with eight passing touchdowns and three interceptions to go with 183 rushing yards and two rushing scores. But without him, the Huskies are in a tough spot against a Purdue team that is rolling on offense and has been much sharper than Washington in Big Ten play.
Purdue’s attack checks in at No. 10 nationally in adjusted EPA/Play, and the Boilermakers outpace Washington in just about every offensive category. The defense is a different story, though. Purdue sits outside the top 100 in defensive success rate, which gives Washington at least a path to move the ball if the offense can finally settle in.
That said, the Huskies have looked out of sorts in conference play. They opened the season 3-0, but Big Ten life has been rough: a three-point loss to Minnesota, a four-point defeat against USC, and then a 17-point loss to Iowa.
Washington’s best win remains a 14-point victory over Washington State to start the year, while Purdue’s 41-13 win over Minnesota last week adds more weight to the Boilermakers’ profile. Those early-season losses to Wake Forest and UCLA, both ranked now, also look a lot better in hindsight.
With Williams’ status uncertain and Purdue’s offense humming, the lean is to the Boilermakers at home.
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