Washington’s defense has spent the last three weeks flipping the script.
After getting overwhelmed by Iowa on Oct. 9, the Huskies have put together back-to-back wins and, more importantly, back-to-back defensive answers. Washington beat Purdue 38-26 on Oct. 16, then came out of the bye and handled Nebraska 17-10.
That stretch has given the Huskies real momentum for the first time this season, and the defense has been a major reason why.
Against Purdue, Washington’s offense gave the ball away five times, but the defense kept the damage from turning into a disaster. The Huskies still came away with the win, and the unit held the Boilermakers in check even with those extra chances.
The Nebraska game was even sharper. Washington allowed only one touchdown in the first quarter and then a field goal in the fourth, while the defense piled up three interceptions against Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea. The biggest one came on a 48-yard pick-six that sealed the game for the Huskies.
That performance stood out as Washington’s best defensive showing of the season, and it came just two games after its worst.
The Iowa loss was a rough one from start to finish for the Huskies defense. In that 41-24 defeat, Washington gave up 202 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air, while Iowa also ran for 263 yards and two scores. Two of those passing touchdowns came on plays where Hawkeyes receivers were left wide open in the end zone.
For a lot of teams, a game like that can send things spiraling. Washington has done the opposite. The Huskies have answered with two wins, and now they sit one victory away from becoming bowl-eligible.
In Other News...
Washington Just Raised A Bigger Quarterback Concern For The Future
Washingtons quarterback future took another hit this week when Blake Roskopf backed off his pledge, adding to a run of recruiting turbulence that has already left the program trying to steady itself. The four-star prospect had been the lone quarterback committed in the Class of 2027, so his departure does more than thin out a recruiting board. It leaves the Huskies looking at a future room that now has to be built almost entirely from scratch.
The timing matters because this is the second high-end recruit to step away in the past week, and it comes against the backdrop of a program that may be prioritizing retention over splashy recruiting wins. For a staff trying to protect the roster it already has, that approach can make sense, but it also creates pressure elsewhere, especially at quarterback, where the pipeline is suddenly a concern rather than a strength. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Recruiting Suddenly Has A Jedd Fisch Problem
Washingtons recruiting momentum has taken a hit in the span of a few days, a reminder that the early days of the Jedd Fisch era are still vulnerable to the kind of volatility that comes with any coaching change. The Huskies have been trying to build on-field traction after a notable road win at Nebraska, where Chris Lawson and Demond Williams helped deliver a result that should have been a boost for the programs broader pitch.
Instead, the recruiting board has gotten shakier. Former Husky Trent McDuffie recently voiced his thoughts about missing the Pac-12 in a radio interview, a nod to how much the conference shift still hangs over the programs identity, and Washington now has to keep selling stability while navigating the uncertainty that comes with a new staff and a new league. For Fisch and his assistants, the challenge is no longer just landing prospects, but keeping them in the fold long enough to make the class feel secure. [Read more 🡒]
Washington May Be Catching Penn State At Exactly The Right Time
Penn States season has been a study in adjustment under first-year head coach Matt Campbell, and the changes have shown up on both sides of the ball. Brian Bennetts read on the Nittany Lions points to a team still searching for consistency, with quarterback Rocco Becht trying to steady the offense while new defensive coordinator DAnton Lynn continues sorting through scheme tweaks and personnel fit.
For Washington, that makes this matchup feel like it could arrive at a useful moment. The Huskies are getting a Penn State team that has had to manage a lot of moving parts, from offensive production to defensive identity, and the uncertainty around who is available and who can carry the load has been part of the story all season. There is still enough talent on the roster to make this a tricky test, but the broader picture suggests a group that is still trying to find its footing. [Read more 🡒]