UW’s rushing attack has been one of the clearest problem spots through the first stretch of the season, and the reasons are hard to miss. The running back room has been hammered by injuries, while a young offensive line still hasn’t found its footing in the zone blocking scheme. Heading into conference play, the run game is not Jedd Fisch’s biggest concern, according to the Seattle Times, but it remains a major question all the same.
That issue showed up again against Eastern Washington, where the Huskies were able to stay in control offensively by leaning on short passes that effectively stood in for a traditional ground game. It worked against that level of opponent. The bigger test is whether that same formula can hold up against a deeper and more talented team.
There’s also a Minnesota angle in the mix. Christian Caple takes a look at what to know about the 2026 Gophers and the University of Minnesota more broadly, a subject with a personal twist for anyone who grew up near the program. The piece notes the writer has two siblings who attended Minnesota and that the Gophers were also the nearest 1-A, now FBS, team to where he grew up, which explains the lasting soft spot even with some skepticism about PJ Fleck’s style.
On the recruiting side, Dawgman has an updated recruiting blog with a possible Woof Watch for one of Washington’s biggest targets. Edge Jalanie George stands out as one of the top prospects in the country and is nearing five-star status. He’s set to announce his commitment on October 1, and the indications are that UW is in a strong position to land what could become a centerpiece of the 2028 class.
And if you’re looking for Husky action before Saturday, there’s a good one on the Thursday schedule. Washington women’s soccer hits the road to face Michigan in a matchup between two top-20 teams. The game is set for 4 PM PT.
In Other News...
Ryan Walters Weighs In As Familiar Seahawks QB Starts Turning Heads
Drew Lock has long been the kind of quarterback who can make a team feel comfortable stepping in when needed, and the early returns in Seattle have only reinforced that reputation. Through two games, the former Missouri standout has completed 72.9% of his passes for 422 yards and four touchdowns, giving the Seahawks steady production while looking every bit like a veteran who knows how to handle the moment.
Ryan Walters, who coached against Lock during his Missouri days before later becoming the Tigers' defensive coordinator, said he was hardly shocked to see the same traits showing up again. Walters pointed to Lock's confidence and arm strength, and those qualities have been on display as Seattle has opened 2-0, leaving the bigger question not about whether Lock can play, but how long this run might keep stretching out. [Read more 🡒]
Jaden Craig's Fast Start Gives TCU Fans One Real Reason To Watch
Through three weeks of the 2026 season, the national passing leaderboard has already started to sort out the names worth tracking, and Washington has a quarterback right in the middle of it. Demond Williams Jr. has pushed himself into the conversation with 890 passing yards, five touchdowns and just one interception, a sign that the Huskies offense is giving him room to work and making opponents pay when he gets rolling.
The early numbers also set up a meaningful next step for the Huskies as league play begins at home this week. After the opening burst, the question is no longer whether Williams can post eye-catching yardage, but how that production translates once the schedule tightens and the conference games start to shape the season. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Needs To Worry About These Minnesota Matchups Saturday Night
Minnesota arrives at Husky Stadium with the kind of identity that usually makes November football uncomfortable for an opponent. Under P.J. Fleck, the Golden Gophers have been steady enough to keep reaching bowls, with the 2019 season standing out as the peak of that run, and this group still brings a clear structure on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Drake Lindsey has been part of an offense that leans on its system, while defensive coordinator Danny Collins has assembled a unit built around disciplined fronts and multiple pieces that can make a game feel tighter than it should.
For Washington, the concern is less about one headline name than the collection of matchups that can tilt a Saturday night if the Huskies are not sharp. Minnesotas injury situation has already affected how the Gophers have looked in recent weeks, especially on offense, and the way they manage personnel on defense has also altered how certain players are being used. The result is a team that can still be hard to sort out, which is exactly the kind of challenge that makes this a tricky Big Ten test on the road. [Read more 🡒]