Washington’s offensive line is heading into its Big Ten opener with one of its biggest questions still unresolved: center Landen Hatchett is now listed as doubtful for Saturday night’s matchup with Minnesota.
That’s a tough break for a Huskies front that already hasn’t had much continuity. Washington opens conference play against the Golden Gophers at 8 p.m. PT on Saturday at Husky Stadium in Seattle, and the staff is still trying to sort out a group that has been hit hard by injuries and shuffling all season.
The line has been in flux from the start. First-year Kodi Greene has been handling the blind side for third-year quarterback Demond Williams Jr., while the right guard spot has been shared by second-year Champ Taulealea and seventh-year Geirean Hatchett. At center, Landen Hatchett has been sidelined by the wrist injury he picked up last season, and fourth-year Sam Houston State transfer Kolt Dieterich has started all three games there - the first time in his life he’s played the position.
Washington had hoped Hatchett might be ready for the Big Ten opener. Instead, Friday’s injury report pushed him the other way, changing his status from questionable to doubtful. Fourth-year defensive lineman DeSean Watts, who was listed as questionable alongside Hatchett, got a boost to probable.
If Hatchett can’t go, the Huskies are likely to roll out Greene at left tackle, second-year John Mills at left guard, Dieterich at center, Geirean Hatchett at right guard and fifth-year Drew Azzopardi at right tackle.
That front will be protecting a running back room that’s been stretched thin for weeks. Washington has already been without its top three backs on the depth chart - third-year Jordan Washington, second-year Quaid Carr and fourth-year Jayden Limar - for extended stretches. Against Minnesota, the workload should again fall mostly to first-year Brian Bonner and sixth-year Trey Cooley, with first-year Ansu Sanoe used in goal line packages.
The Huskies are finally about to find out where they stand against Big Ten competition. They may have to do it without the center they were counting on.
In Other News...
Washington Faces Its First Real Big Ten Test Against Minnesota
Washingtons first true Big Ten measuring stick brings a familiar kind of uncertainty, with the Huskies trying to sort out where they really stand while also managing their own health concerns. Rashid Williams is working back quickly, Landen Hatchett is gradually returning at center, and the backfield remains a spot to watch as the game approaches. Minnesota, meanwhile, offers a defense and overall style that should force Washington to earn everything and make the line of scrimmage a central storyline.
The matchup gets even more interesting because the Gophers have their own questions, including the status of Darius Taylor, who is dealing with an injury. With staff predictions split on how this one might unfold, the game feels like more than just another conference opener for Washington. It is a chance to see whether the Huskies can handle the physical demands of the league right away, even before the final details of both rosters are fully clear. [Read more 🡒]
Washingtons Future Schedule Raises One Big Question For Husky Fans
The Huskies are filling out their future schedule with a mix of familiar regional games and a few marquee nonconference dates, giving fans an early look at what the next several seasons could feel like in Montlake. Between 2027 and 2030, Washingtons slate includes trips and home dates against Fresno State, Portland State, Washington State, Tennessee, Boise State and Hawaii, a blend that keeps the schedule rooted in the West while still leaving room for a high-profile crossover.
One of the more notable items on the calendar is a home game against San Jose State in 2033, another sign that Washington is planning well into the future as college football scheduling continues to evolve. The bigger question for Husky fans, though, is what happens to the annual Apple Cup once the current agreement runs out after the 2028 matchup, because that rivalry has long been one of the defining dates on the Washington schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Jacob Manu Gives Washington Another Reason To Believe In This Defense
Jacob Manu has already given Washingtons defense a steady presence this fall, and now the fifth-year linebacker has added a national academic honor to his resume. Manu has played in all three games this season for the Huskies, continuing to be part of a unit that has become one of the teams early calling cards.
His latest recognition came from the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, which tabbed him among the semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy. The award is meant to celebrate the best all-around student-athlete in college football, blending what happens on Saturdays with what happens in the classroom, and Manus inclusion only adds to the sense that Washington has more than one reason to feel good about what he brings to the program. [Read more 🡒]