Thursday Dots: Getting Dark Earlier
Well, you asked me if I’ll forget my Dots
I guess I will, someday
I don’t like it, but I guess things happen that way
If you’re hunting for comfort around Husky football in a rough week, the Seattle Times isn’t exactly serving it up. Percy Allen laid out how Oregon’s financial edge has left Washington in a much tougher spot, even when disaster hits elsewhere.
When Dante Moore was hurt against USC, the Ducks had the luxury of turning to a highly paid backup in Dylan Raiola. Washington, by contrast, is stuck with a struggling healthy quarterback and no obvious fallback.
A little farther down, Jon Wilner’s “panic meter” piece on UW’s start only turns up the heat. Washington did win the Apple Cup, but WSU’s follow-up results make that feel like a thinner résumé line than it first looked. Wilner also pointed to UCLA, Utah, and BYU as teams in the West that have beaten expectations so far this season.
There’s also a broader question hanging over UW’s uneven play: how much of it comes down to inexperience? 247Sports dug into the amount of true-freshman playing time across the country, and Washington stood out as one of the teams leaning especially hard on first-years. The same piece also noted that this week’s opponent, USC, is getting a major chunk of production from its own freshmen.
Another reason Washington has leaned so young is the number of experienced players who left through the transfer portal. Dawgman took a look at how those exits showed up last week.
Adam Mohammed stayed in the “what-if” category after posting 81 total yards against a strong Clemson defense. Zachary Hennig kept rolling for Arizona at center, still a pain point for the Huskies, while breakout offensive line transfer Paki Finau had a bye.
If you want a clean break from the football mess, Washington men’s soccer has the best news on the board. The defending champions landed both the B1G Player of the Week and Goalkeeper of the Week honors, with Zach Ramsey and Stockton Short taking home the awards.
Ramsey has been ridiculous, piling up 14 goals in 9 games to lead the nation. The Huskies beat No.
22 Rutgers 4-1 last week to set up those honors, and they’re back in action Friday night in Seattle against Wisconsin.
In Other News...
USC Suddenly Has A Linebacker Problem Heading Into Washington
USCs linebacker rotation took a hit at just the wrong time, with Washington set to walk into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and face a defense that will look a little different than planned. The Trojans will have a veteran in Ta'Mere Robinson stepping into the lineup, bringing the kind of experience he built during his previous stop at Penn State as the staff reshuffles its middle of the field before a matchup that figures to demand discipline.
For Washington, the change matters because Demon Williams Jr. can stress a defense in more than one way, and the Huskies have a chance to test how quickly USCs new look settles in. The Trojans still have time to sort out the adjustment, but any sudden turnover at linebacker invites questions about communication, pursuit angles and whether the replacement can hold up against a quarterback who forces defenders to make plays in space. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Heads Into A Huge USC Test With One More Twist
A primetime trip to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum gives Washington another chance to measure itself against a ranked USC team that is still trying to steady things after a loss to Oregon. The Trojans have plenty at stake beyond the national TV spotlight, too, with a chance to snap a three-game losing streak against the Huskies while using Saturday night as a reset in a season that has already had some uneven moments.
The matchup also comes with the usual late-week injury watch, and one name on USCs list stands out enough to add a little more intrigue to an already high-profile game. Between the games betting line, the expected points total, and the fact that both teams have enough recent history to make this one feel heavier than a normal conference date, it is the kind of test where even a single availability note can matter quite a bit. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Still Has Something To Prove In Huge USC Test
Washington heads into a major Week 5 matchup with USC still looking for a performance that matches the optimism around the program. The Huskies have navigated the opening month with plenty of attention on where they fit among the Big Ten contenders, but this trip brings a different kind of pressure. It is the sort of game that can say a lot about whether Washington is simply moving through the schedule or ready to make a real statement against one of the leagues marquee names.
USC brings the kind of test that can expose every small flaw, from how a team handles pace to how it responds when the game tilts against it. The wider Week 5 preview points to several showcase matchups around the country, but this one stands out for Washington because it carries both immediate stakes and a clearer sense of where the Huskies still have work to do. A strong showing would calm some of those questions. Anything less, and the conversation around this team will keep circling the same unresolved thread. [Read more 🡒]