The defense gave Utah State very little room to breathe, but the offense was a different story. That split defined the day for the Huskies, who came away with a strong showing on one side of the ball and plenty to clean up on the other.
In the passing game, the numbers were there, but the execution never really matched them. Demond Williams had trouble getting the pass offense into rhythm, though the issue seemed more tied to scheme than a lack of talent.
He was at his best when moving outside the pocket, which lines up with where he seems most comfortable. Dezmen Roebuck also had about 3 dropped passes, the kind of miscues that need to get fixed in practice this week.
And with Kolt Dietrich starting at center, the offensive line setup still doesn’t look ideal; Landen Hatchett’s experience feels more valuable than it first appeared. There were some positives, though, with Trez Davis and Jordan Clay each catching 4 passes and likely earning bigger roles because of Rashid Williams’ injury.
Still, the passing offense only earned a 5.5 because the whole operation felt flat.
The ground game was even rougher. Washington managed 107 yards on 33 carries, which works out to 3.5 yards per attempt, and Demond Williams again finished as the leading rusher with 56 yards on 11 carries.
But a big chunk of that came on scrambles, including a 36-yard run. Injuries in the running back room have clearly had an impact, but the bigger issue was the lack of push up front.
Utah State was not supposed to control the line of scrimmage, and yet that’s how it played out. The one real spark came from Ansu Sanoe, the 6-foot, 240-pound freshman, who scored a touchdown and looks like a useful power option.
There’s even a case for him as a possible fullback. Even so, the unit has a long way to go before it inspires much confidence, especially in a Big Ten environment where physicality is everything.
The defense, on the other hand, was outstanding against the run and very good against the pass. Washington finished with 3 sacks, including 2 from safety Alex McLaughlin, and 3 interceptions.
Utah State did hit a 78-yard touchdown off an RPO, but Brosterhous’ 64.1 QBR still tells the story of a defense that largely controlled the game. That said, it was Utah State, so there’s fair reason to wonder how sustainable that level of production will be against stronger offenses.
Even so, the pass rush and secondary both gave plenty of reasons for optimism.
The run defense was even more dominant. Utah State finished with just 75 yards on 29 carries, and while Grady Brosterhous accounted for 81 yards, most of that damage came on scrambles.
On designed runs, including a heavy dose of read options and QB power, the front seven handled him well. That left the Aggies’ two running backs with negative yardage.
Hard to argue with that kind of result.
Special teams were solid without being spotless. Tyler Robles scored 10 of Washington’s 16 points, going 3-for-3 on field goals and adding 1 extra point.
His longest make was from 43 yards, and while you’d want that kick to go in given his efficiency at Texas State, he did enough to earn a positive grade. Hunter Green was uneven punting the ball, shanking a couple but also booming a few, including one that traveled 59 yards.
His average of 40.3 was 10 yards lower than last week, which gave Utah State better field position. Still, the defense made that mostly irrelevant.
Rahshawn Clark also had a rough day on punt returns, making a few questionable decisions and managing just 1 yard on 2 returns.
Coaching ended up in the middle, and maybe a little below it. The Huskies cut their penalties in half from the previous week, so that part was much cleaner.
But that also put the spotlight squarely on Coach Fisch’s play calling, and it wasn’t his best day. When he struggles, the concern is that he tries to fit players into his system instead of shaping the system around what they do best.
That becomes even more glaring when the offensive line is having trouble and injuries are piling up. Something in the play calling needs to be adjusted, though it’s not clear exactly where that change should come from.
On offense, the lack of execution made everything more frustrating.
Coach Walters, meanwhile, drew a much better result from his side of the ball. The defense got pressure from all over, turned it into 3 picks, and nearly added a fumble recovery as well.
He continues to show that there’s real talent on that side, veterans and younger players alike. The question now is whether the offense can do enough when the team needs points to keep pace.
Right now, that answer isn’t especially comforting. The next 2 games should tell us a lot about where this team is headed.
In Other News...
Washington Suddenly Has Another Injury Problem Before Its Final Tuneup
Washingtons injury list picked up another pair of names as the Huskies head into their final tuneup against Eastern Washington. Wide receiver Rashid Williams and cornerback Emmanuel Karnley are both dealing with soft tissue injuries, adding to a string of early-season issues that have already thinned Washingtons depth at running back and receiver.
The encouraging part for Washington is that neither player appears to be in immediate danger of a long absence, with both being evaluated on a week-to-week basis. Even so, both were still listed on the depth chart for the Eastern Washington game, leaving the Huskies with another familiar question as they try to get through the nonconference stretch healthier than they started it. [Read more 🡒]
Former Husky Gave UW Fans A Week 1 Moment To Celebrate
Seven former Washington players were drafted in 2026 and found themselves in NFL season opener action, a reminder that the Huskies talent pipeline is already reaching the next level. For UW fans, it was a chance to track a familiar group across the league, with some players seeing meaningful snaps while others were limited by injury or coachs decisions before the first Sunday of the season was even over.
The biggest moment for the purple-and-gold crowd came from Denzel Boston, who turned in the kind of opener that gets remembered back in Seattle. Elsewhere, the availability picture was mixed, and two of the former Huskies, Zach Durfee and Anterio Thompson, are already looking at a longer wait to get back on the field as they recover from injuries and remain sidelined for at least the early part of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Washington May Have Found A Needed Playmaker In Baron Naone
Baron Naone has quickly become one of the more dependable pieces in Washingtons early-season offense. The second-year tight end has been a consistent target over the first two weeks, giving the Huskies a reliable option while key offensive players have dealt with injuries, and Washington has still managed to win its first two games.
The production has not been flashy, but it has been steady enough to suggest there may be a larger role ahead. Naone has already drawn national notice as one of the better tight ends in the country, and with the Huskies looking for answers in the passing game, he appears positioned to be a focal point again in the weeks to come. [Read more 🡒]