As much as passing attacks have evolved over the years, good offense is still set on establishing the run. Washington has established the run this year.
The Huskies are No. 9 nationally in rushing yards per game (260) and No. 17 in yards per carry (6). It’s a main reason why they are No. 2 in the nation for scoring offense, with 55.7 points per game.
“They have been very, very efficient on offense and really haven't made any mistakes,” Ryan Day said on Tuesday. “We all know what we need to do to discourage that. But whether it's on first down staying on schedule, creating explosive plays, executing in the red zone, all of those things they've done a great job of.”
With dynamic dual-threat quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and one of the nation’s premier running backs in Jonah Coleman, stopping the run game will be challenge No. 1 to slowing Washington’s offense at large for a vaunted Ohio State defense.
“They have been very, very efficient on offense and really haven't made any mistakes.”– Ryan Day on Washington
Coleman burst onto the scene with a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2024, but he’s taken things to another level in 2025. Through three games, he has 51 carries for 347 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and a nation-leading nine touchdowns. Standing a stout 5-foot-9, 228 pounds with tree trunks for legs, he’s a load to bring down and has speed to burn. He had a school-record-tying five rushing touchdowns in Washington’s Week 2 win over UC Davis.
“The running back gets downhill, and he's built low to the ground and very, very powerful, and then (Denzel) Boston is a real weapon on the outside,” Day said. “So you combine all of those things, very, very talented.”
But he’s given all the more space by Williams’ running ability. A mobile quarterback changes the math for a defense. Defensive ends can’t crash down the line of scrimmage whenever there’s a mesh point. Linebackers have to read and react more. Plus, there’s the threat of scrambling on passing downs.
Including sacks, Williams has 34 carries for 220 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and two rushing touchdowns. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia compared him to Kyler Murray during Ohio State’s off week. But Ohio State’s had a ready weapon against mobile quarterbacks this year: Arvell Reese.
Reese spied Ohio’s speedster under center, Parker Navarro, a major reason why he gained just 3 yards on five carries. Watch him mirror Navarro perfectly, then trigger on his scramble and bat the ball down for a pass breakup. Reese finished with a team-high seven tackles, a sack and two PBUs against the Bobcats.
Williams’ arm must be respected when plays break down, too, as he’s completed 73.5% of his passes this season for 775 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions.
“A quarterback who can move with the quickness and the acceleration that he moves with is difficult. It's a challenge,” Day said. “But not only that, he's very accurate with the football, makes good decisions, doesn't turn the ball over, extends plays. He's a weapon in the run game because he can equate numbers. He's been very accurate. It's a great challenge for our defense. I think he's an excellent quarterback, and our defense is going to have to work hard this week to prepare.”
Ohio State’s run defense has been solid, with some blemishes. Texas quietly averaged 4.5 yards per carry against the Buckeyes despite their overall defensive dominance in a 14-7 win. The Longhorns broke off 11 chunk runs of 6 yards or more. Star running back Quintrevion Wisner finished with 16 carries for 80 yards, though the Silver Bullets got stops when it mattered most, stuffing Texas on two 4th-and-short runs as the Longhorns went 1-for-5 on fourth down in the game.
Kayden McDonald has been an absolute beast at nose guard. 14 tackles in three games for a position whose primary role is to eat blocks is insane. But there are still questions at three-technique defensive tackle for Ohio State, especially after Tywone Malone Jr. got the start over Eddrick Houston vs. Ohio. Neither man has more than four tackles this season.
“We need consistency,” Day said of Houston. “I think that's where you first look. We've talked about this before. A guy can flash, which means he has the ability to do it. The question is, can he consistently do it? And that's part of maturing as a player. It's the coach's job to make sure that we're communicating what needs to get done and the expectations. But we are looking for depth at every position, and we need as many guys that can play as possible. He's just like everybody else on the team, searching for ways to be consistent in everything that they do. But the ability is obviously there.”
If Ohio State's defense can stifle Washington's potent ground attack and force the Huskies to play one-dimensional football, it's hard to see an outcome where they don't leave UW fans sleepless in Seattle.
“We all know the number one goal is to win the game, period,” Day said. “And this game in particular is going to be an absolute battle. This is a very, very good team, really good in all three phases and well-coached. So to go and get this win on the road is going to take everything we've got with this team.”
