Before each Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes' upcoming opponent.
Washington
Huskies
Ahead of Ohio State’s Big Ten opener at Washington, we’re joined by Andy Yamashita, who covers the Huskies for the Seattle Times.
Entering what will be the biggest test of the season to date by far for the Huskies after they cruised through non-conference play, the Washington beat writer shares his thoughts on how good the Huskies actually are, the biggest questions that surround them entering conference play, their lesser-known players to watch, what makes Husky Stadium one of college football’s best environments, where Ohio State fans should go in Seattle and how Saturday’s game could play out.
Washington is 3-0 this season, but the Huskies haven’t played a Power 4 opponent yet. How real do you think their improvement from last season is?
Yamashita: That's the biggest question surrounding the Huskies entering this game. We'll learn more about who they are from how they play Ohio State than the previous three games combined.
It is fair to note that UW simply beating WSU is a sign of improvement. Washington lost the 116th Apple Cup 24-19 in 2024, which was a sign of things to come. This season, however, the Huskies blew the Cougars out 59-24. But the talent gap was so much wider this season than it was a year ago, when current Oklahoma QB John Mateer was quarterbacking Washington State and Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert was coaching the team. And UW let WSU hang around for three quarters before burying the Cougars in the fourth quarter.
So it's still early to tell how much improvement they really have, particularly on the offensive line. UW bullied Colorado State and UC Davis up front, but that was the expectation. And WSU held Jonah Coleman to 59 yards rushing, so how UW's offensive line fares against Ohio State remains uncertain.
If you had to predict right now, what do you think Washington’s record will be this season and why?
Yamashita: It's hard to say. The schedule plays out really well for UW this season. No No. 3 Penn State. No No. 11 Indiana. No. 1 Ohio State, No. 23 Illinois and No. 6 Oregon at home.
UW struggled on the road a year ago, but its only truly difficult test away from Husky Stadium, where it has a 22-game home winning streak, is No. 19 Michigan.
I think I projected them to go 8-4 before the season with losses against Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan and UCLA — in large part because UW has historically struggled at the Rose Bowl in conference play. But the Bruins are a mess right now, and I certainly think UW has a shot in every game this season, something that wasn't true in 2024. If you're looking for a fourth loss, it starts to get tough. Illinois looked bad against Indiana. Do they suffer a falloff in Eastern Standard Time next week at Maryland? Can they avoid a loss like Rutgers a year ago?
It's hard to say, but nine wins is certainly achievable for the Huskies without pulling off anything crazy. Maybe even more.
Washington’s offense currently ranks second in the FBS in points per game. Do you think the Huskies’ offense is legitimately one of the nation’s best, or is that a product of their early-season competition?
Yamashita: Can the answer be both? The Huskies are dynamic at the skill positions with sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr., junior wideout Denzel Boston and senior running back Jonah Coleman. And if the offensive line is legit, still a big question mark, then they're pretty real.
However, I also think it’s fair to think about the competition. UW’s scored 21 offensive touchdowns on 29 possessions. That includes three drives that were ended by the half or the game. But nine of those were against FCS opponent UC Davis. And Washington State got blown out by North Texas a week before it played UW.
How capable do you think Washington’s defense is of slowing down Ohio State’s offense?
Yamashita: UW defensive coordinator Ryan Walters has real pedigree in the Big Ten, even if his stint leading Purdue didn't turn out particularly well.
The biggest question, for the entire season, is does he have the players to execute his five-down defensive front system. UW's defense relies a lot upon its linebackers navigating to the ball quickly on runs and its defensive backs to hold up in extensive man-to-man coverage. But Washington will be missing starting linebacker Taariq "Buddah" Al-Uqdah after he suffered an apparent knee injury during the Apple Cup. And senior cornerback Tacario Davis remains questionable after leaving the 70-10 rout against UC Davis.
Getting Davis back, at least, will go a long way to trying to contain Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Davis and senior cornerback Ephesians Prysock are both listed at 6-foot-4 and have lots of experience. Behind them are a trio of young, unproven defensive backs like freshman Dylan Robinson, redshirt freshman Rahshawn Clark and sophomore Leroy Bryant.
To me, the most interesting part for UW's defense is how much pressure it can generate to try and fluster Julian Sayin, who's clearly talented but will be playing his first true road game as the starter. Husky Stadium gets raucous for big games. There's a reason UW hasn't lost there since 2021.
Demond Williams Jr., Jonah Coleman and Denzel Boston are the three Washington players who get most of the attention. Who are some under-the-radar stars to watch in this game?
Yamashita: On offense, it's difficult because so much of it relies on Williams, Coleman and Boston's brilliance. UW got Penn State transfer wideout Omari Evans back from injury before the Apple Cup, but coach Jedd Fisch said he plans on sticking with true freshmen wide receivers Dezmen Roebuck and Raiden Vines-Bright against Ohio State despite quiet outings against Washington State. Tight end Decker DeGraaf shined as a downfield threat as a true freshman in 2024 but hasn't seen many targets this year.
On defense, watch for edge rusher Zach Durfee and safety Alex McLaughlin, along with Davis if he plays. Durfee was limited by turf toe throughout the past season but has been effective off the edge this year. He had 11 pressures against WSU. McLaughlin, a Northern Arizona transfer who received FCS All-American consideration in 2024, has been a standout playing the box safety role Sydney Brown starred in for Walters at Illinois in 2022. He had two interceptions, including a pick-six, against Washington State and has shown himself to be one of the team's best tacklers.
Northern Arizona transfer safety Alex McLaughlin is one of Washington‘s top defensive stars. (Photo: James Snook – Imagn Images)
Husky Stadium is known for having one of the best environments in college football. What makes it special?
Yamashita: It gets loud. The cantilevered roofs keep the sound inside the stadium, and against big opponents, the fans are as raucous as anywhere I traveled in the Big Ten last year. Which included Kinnick Stadium and a Beaver Stadium White Out. Additionally, UW started classes Wednesday, so students will be on campus for the first time this year. It may take some time for the stadium to fill in – Fisch even asked fans to show up early during his Monday presser – but by kickoff at the latest, the stadium should be filled with purple.
But the rest of what makes Husky Stadium a great environment is the location. The stadium rests on the shores of Lake Washington, close enough that many fans prefer to sailgate — tailgating on boats — before the game. Its beautiful backdrop is a large part of why they call it The Greatest Setting in College Football.
Ohio State hasn’t played at Washington since 2007, so there will be plenty of Buckeye fans (and writers like me) traveling to Seattle for the first time this weekend. What are the top places you’d recommend visiting while in town?
Yamashita: Ohio State fans are getting extremely lucky. Saturday, though overcast, may be the last day of Seattle summer.
This city is truly one of the most beautiful places in the country. With the Olympic peninsula visible to the west, across the Puget Sound, and the Cascades to the east, across Lake Washington, you're always surrounded by water and mountains. I truly believe it's the most beautiful city in the world during the summer.
Of course, Seattle has its tourist spots. Pike Place Market (not Pike's Place) and the Space Needle at Seattle Center (Bring money if you want to go to the top) are classics, though a bit overrun by tourists for Seattleites.
There's cool places to grab food or drinks in Fremont, Ballard, or Capital Hill, all neighborhoods in the area. Seattle is also full of beautiful parks. Gas Works Park, located near UW, gives a beautiful view of the skyline, while Kerry Park has a famous view of the Space Needle. And I'd take time to walk around the university itself. Truly a gorgeous campus.
Finally, while Seattle is rightfully famous for coffee, I think it should also be known for its teriyaki chicken. No one does it like Seattle, and almost every teriyaki shop in the city makes it the same way. Always the first meal I have after I've been away for awhile.
How do you see this game playing out and what’s your final score prediction?
Yamashita: Washington plays it close enough to look legit, but I think Ohio State's advantage in the trenches is too much to overcome.
UW's offense is too potent to shut out, but the Washington defense, missing Al-Uqdah, might struggle against the run.
Buckeyes 31, Huskies 24
