Does Washington stand a chance against No. 1 Ohio State?

Published 10:30 am Friday, September 26, 2025

The Washington Huskies football team has turned in all its assignments so far, and aced a couple of quizzes.

A few days after fall quarter classes have begun at the University of Washington, Jedd Fisch’s Huskies will face perhaps their biggest test of the regular season when No. 1 Ohio State visits Husky Stadium on Saturday. (12:30 p.m., CBS)

“We’re really excited about the game,” Fisch said Tuesday. “We know we have a fantastic opponent coming, in the No. 1 team in the country. I think that’s happened five times in the history of Washington football. … We recognize that it’s going to be an incredible challenge.”

The Huskies will attempt to beat a No. 1-ranked team at home for the first time in their 136-year history. Can they do it? Here are some things to watch for early:

Husky Stadium crowd

Attendance at UW has been solid this season, but the crowd’s “leather lungs” should be well rested after two easy home victories, a bye week and a road win at Washington State. I imagine this will be a spirited UW crowd. While there are larger stadiums at several Big Ten schools, the cantilever roof at UW makes 70,000 sound like 120,000 when the place is locked in.

Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith, during Big Ten Media Days in July, said Oregon’s Autzen Stadium is “probably the loudest stadium I’ve been in. The crowd was definitely getting hyped – couldn’t hear anything.”

While Oregon arguably is more consistent with its noise level, Washington fans tend to get up for the big games. I imagine there will be a few extra decibels for Smith & Co. on Saturday. The noise level will be important to slow the get-off from the Ohio State offensive line, as well as potential checks from freshman Julian Sayin during his first career road start.

I was in the press box on Sept. 9, 2000, when Washington beat No. 4 Miami 34-29. The old press box was shaking, and it was slightly terrifying. The new press box may get tested this week if Washington keeps the game close.

“I think we need to have an ecstatic crowd this weekend,” UW receiver Denzel Boston told the Emerald City Spectrum. “We need 70,000 people rocking, jumping, excited to be hosting the No. 1 team.”

Ohio State running attack

For Washington to keep bringing the crowd noise and win its 23rd straight home game, the Huskies need to slow down the Buckeyes rushing attack. If Bo Jackson (no relation to that Bo Jackson) gets going, it will be a long afternoon for the Huskies. Making Sayin attempt passes on third down would go a long way toward keeping the players and fans in the game.

The Huskies have held opponents to 62.7 yards per game and 2.4 yards per attempt this season. This isn’t Colorado State, UC Davis or WSU coming to Seattle this week, however. Ohio State has rushed for 576 yards (5.6 per carry) this season behind an experienced offensive line. If Jackson, who is the son of Lamar Jackson (not that Lamar Jackson), is able to get chunk yards on first down, it’ll be a long afternoon for Washington.

Tacario Davis status

At his Thursday press conference, Fisch offered no updates about injured players, including cornerback Tacario Davis. The 6-4 senior corner’s ability to stay with Smith and Carnell Tate seems crucial. Leroy Bryant, the UW starter at nickel the first two games, moved outside when Davis missed the Washington State game and struggled at times. Promising true freshman Dylan Robinson is another candidate to start, but that’s a tough spot to put a corner who has played in parts of three college football games.

My guess is that Davis will play in the game, but that won’t be apparent until pregame warmups.

WSU was able to take advantage early of a vanilla game plan by Washington first-year defensive coordinator, Ryan Walters, who unleashed his Huskies late against the Cougars. I imagine we’ll see some more mixed coverages, blitzes and line stunts in this matchup. While the defensive front will be tested and has much to prove, the secondary can’t allow Sayin to get comfortable with easy completions and big plays.

Washington cornerback catches

If Huskies defensive backs get hands on a Sayin pass, they’ve got to catch it. Hands have not been a strength of UW’s cornerbacks. Davis has two career interceptions, and he was injured during one of them — a diving pick against UC Davis. Ephesians Prysock, a senior with one career interception, seemed to fight the ball in spring and fall camp.

On paper, Washington has less overall talent than the Buckeyes. The Huskies may need to steal a possession or two, either by winning the turnover margin, converting some fourth downs or a trick play or two. They’ve got it if the ball’s given to them.

Demond Williams Jr. doing it all

While Jonah Coleman will be a key against the Buckeyes, it seems unlikely that Washington can simple line up and run the ball down Ohio State’s throat. Williams’ ability to run outside and escape pressure must be on point. He’s going to get sacked in this game, but keeping that count to one hand will be important. Ohio State is likely to rotate some spies — safety Caleb Downs, and linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles seem to be likely candidates — but they have not faced a quarterback as quick as Williams yet this season. Williams has not turned the ball over in 2025, and Saturday would be a bad time to start.

Big Ten Picks

Though six conference teams are on a bye this week, we’re heading into the thick of the Big Ten season. Here’s a look at the six matchups this week.

No. 21 USC -6.5 at No. 23 Illinois

The Trojans lost their first four conference road games last season before finishing with a 19-13 win on the “road” at UCLA. Though the Illini got blasted at Indiana last week, they’ll put up a bigger fight than the Bruins last November. The game being at 9 a.m. PDT and head coach Lincoln Riley complaining about it won’t help USC either. Illinois 33-22

Rutgers at Minnesota -4.5

So… Minnesota lost to Cal (27-14), which lost to San Diego State (34-0), which lost to WSU (36-13), which lost to North Texas (59-10). This means Minnesota would lose to North Texas by 119 points. But the Golden Gophers are still better than Rutgers. Minnesota 35-17

Indiana -8.5 at Iowa

Last week, the Hoosiers blasted what was supposed to be a good Indiana team. Iowa mucks it up, but not enough to win. Indiana 24-20

UCLA at Northwestern -6.5

I don’t think every college football game needs be televised. Northwestern 17-10

No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Penn State -3.5

It’s a whiteout game at Happy Valley. This is a massive matchup for the conference standings, and it looms equally large for two head coaches who seem to fall just short each year. The experience of quarterback Drew Allar is the difference in this one. Penn State 31, Oregon 27

Byes: Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin

The Pick

This point spread opened with UW as 14.5-point underdawgs, and has dropped all the way down to 7.5 as of Friday morning.

Playing in a big game at Husky Stadium is an experience that road teams sometimes underestimate. The Buckeyes hope to buck the trend of Big Ten teams traveling multiple time zones going 8-18 the past two seasons. Ohio State will lean on the experiences of playing at places like Penn State, Oregon and Michigan, but as long as UW is in this game, I expect one of the louder crowds in years.

That’s going to make things tough for Sayin, who has never faced a crowd like this one. To steal some words from 1980 USA Hockey coach Herb Brooks, “If (the Huskies) played ‘em ten times, the (Buckeyes) might win nine. But not this game.

Washington 24-23

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Records

Last week: 5-3 overall, 3-5 against the spread

Season: 53-4 overall, 34-23 against the spread

Huskies picks (from preseason): 3-0 overall, 3-0 against the spread

Huskies picks (weekly): 3-0, 3-0 ATS against the spread

This story originally appeared at www.emeraldcityspectrum.com. Follow The Spectrum on X (formerly Twitter) @EmeraldSpectrum.