Washington's QB Change Falls Short in Blowout Loss to Penn State
The energy in Beaver Stadium had long since dissipated. As Washington faced a third-and-goal from the 7-yard line with 14:20 remaining, the famed “White Out” crowd, which typically shakes the press box with its intensity, had largely emptied. The game, by then, was all but decided. Penn State had already built an insurmountable lead, and Washington’s points would only serve as a late consolation.
True freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. stepped into the pocket. But before he could even get his bearings, Penn State’s Abdul Carter, unblocked, came flying off the edge. Williams was down in a split second, unable to make any play, and the remaining few fans in the stadium cheered as the Huskies were pushed further into their painful defeat.
The game ended with a 35-6 loss for Washington, marking their largest margin of defeat this season. The Huskies (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) now find themselves just one win shy of bowl eligibility, needing to beat either UCLA on Friday or No. 1 Oregon on November 30 to secure a postseason berth.
“Thought our guys competed,” said head coach Jedd Fisch. “We had some opportunities here and there to make plays, but overall we just weren’t as good as they were tonight.”
From start to finish, Washington struggled on all fronts. The offense, unable to sustain any momentum, finished with just 193 total yards—their lowest output since a loss to Oregon in 2021. Quarterback Will Rogers had a rough outing, throwing for only 59 yards and an interception before being replaced by Williams, who did little to ignite the offense. Williams passed for 60 yards and led the team in rushing with 38 yards.
The Penn State defense was relentless, tallying five sacks and nine tackles for loss, with Carter dominating the line of scrimmage. Washington’s offensive line, already depleted by injuries, was no match for the Nittany Lions. The Huskies were held to just 74 rushing yards, averaging only 2.2 yards per carry. Running back Jonah Coleman, who struggled throughout the game, finished with a season-low 24 yards on 11 carries.
The first half was especially dismal for Washington. Rogers, despite completing 10 of 13 passes, was intercepted by Penn State’s Jaylen Reed. The Huskies were held to a meager 12 rushing yards on 13 attempts and gained just six first downs in the first two quarters.
Meanwhile, Washington’s defense was overwhelmed. Penn State’s offense cruised to four touchdowns on its first four drives, amassing 486 total yards by the end of the game. The Huskies surrendered a season-high 266 rushing yards, with Penn State’s tight end Tyler Warren scoring twice on wildcat plays.
Veteran linebacker Carson Bruener, who led all players with 11 tackles, admitted that Washington’s defense was out of sync with coordinator Steve Belichick’s game plan. The Huskies’ inability to fill gaps, defend in man coverage, and disengage from blocks resulted in a frustrating performance for the defense. Bruener took responsibility for the team’s poor showing.
“That’s not our standard on defense,” Bruener said.
The defense was further hampered by a first-quarter targeting ejection of senior cornerback Thaddeus Dixon, who was flagged for a hit on Penn State’s Omari Evans. The ejection meant Dixon would miss the rest of the game, but he will be eligible to return against UCLA.
On special teams, the Huskies had their own struggles. Kicker Grady Gross scored Washington’s only points, converting field goals from 24 and 35 yards. However, Gross missed a 45-yard attempt on the Huskies' opening drive, hitting the uprights on what could have been a game-opening lead. Worse yet, the Huskies allowed a kickoff-return touchdown to Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton in the second half, though a holding penalty on the Nittany Lions negated the score.
“This is tough, obviously, but no excuses,” Coleman said. “We just have to be better. We have guys who haven’t started games—haven’t even won a game on the road in college football at all.”
With their bowl hopes hanging in the balance, Washington will need to regroup quickly to avoid a disappointing season finish.
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