After suffering a loss that rivaled the disappointment of the Wisconsin defeat in 2025, the Washington Huskies (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) are desperately in need of a bounce-back performance in week five. The schedule won’t make this easy. UW goes on the road to take on No. 18 USC (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) for its first road game of the season. To make matters worse, USC lost at home to Oregon last week 41-27.
Both teams will be looking to regain course on Saturday, but who will ultimately prevail relies on how well both teams make adjustments, and for Washington, there are a lot to make. Here are three keys for Washington if it wants to have a successful showing against USC on Saturday.
Clean up the tackling
The Washington defense played an uncharacteristically poor first half against Minnesota, allowing 21 points. More than the points, the amount of missed tackles raised concerns. Minnesota Running back TJ Thomas carried the ball 11 times for 78 yards in the game including a 45-yard tote in the first half. Safe to say, UW was not ready for the physicality of a Big Ten back and offensive line.
“I have to give the running back a lot of credit. He is good at breaking tackles,” UW defensive coordinator Ryan Walters said. “Some of the issues were not being on the right leverage side, it’s harder to make those types of plays against a physical back when you’re not in great position.”
USC has averaged 164.4 yards per-game on the ground this season which ranks seventh in the Big Ten. Running backs King Miller and Waymond Jordan are the main ball-carriers for the Trojans. Both backs average over five yards per-carry.
Washington cleaned up the play in the second half against Minnesota allowing just 2.1 yards per-rush, but the disastrous first half put it in a hole it couldn’t climb out of. To have a successful outing against USC, UW must limit yards after-contact and find ways to make stops in the backfield for a full 60 minutes.
Win the turnover battle
UW quarterback Demond Williams Jr. threw two interceptions on Saturday, causing Washington to lose the turnover battle for the first time all season. Williams’ first interception led to a one-play touchdown for Minnesota that set the tone for the rest of the game.
“Giving up a turnover of the fourth play of the game, that was disappointing,” head coach Jedd Fisch said. “[That’s] one in which we learned that you just dirt the ball at the tight end’s feet.”
The USC defense has struggled to force takeaways so far this season: causing just four in its first five games. On the other end, the Washington defense has forced eight in just four games with Saturday being the first game to limit the unit to just one takeaway: a Buddah Al-Uqdah interception in the third quarter.
If the law of averages comes into play on Saturday, Washington should win the turnover battle, but the high-powered USC offense will be the best unit the Washington defense has faced thus far. Pressure also falls on the offense to protect the ball and not gift USC any more scoring opportunities.
Someway, somehow, establish the run
To any viewer of UW football this season it wouldn’t be a surprise that the team ranks second to last in the Big Ten in rushing yards per-game. It also doesn’t come as a surprise that Williams is the leading rusher on the team with 165 yards.
The lack of attrition in the running back room has been well documented so far, but the lack of a rushing attack does not just fall on the backs. The offensive line has underperformed mightily in the run game, and as a result, holding up in the pass game has become much more difficult as well.
When defenses don’t have to worry about a rushing attack, coordinators can dial up blitzes, making it almost impossible for an offensive line to give adequate protection. Against Minnesota, Washington found itself in many obvious pass situations and as a result allowed seven sacks.
“We can’t put ourselves in a position to have so many third and longs,” Fisch said. “I think eight out of our 10 [third downs] were third and eight-plus, so we have to clean that up.”
If Washington can present even the slightest threat of a rushing attack, then the heat should drop off in the pocket and for Williams to make throws down the field.
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