> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Big Ten Picks: Humbled Huskies Look to Rebound Against Purdue - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/big-ten-picks-huskies-look-to-rebound-against-purdue/ - Published: 2025-11-14T02:21:18.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:36:13.000Z - Author: Aaron Coe - Tags: Huskies, Washington Football, Jedd Fisch, Ryan Walters, Brian Odom, Jonah Coleman, Denzel Boston, Drew Azzopardi \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1020"\] ![ Members of the Washington Huskies defense gather prior to a game against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. (Credit: Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures/Washington Athletics) ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/huskies-circle-251108-format-original.jpg) Members of the Washington Huskies defense gather prior to a game against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. (Credit: Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures/Washington Athletics) \[/caption\] SEATTLE, Wash. — The snowy skies of Wisconsin swallowed the Huskies’ pie-in-the-sky dream of a College Football Playoff appearance last week. The task now for the Washington football team is to reach for lesser desserts that could still be reasonably sweet with a strong finish over the next three weeks. Drop the last three games, and the bowl UW makes will be the equivalent of whatever remains in grandma’s coffee table hard candy dish toward the end of the holidays. If you missed it, or simply blocked it from memory, the Huskies lost 13-10 at Camp Randall last week for their third loss of the season. Barring a level of carnage never seen before — even in the whacky world of college football — the best Washington can do now is close the regular season with three straight wins, get back in the rankings and gain some recruiting trail cred. How much that motivates them remains unknown. They’ll need to play well to beat UCLA and Oregon in the final two games. Saturday against a lifeless Purdue team, any sign of a pulse should just about do it. Since current Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters beat Indiana as the Purdue head coach in the 2023 season finale, the Boilermakers have lost 16 straight conference games. Though the Huskies hold a significant talent advantage against Purdue, it is still a Big Ten game. A win would be the seventh of the season for Washington, a step up from going 6-7 last year during head coach Jedd Fisch’s first season. Fixing an offense that was broken last week will be one of the keys for UW. “Going back to the drawing board and finding ways to get better each week,” UW quarterback Demond Williams Jr. said Tuesday. “So, we know this week is an increased focus from us, and we know we’ve got to be much better than this.” ### Purdue-UW Coaching Connections Walters was the head coach at Purdue for two seasons, and was fired after going 1-11 in 2024 and 5-19 overall in his two seasons. He’s worked with current Purdue head coach Barry Odom and credits him for his chance to become a defensive coordinator. Walters downplayed the revenge factor when he spoke about the matchup on Tuesday. “No, I’ve already had the reflection period as far as my time (at Purdue),” Walters said. “You know, to us, for me personally, it’s another Big Ten game that we need to play well, especially coming off of last week. So that’s just been the focus, is on how to improve — how to give our guys a chance to have success, to win a ball game at home and right the wrongs of a week ago.” Meanwhile, Washington linebackers coach Brian Odom will attempt to little brother his older brother, Barry. Walters and the Odom brothers have spent time coaching together, including 2016-17 at Missouri. Washington linebacker Xe’ree Alexander made it clear the Huskies are aware of the coaching storylines for Saturday’s game, and hope to come through for their position coach. “It definitely means a lot for us, as a whole group, even (Brian Odom).” Alexander said on Tuesday. “We’re going to come out and practice, and just ball out thinking about destroying Purdue.” ### Injury Updates The Huskies entered the Wisconsin game as healthy as they had been for a while, but left Madison with more than hurt pride last week. Running back Jonah Coleman suffered a minor knee injury and will be a game-time decision, Fisch said Thursday. Coleman “had a good day” on Wednesday but was still in the rehab process. Denzel Boston played the second half against the Badgers, but was clearly bothered by an ankle injury suffered in the first half. His status for Saturday is unknown, with Fisch saying, “We’ll see” on Monday. Right tackle Drew Azzopardi left late in the first half against Wisconsin and seems unlikely to see the field Saturday. Center Landen Hatchett played with a cast on his hand and was having difficulty blocking against Wisconsin. It will be interesting to see what UW does with the line Saturday. Soane Faasolo filled in for Azzopardi, but was replaced for performance reasons by Paki Finau. Zachary Henning would likely slot in again at center if Hatchell is unable to go. The guard and tackle situation will be one to watch. If Azzorpardi is out long term, the Huskies could consider a more drastic move, such as moving left guard John Mills — the likely left tackle next year when Carver Willis’ eligibility expires — to one of the tackle spots to get a jump on next season. Finau, who narrowly lost a starting job to Mills, remains an option at guard or right tackle. Safety Makell Esteen suffered a thigh bruise at Wisconsin and is expected to play against the Boilermakers. Receiver Rashid Williams was ruled out for the season prior to the Wisconsin game. It would seem Jacob Manu will miss this week and save his final regular season for UCLA or Oregon. Manu plans to redshirt and return next season, and has already played in three of the maximum four games allowed to preserve a redshirt. ### Big Ten Picks **Minnesota (6-3 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) at No. 8 Oregon (8-1, 5-1) -25.5** 9 a.m. Friday, FOX The Golden Gophers, unpredictable as they may be, have managed to put together a solid season so far. It won’t look that way Saturday. Oregon 42-13 **Wisconsin (3-6, 1-5) at No. 2 Indiana (10-0, 7-0) -28.5** 9 a.m., BTN Wisconsin knocked off a certain ranked team last week. Can they do it again? No, but the Badgers figured some things out defensively and will keep Indiana’s end of the score somewhat respectable. Indiana 31-3 **No. 21 Iowa (6-3, 4-2) at No. 17 USC (7-2, 5-1) -6.5** 12:30 p.m., BTN The Hawkeyes, much like the Huskies, gave up any chance at the CFP with a third loss last week. How do they respond? By being more physical than the Trojans and knocking out another team. Iowa 21-20 **Penn State (3-6, 0-6) -7.5 at Michigan State (3-6, 0-6)** 12:30 p.m., CBS Two questions: How is it that I’m predicting Penn State to win its first conference game in mid-November? And, why are two teams with 0-6 records being forced upon a CBS audience this week? The Nittany Lions have lost five conference games by five or fewer points. The Spartans, on the other hand, have fallen by double digits five times, and there may not be any Big Ten wins to vacate this season. Penn State 26-23 **Maryland (4-5, 1-5) at Illinois (6-3, 3-3) -14.5** 12:30 p.m., FSN The Terrapins decided to move away from losing close conference games, and are simply getting whipped now. Illinois 29-13 **UCLA (3-6, 3-3) at No. 1 Ohio State (9-0, 6-0) -31.5** 4:30 p.m., NBC UCLA interim offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel should probably leave this one off his resume when he applies for OC jobs in a couple of weeks. Ohio State 35-0 **Byes:** Nebraska, Rutgers ### The Pick **Purdue (2-8, 0-7) at Washington (6-3, 3-3) -15.5** 4 p.m., FSN The only concern here is a potential hangover from a terrible loss that put the CFP out of reach for the Huskies. A terrible loss is one thing, but Purdue is a terrible football program. The Boilermakers enter Saturday’s matchup with a 16-game conference losing streak and seem destined for two straight winless Big Ten seasons. This could be a maddening first half for the fans that show up for this one, but the Huskies, even if a few stars shine only from the sideline in street clothes, have too much firepower for Purdue. **Washington 34-17** **Records** **Last week:** 3-4 straight up, 4-3 against the spread **Season:** 90-18, 65-53 ATS **Huskies picks** (weekly): 6-3, 6-3 ATS **Huskies picks** (from preseason): 8-1, 6-3 ATS