Big Ten Picks: Huskies Seek Revenge Against Rutgers in Friday Blackout Game
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Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. runs with the ball against UCLA on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Credit: Washington Athletics [/caption]
If you talk to anyone associated with Rutgers football, it doesn’t take long for them to mention that the first-ever football game was played there when Princeton — then known as the College of New Jersey — visited the Rutgers Queensmen on Nov. 6, 1869. Rutgers had too much offense that day, outscoring the Tigers 6-4.
I don’t think they were running a lot of RPOs back then, but Rutgers current football coach, Greg Schiano, has become more of a proprietor of the forward pass this year. Washington’s pass defense will be put to the test this week when the Scarlet Knights visit Husky Stadium, 6 p.m. Friday night for a blackout game.
Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis averages 280 passing yards per game, and has thrown nine touchdowns against two interceptions during his team’s 3-2 (0-2 Big Ten) start. He’s not afraid to throw it up for a pair of long receivers in KJ Duff (6-6, 225 pounds) and Ian Strong (6-3, 211 pounds), who each have over 400 yards receiving this season.
“They’ve clearly put a focus on their passing game,” Huskies coach Jedd Fisch said Monday. “Just watching their two Big Ten games, you can see they’re focusing in on being able to work it to their receivers and give them those jump balls, and finding one-on-one matchups.”
UW will attempt to negate that size with some length of its own. The Huskies will counter with Ephesians Prysock (6-4) and some combination of Tacario Davis (6-4) and Dylan Robinson (6-3).
Rutgers opened the season with wins over Ohio (34-31), Miami of Ohio (45-17) and Norfolk State (60-10) before losing fourth-quarter leads at Minnesota (38-28) and at Minnesota (31-28).
Huskies Seek Vengeance
Falling 21-18 at Rutgers was right up there with the most disappointing of Washington’s seven defeats last season, ranking perhaps a notch below the loss to WSU. It was also a puzzler when looking at the box score. Washington outgained the Scalet Knights 521 yards to 299, and the Huskies did not turn the ball over.
So how did they lose that game? A pretty simple and important reason, according to Fisch.
“We weren’t able to score,” he said. “We just weren’t able to score. … I think we missed three kicks in the game. We wound up having a critical penalty to start the game that we were driving right down to the 20-yard line. So things didn’t go our way in that game, and that’s also because they’re a good team — they were a bowl team.”
Washington was 2-for-12 on third down last year against Rutgers. The Huskies made it to the red zone five times, which resulted in a touchdown, a field goal, two missed field goals and a turnover on downs. The Huskies got the ball back down three with 30 seconds to go, but Grady Gross missed a 55-yard field goal as time expired.
Washington Injuries Stacking Up
The Huskies will likely be without senior left tackle Carver Willis. While Fisch did not rule him out when he met with the media on Monday, he did indicate that Maximus McCree would likely start against Rutgers. True freshman guard John Mill was also not ruled out, with Fisch saying, “We’ll evaluate it.” He said he didn’t think injuries to Willis and edge Zach Durfee are “too long term,” but that “I don’t know if they’ll be back Friday or not.”
Davis may make a return at cornerback after missing three games with a rib injury. Jayvon Parker, who has been out since suffering an Achilles tear in the 2024 Rutgers game, could return to the defensive line rotation. True freshman linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, who was Washington’s highest-rated recruit of the 2025 class, has a chance to play this week as he’s been cleared to play after an ACL injury suffered while playing for Bethel High School last year.
This may be the week we find out whether or not senior linebacker Jacob Manu is going to redshirt. Manu recovered from 2024 ACL surgery to play against Ohio State and Maryland, and can only enter two more regular-season games to be assured of a 2026 college season.
Big Ten Picks
No. 1 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) -14.5 at No. 17 Illinois
9 a.m., FOX
Ryan Day found a good recipe at UW, so expect him to cook it again this Saturday. Illinois will keep this one close before the physically superior Buckeyes pull away. Ohio State 27-6
UCLA (1-4, 1-1) at Michigan State (3-2, 0-2) -7.5
9 a.m., BTN
Bruins fans, if they in fact exist, should always remember last week’s shocker over Penn State. Because the next seven aren’t going to be pretty. Michigan State. 30-10
No. 7 Indiana (5-0, 2-0) at No. 3 Oregon (5-0, 2-0) -6.5
12:30 p.m., CBS
I keep underestimating Indiana, and we’ll find out if I’m doing it again this week. Both teams are coming off a bye, but I’m going to keep factoring in time zones until someone figures out air travel. Oregon 31-17
Northwestern (3-2, 1-1) at Penn State (3-2, 0-2) -21.5
12:30 p.m., BTN
Penn State is 0-5 against the spread this year. James Franklin may be a dead man walking, so does his team re-focus or fall apart? The Nittany Lions beat the Wildcats, but not by enough to help Franklin’s job security: Penn State 31-14
Nebraska (4-1, 1-1) -6.5 at Maryland (4-1, 1-1)
12:30 p.m., BTN
Who are these Terrapins? The team that beat Wisconsin on the road and handled Washington for three quarters, or the team that the Huskies owned at the end? I do think Maryland’s defense is for real. Maryland 20, Nebraska 19
Iowa (3-2, 1-1) -3.5 at Wisconsin (2-3, 0-2)
4 p.m., FSN
Yuck. Iowa 7-3
No. 15 Michigan (4-1, 2-0) at USC (4-1, 2-1) -2.5
4:30 p.m., NBC
USC gets a home game coming off a bye for the overrated bowl. I don’t think either of these teams match the preseason hype, but the Trojans and time zone travel get it done here to get back in the Top 25. USC 27-24.
Purdue (2-3, 0-2) at Minnesota (3-2, 1-1) -7.5
4:30 p.m., BTN
The Boilermakers could well finish the season with 10 straight losses after a 2-0 start. Minnesota 32-15.
The Pick
Rutgers (3-2, 0-2) at Washington (4-1, 1-1) -10.5
Last year, the Huskies played at Rutgers in a blackout game on a Friday night. It’s another blackout Friday game this year, but this one is at Husky Stadium. Washington faces a team coming off a bye for a third straight week, which is particularly challenging for a Friday game. But it’s a long way from Piscataway to Montlake. The Huskies’ length at corner should negate the size of Rutgers receivers, and Washington has been solid against the run this season. Huskies start slow, but pull away in the second half.
Washington 31-21.
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Records
Last week: 6-1 straight up, 7-0 against the spread
Season: 63-7, 43-27 ATS
Huskies picks (from preseason): 4-1, 4-1 ATS
Huskies picks (weekly): 4-1, 3-2 ATS
