No Time for Huskies to Celebrate Apple Cup with No. 1 Ohio State Looming
SEATTLE, Wash. — The Huskies hauled the Apple Cup back to Seattle after it spent a year in Pullman, but a bigger lift is coming to Husky Stadium.
Fresh off a 49-24 win against state rival Washington State, the Huskies are preparing to host No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday (12:30 p.m., CBS) when the Apple Cup champions will take on the defending national champions.
The Huskies jumped right into it on Sunday, knowing the timeline feels short with the Buckeyes on a bye over the weekend.
“We went through some of the things that we needed to correct, some of the things we needed to adjust, and then got after game planning for Ohio State,” UW head coach Jedd Fisch said Monday. “…We’re excited for what should be an amazing atmosphere here. Purple Rain game — purple out — We’ll see how much purple we can fill in. Whatever the capacity is, hopefully we go over it.”
The Huskies know it won’t be easy. Here are some things to watch over the next few days as the Huskies get ready for Ohio State:
Health Concerns
Though the health of the Huskies is good overall after three games, the status of 6-4 star cornerback Tacario Davis is one to watch heading into Saturday. Fisch said Monday that Davis wouldn’t need much practice to be ready to play, saying, “If you can make it back by Saturday at 12, we’ll be good to go.”
Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ job is to prepare the team to slow down Ohio State regardless of who starts at the corner position opposite Ephesians Prysock. Leroy Bryant, who has started at nickel, got the assignment against WSU and struggled at times.
“I wouldn’t say it was all on Leroy,” Walters said Tuesday. “Obviously, there were plays that he would want back just from a technique standpoint. … On the deep ball, we were supposed to have a guy in the post to help out.”
True freshman Dylan Robinson got some time with the first team in the Apple Cup and showed why coaches decided he would likely not redshirt this season. Walter said the 6-3, 200-pound corner will be given some serious consideration to start if Davis can’t go.
“What he put on tape when he went into the game was impressive,” said Walters, whose team will be tasked with slowing down 6-3 receiver Jeremiah Smith, who caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024 as a true freshman to help the Buckeyes win college football’s first FBS 12-team playoff. “He obviously has some physical traits that are much like Tacario with his size — I think he even weighs more than Tacario. We’ve just got to get him caught up schematically, being able to get into the checks and have the right leverage and the right depth depending on what we’re calling.”
“He’ll have every opportunity to get reps this week. We’ll see how it shakes out and who will get the first nod to get out there.”
Starting linebacker Taariq “Budda” Al-Uqdah suffered a significant leg injury during the Apple Cup. Fisch said Monday that the senior would be out for the Ohio State game and likely several weeks beyond. Fisch was waiting for the imaging results for a final prognosis as of Monday. Jacob Manu, a senior transfer from Arizona, is the wildcard in the linebacker deck. Manu has been recovering from an ACL injury suffered last season. He could play in up to four games this season and redshirt, which would allow him to play in 2026. Fisch said he hadn’t yet had the “redshirt discussion” and that Manu could be an option to play Saturday.
If Manu remains out, it means more time for Deven Bryant and Xe’ree Alexander. True freshman Zaydrui Rainey-Sale, who is also recovering from ACL surgery, is close to returning as well, Fisch said.
Receiver Battle
With starting receiver Rashid Williams (collarbone) missing multiple weeks, the Huskies have turned to true freshmen Raiden Vines-Bright and Dezmen Roebuck to start as targets for reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Demond Williams Jr. Senior Omari Evans missed the first two games of the season, but returned Saturday, catching a 59-yard TD pass late in the game.
“Some of the young kids, they’re still getting their first playing time in big-time college football,” Huskies offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty said Tuesday. “So we’re obviously happy with where they are. They’re playing for a reason. Every day is a chance to keep earning the playing time that they’re getting.”
No Votes of Confidence in the AP Poll
Through four weeks, the Huskies have yet to receive a vote in the AP Poll despite three lopsided wins. A triumph over the defending national champions would likely change that emphatically.
“I feel like a lot of people are overlooking us and not really paying attention to us,” said running back Jonah Coleman, who leads the nation with 10 touchdowns scored this season. “So (winning Saturday would) definitely bring the eyes and get the recognition we deserve.”
Running Up the Score
There has been some criticism of Fisch from WSU fans — and even UW fans — for Washington keeping starters in late into the Apple Cup after the outcome had been decided. Fisch acknowledged that he wanted to get Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman over the 100-yard receiving mark, and even quipped after the game that he “should have gotten him another” pass completion when he asked about Williams finishing the Apple Cup with 298 yards. Fisch said the 59-yard TD pass to Evans late was supposed to be a bubble screen to convert third-and-2. But, the corner route was left open, so that’s where the ball went.
“I don’t address the critics,” Fisch said Monday. “Our job is to play football. Our job is to play offense, and that’s what we did.”
