Big Ten Picks: Huskies Fans’ Hater Guide For Washington’s Bye
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Huskies running back Jonah Coleman celebrates during a game against Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington (Photo courtesy of David Ryder / Washington Athletics) [/caption]
It’s a bye week for the Washington Huskies football team, but that doesn’t mean those who have a rooting interest should take the weekend off.
There’s no room for error the rest of the way if UW wants to keep any thoughts of a trip to the College Football Playoff alive. A few dropped balls by some other Big Ten programs could help clear up that path.
So, let’s get ahead of ourselves, and think Big. Washington is likely to be favored in its next three games (at Wisconsin, Purdue, at UCLA). If the Huskies deliver in those three, they’ll be 9-2 entering the season finale against Oregon at Husky Stadium. Washington will almost certainly be a significant underdog in that one, but an upset win over the Ducks would mean serious consideration for the CFP.
Normally, 10-2 in the Big Ten or the SEC gets it done, but some chaos is always needed. College football often delivers a little craziness. While the Big Ten does not have a set number of entries to the CFP, four conference teams got in last season. I would expect 4-5 Big Ten teams to get in, if there are that many with two or fewer losses.
Which Big Ten Teams are in the Driver’s seat?
No. 1 Ohio State (7-0 overall) and No. 2 Indiana (8-0) would need all-time crater jobs to fall out of the CFP. It’s best for Washington if Ohio State wins out. Sixth-ranked Oregon (7-1) has some challenging games coming up — at Iowa, No. 23 USC, at Washington — but it would be pretty stunning for the Ducks to drop two of those and fall out of the CFP.
Who’s already out?
The biggest shocker is Penn State, which I — along with many other “experts” — thought would win the conference and perhaps the national championship. The Nittany Lions (3-4) were essentially eliminated halfway through the season.
Anyone with three losses is essentially done when it comes to the CFP, including Minnesota (5-3), Northwestern (5-3), Illinois (5-3), Maryland (4-3), Rutgers (4-4), Michigan State (3-5), UCLA (3-5), Purdue (2-6) and Wisconsin (2-6).
Hater Guide for Huskies
The enemy of your enemy is your friend, and that makes for some challenging frenemies for UW fans the rest of the way.
Washington needs Michigan (6-2) to lose a third game at some point, and that’s likely to be handled when the Wolverines travel to Ohio State Nov. 29. The other Big Ten teams that could step in the way of UW’s path to the playoff are Iowa, Nebraska and USC. The Huskies do not play any of those three teams, and you don’t want the CFP committee to suffer brain injuries trying to sort through it all. Teams are best served to make it all about the loss column.
Here’s who to root against Saturday:
Nebraska: While hating USC is a reflex for most Husky fans, it’s best to let the Trojans take Saturday’s game at Nebraska. Both teams have two losses, but Nebraska finishes with games at UCLA and Penn State before hosting Iowa in the finale. USC faces Iowa at home, but expect Oregon to take care of that third Trojans loss.
Purdue: I know, I know. I just said Michigan needs to lose. And the Boilermakers have enough problems. But, you don’t want the Wolverines’ resume weakened so much that it makes UW’s loss at the Big House look even worse. The best-case scenario for Washington is for Michigan to lose three or four games — but no more.
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish are ranked No. 12 despite two losses. Dropping a third game would open an at-large bid that would most likely go to a Big Ten or SEC team. Notre Dame has a pretty easy schedule the rest of the way (at Boston College, Navy, at Pitt, Syracuse, at Stanford.) Boston College is awful at 1-7, but a shocker there puts a dagger in Notre Dame.
Texas: Our old friend Sark’s No. 20 Longhorns host No. 9 Vanderbilt. A third Texas loss opens a spot, likely for an SEC team, but it’s one less team in the way.
A few others, perhaps not to hate, but moderately dislike as further carnage over the final month could finish them later: Miami (at SMU), Houston (vs. West Virginia), Louisville (at Virginia Tech), Texas Tech (at Kansas State), Virginia (at Cal), Utah (vs. Cincinnati).
One game to just enjoy: No. 18 Oklahoma at No. 14 Tennessee. Both teams will attempt to avoid a third loss Saturday.
The team you hate to love: Oregon has a bye this week, but in most scenarios, it would be best for Washington if the Ducks — win the next three before coming to Montlake. If UW were to finish 10-2 and the committee is comparing resumes, a win over a top-five team would be a major boost. Washington would have lost only to Ohio State (No. 1 if it wins out) and a borderline Top 25 team in Michigan (if the Wolverines stay at 3-4 losses).
Big Ten Picks
Penn State (3-4 overall, 0-4 Big Ten) at No. 1 Ohio State -18.5
9 a.m. PT, FOX
This was supposed to be this week’s game of the century. It is decidedly not that. Penn State fired head coach James Franklin and lost quarterback Drew Allar for the season. The Nittany Lions, in theory, have the talent to stay with the Buckeyes, but that talent checked out early in the 2025 season. Ohio State 28-7
Rutgers (4-4, 1-4) at Illinois (5-3, 2-3) -12.5
9 a.m., NBC
The question here is, how does Illinois — a team that had CFP hopes — respond to being knocked out of playoff contention and the Top 25 by Washington? By saying to themselves, “Rutgers is still Rutgers.” Illinois 31-20
No. 2 Indiana (8-0, 5-0) - 21.5 at Maryland (4-3, 1-3)
12:30 p.m., CBS
The Terrapins come off a bye after losing three straight by four or fewer points. They’ll lose by more than four on Saturday. This looked like a potential trap game with the Hoosiers traveling to Happy Valley next week, but ICYMI: Penn State stinks. Indiana 38-10
Michigan State (3-5, 0-5) at Minnesota (5-3, 3-2) -3.5
4 p.m. BTN
If I had to bet on a game, this is the very last one I’d choose. The Golden Gophers beat Nebraska 24-6, and followed that up by getting lost in Iowa’s cornfield, 41-3. Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck truly is Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates — you never know what you’re gonna get. Meanwhile, Michigan State is lost no matter where it goes in the Big Ten. Minnesota 28, Michigan State 23
Purdue (2-6, 0-5) at No. 21 Michigan (6-2, 4-1) -21.5
12:30 p.m. BTN
The Boilermakers have sort of hung in there during most of their five conference losses, and they’ll kind of stick around in this one. Michigan 35-14
No. 23 USC (5-2, 3-1) -4.5 at Nebraska (6-2, 3-2)
4:30 p.m., NBC
This is a huge battle between coaches who can’t seem to win big games. Who will lose this one? Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule has lost 23 straight to Top 25 opponents, so I figure he’s due. Nebraska 26-24
Byes: Oregon, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin
Records
Last week: 7-0 straight up, 5-2 against the spread
Season: 82-13, 57-48 ATS
Huskies picks (weekly): 6-2, 5-3 ATS
Huskies picks (from preseason): 7-1, 5-3 ATS
