The Huskies Head to Big House for Big Michigan Test
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1636"]
Washington Huskies receiver Denzel Boston (12) and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson (2) battle during a game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2024. Credit: Mike Kane/Washington Athletics [/caption]
It’s almost Big Noon at the Big House. Can Washington show they’re ready for the Big Time in the Big Ten?
Unranked Washington (5-1) travels to 4-2 Michigan, where the Huskies will take on the recently unranked Wolverines. A win in Ann Arbor would almost certainly put UW in the AP Poll and demonstrate that the Huskies are for real.
“It’s a great atmosphere,” Washington head coach Jedd Fisch said Monday. “I had an opportunity to coach there for two years, and we won a lot of games there. … It’s an awesome place, and it’s super cool that they sell out every game. They have unbelievable energy.
“Our guys are going to be excited about this opportunity. I really believe that our team will show up and be fired up to be part of something like a Washington at Michigan game at 12 on FOX, and everything you could ask for.”
Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters also has his share of experience at the Big House, with previous Big Ten stops as the defensive coordinator at Illinois and head coach at Purdue.
“If you’re a football fan or a football guy, you enjoy playing in those venues,” Walters said Tuesday. “You know, just all the history that goes along with games that have been played there, and the environment is awesome.”
How good is this Washington team? We learned that the Huskies are a lot better than UC Davis, and not quite on par with Ohio State. We saw that UW can come back from deficits against middling teams like Maryland and Rutgers, and those games also showed that Washington can prevail when the opponent has the benefit of a bye.
Michigan has its own set of questions, but one thing is certain. It’s Michigan. It’s the Big Noon game. And a win in front of 107,000 wearing maize and blue will open some eyes nationwide.
While the Wolverines got worked, 31-13, by USC last week, they’ll be a solid test for Washington’s trenches — which remain perhaps the team’s biggest question.
The UW defense has been solid late in games, helping UW outscore opponents 80-10 in six games this season. The Huskies got to Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis three times last week. Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters believes the pressure will continue to rise.
I think it’s continually improving,” Walters said. “As we’re getting into more traditional Big Ten opponents that have more dropback opportunities, you’ll start to see more pass rush, and we’ll have designers of the week where we’re sending more pressures, and all those things.”
Washington Injury Situation
Washington was without left tackle Carver Willis, left guard John Mills and edge Zach Durfee for last week’s 38-19 win over Rutgers. Willis walked around with a knee brace, and Mills was seen with a boot and a scooter last week. That can mean a lot of things, however. Fisch said none of the injuries appear to be long-term, but did not indicate whether or not any of the three will play at Michigan.
My guess is the Huskies will again go with Maximus McCree at left tackle and Paki Finau at left guard. Durfee (elbow) may have a better chance at playing, but it’s far from a certainty.
Big Ten Picks
Nebraska (5-1 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) -8.5 at Minnesota (4-2, 2-1)
5 p.m. PT, FOX
Matt Rhule probably likes his name being thrown around Happy Valley, but he won’t be distracted enough to let the Golden Gophers’ boat get rowed very far during the game Friday. Nebraska 28-20
Purdue (2-4, 0-3) at Northwestern (4-2, 2-1) -3.5
Noon, BTN
Both of these teams are a little better than expected, but the Boilermakers will take another step into the cellar in Evanston. Northwestern 14-3
Ohio State (6-0, 3-0) -25.5 at Wisconsin (2-4, 0-3)
12:30 p.m., CBS
The Buckeyes haven’t put up crazy points this year, but Wisconsin seems to have quit. Head coach Luke Fickel gets two more losses on his resume (this week and at Oregon next week), and UW could see the first week of an interim coach on Nov. 8. Ohio State 38-3
Michigan State (3-3, 0-3) at Indiana (6-0, 3-0) -27.5
12:30 p.m., Peacock
MSU never seems to quite get off the ground, and it’ll be interesting to see how long Jonathan Smith lasts there. Indiana 48-14
Oregon (5-1, 2-1) -17.5 at Rutgers (3-3, 0-3)
3:30 p.m., BTN
Dan Lanning took his shirt off with Pat McAfee on College GameDay, then got pantsed by Curt Cignetti. He’ll keep it all on this week and get an understated win in Piscataway. Oregon 35-18
Penn State (3-3, 0-3) at Iowa (4-2, 2-1) -2.5
4 p.m., Peacock
Can the Nittany Lions rebound ala UCLA after firing the head coach? I’ve never been more uncertain of anything in my life. Iowa 13-10 (3 OT)
Maryland (4-2, 1-2) at UCLA (2-4, 2-1) -3.5
4 p.m., FS1
Two teams going in opposite directions, and little Jerry Neuheisel is doing some good things now that he’s figured out how to use Dad’s headset. The Bruins moving to 3-1 in the conference would be wild. UCLA 27-20.
USC (5-1) at Notre Dame (4-2) -9.5
4:30 p.m., NBC
USC is riding high after beating Michigan in the Overrated Bowl, but the Trojans get exposed this week. Notre Dame 30-20.
Bye: Illinois (at Washington next week)
The Pick
Washington (5-1, 2-1) at Michigan (4-2, 2-1) -6.5
9 a.m., FOX
I’m about to do a couple of arguably dumb things with this pick. First, I’m going to change my pick five minutes before submitting this story. Second, I’m basing it mostly on a clip from Michigan coach Sherrone Moore’s press conference, where he said, “The message, really, is simple. We got to go back to work. That’s the reason I got the blue-collar jacket on.”
It looked a little forced. Borderline cringeworthy. Perhaps the Wolverines will buy the message and run through a brick wall (or UW’s offensive and defensive lines) for him. But, I’m skeptical, and Moore’s seat may heat up quicker than the backside of a 1972 Ford Pinto Saturday.
Sherrone Moore was asked if there is an overall message to his Michigan team after the loss to USC.
“The message, really, is simple. We got to go back to work. That’s the reason I got the blue collar jacket on,” he said. pic.twitter.com/G9lQ6kXwDg— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 13, 2025
There have been signs the last two years that Moore wasn’t quite ready for a gig of Michigan magnitude, and pulling out the blue collar after getting bullied by a USC team that has been soft under Lincoln Riley seems a little high-schoolish.
I’ve said all along that Michigan was a tad overrated going into this season. I also believe the Huskies were a team deserving of more votes in the AP Poll. The general attitude seems to have been that Huskies need to prove they are good, and Michigan must prove that it isn’t.
This game will tell us a lot about both teams.
I’d be pretty confident picking the Huskies at home. Washington can’t fall down double digits in this one and expect to come back. But if they can sneak the Trojans’ blueprint into the Big House, UW has a real chance on Saturday.
Washington 25, Michigan 24
Records
Last week: 5-4 straight up, 5-4 against the spread
Season: 68-11, 48-41 ATS
Huskies picks (weekly): 5-1, 4-2 ATS
Huskies picks (from preseason): 5-1, 4-2 ATS
