Takeaways: Washington Huskies Knock Off No. 23 Illinois

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Washington Huskies receiver Denzel Boston (12) and quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) celebrate during UW’s 42-25 win over No. 23 Illinois in a Big Ten game on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Credit: Washington Athletics [/caption]

SEATTLE, Wash. — It was quite a bounce-back for quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and the Washington Huskies.

After struggling at Michigan, UW responded with a resounding 42-25 win over No. 23 Illinois on Saturday in front of 68,630 at Husky Stadium. Washington found solutions to the red zone woes that plagued the Huskies during last week’s 24-7 loss to Michigan, as well as a 24-6 home defeat to Ohio State on Sept. 27.

“Increased focus,” Williams told the Emerald City Spectrum. “Just being a better leader when it comes to that standpoint. Just letting everybody know we can’t have negative plays, no sacks, penalties, stuff like that. Continue to harp on that, and I feel like all the guys just bought into it,”

Williams added 66 rushing yards, including a 25-yard run during which he trucked Illinois safety Miles Scott.

His favorite play, though:

“Victory formation,” said Williams, after his team improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play.

That was quite a difference from a week earlier at Michigan, when Williams threw three interceptions — one more than his career total entering that game. Williams said he put that setback behind him quickly, and Fisch indicated that there’s no time to wallow when there’s a new game every week.

“The bottom line is that guys throw picks and guys throw touchdowns,” Fisch said. “Guys throw a lot of completions and incompletions, and we work through that, we correct it, we coach it. But, I’m never going to be a coach that takes away the freedoms of our players and overcoaches interceptions.”

Huskies Bowl Eligible

Last year, Washington stumbled its way to a bowl game, getting its sixth and final win at UCLA on Nov. 15. This year, the Huskies hit No. 6 on Oct. 25. After the upcoming bye, the Huskies finish out with Wisconsin, Purdue, UCLA and Oregon. They’re likely to be favored in the first three before the Ducks visit for the regular season finale.

“Always a great feeling to be eligible for the postseason,” Fisch said. “… Our team came out ready to go today — really like the way they answered the bell. They responded well from last week.”

It was UW’s first win over a ranked opponent this season. The Huskies hung with Ohio State and Michigan, but both pulled away from 7-7 ties in the second half.

First Quarter and Red Zone Revivals

Washington failed to score a first-quarter point in its first four Big Ten games this season. That changed in a big way on Saturday, when the Huskies scored two touchdowns to open with a 14-3 lead.

The Huskies moved the ball in two previous games against ranked opponents (Ohio State and Michigan), but stubbed their toes in the red zone. That was not the case on Saturday. Washington found a variety of ways to convert, including a 15-yard touchdown pass from receiver Denzel Boston to Jonah Coleman.

It’s a play the Huskies had hoped to run for some time.

“That was the time we got the coverage we wanted, so we were able to execute the play, and it came at the right time,” Fisch said. “Those are fun when they work. It was certainly nice to see Denzel take that one, run with it, and throw the ball to Jonah.

“All that was real good.”

In addition to his passing skills, Boston finished with a career high 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. It was true freshman receiver Dezmen Roebuck who helped the Huskies score on their first two red zone appearances. He caught TD passes to cap both scoring drives, and finished with three catches for 36 yards. His second score was a toe-tapper on a throw that arrived a little late to the wide-open freshman.

Offensive Line Back in Action

Washington welcomed the return of left tackle Carver Willis and left guard John Mills. Carver missed the past three games after a knee injury against Ohio State. Mills, a true freshman, returned after a two-week absence. The duo helped Washington put up 449 yards on Illinois. Williams was not sacked, and the Huskies ran for 157 yards, including 14 carries for 75 yards and a TD by Coleman.

Washington made it through the game with one experienced tight end and the return of another. With an injury to Quentin Moore and a season-ending injury to Kade Eldridge, the Huskies were left with sophomore Decker Degraaf as the only tight end to play in a game this season. Backup center/guard Zachary Henning, who played tight end at times last season, rotated in for two tight end sets. True freshman Barone Naone also saw his first playing time as a Husky.

Huskies Overcome Weather and Penalties

The weather was at times beautiful, while at other times, wind and rain swept through Husky Stadium.

“Coach likes to say it’s Dawg weather,” said Roebuck, who is from Arizona. “It’s my first time playing in the rain. Playing when, in a day where it’s sunny, rainy, cold, sunny, then cold, it was a blast.”

While the weather was inconsistent, the same could be said for some interesting calls by the game officials. Huskies cornerback Tacario Davis was flagged twice for pass interference in the end zone to set up Illinois’ first two touchdowns. Both calls were dubious at best. On the second one, Davis made a leaping catch after it appeared there was minor, incidental contact between the 6-4 cornerback and 6-4 Illini receiver Justin Bowick.

The Illini’s third TD was set up by a roughing the passer call when UW defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uigalelei hit Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer as he released the ball. The penalty wiped out an interception by free safety Makell Esteen.

Instead of a Washington first down at the Illinois 39, it became first-and-10 Illinois at the Washington 34 after the 15-yard penalty, plus a second 15-yarder for sideline interference when a UW coach got in the way of an official during the play.

“We can’t have that,” Fisch said. “As for the [roughing] penalty, they said that [Uigalelei] hit him in the face. “

Defense Gets Turnovers

Though Davis had an interception wiped out by the pass interference penalty, he picked off another one later in the game that counted. Nickelback Rahshawn Clark, who dropped a potential game-turning pick against Michigan, pulled one in against Illinois on Saturday. Though the Huskies flirted with disaster when Boston muffed a punt that was recovered by UW cornerback Dylan Robinson, UW did not give the ball away to the Illini.

“Takeaways are huge,” Fisch said. “I told them all week long, you get zero takeaways, you’ve got about a 25% chance to win.”

Though Washington finished with no sacks and just two tackles for loss, the Huskies never allowed big plays to Illinois. Safety Alex McLaughlin once again led the way with 12 tackles, sharing team-high honors with emerging junior linebacker Xe’ree Alexander.