Iowa Football Opponent Preview: Washington Huskies

It’s been nearly a month since the Iowa Football team played their last game at Kinnick Stadium. Now, the Hawkeyes are back at home this week to face off against the Big Ten newcomer Washington Huskies. It will be just the seventh all-time meeting between the two programs and the first time Washington has come to Iowa since 1964! They most recently met in the 1995 Sun Bowl, with Iowa winning 38-18.

The Huskies are led by first-year head coach Jedd Fisch, who came over from Arizona after posting a 10-3 record last season, including a win in the Alamo Bowl over Oklahoma. This season, Washington is off to a 4-2 start, with a win over Northwestern, as well as an upset victory over #10 Michigan this past weekend in Seattle. Their losses have come against Washington State and Rutgers.

As you would expect, there is not much history of west coast teams coming to Iowa City during the Kirk Ferentz era. Iowa is 3-0 against such teams, defeating Nevada (’22), Arizona (’09) and Arizona State (’03). The Hawkeyes open as a three-point favorite, but it is worth noting that Big Ten teams traveling two times zones are just 1-8 this season.

HUSKIES OFFENSE

2024 Numbers: 25.5 PPG (92nd), 163.3 RUSH (68th), 299.3 PASS (16th), 462.7 TOTAL (21st)

The Washington offense is one that Iowa does not see super often, with the Huskies averaging 32.7 pass attempts per game. Their passing attack is led by fifth-year senior Mississippi State transfer QB Will Rogers, who will be playing in his 50th career game on Saturday. Rogers has completed 131 of 178 (73.6%) pass attempts for 1,625 yards and 12 touchdowns to just one interception this season. He currently ranks third in the Big Ten in completion percentage, second in passing yards and second in touchdowns.

Joining him in the backfield is Arizona transfer running back Jonah Coleman. An underrated back in the Big Ten, Coleman rushed for 871 yards last season, while he has totaled 601 yards on 90 carries (6.7 ypc) and five touchdowns this season. He ranks third in the Big Ten in rushing yards and fifth in yards per carry. Another name to know is senior Cameron Davis. He has 36 carries for 179 yards (4.8 ypc) in a backup role behind Coleman.

In the passing game, the Huskies spread the ball around, with five players totaling at least ten catches this season. That’s tied for the second-most in the Big Ten. Michigan transfer Giles Jackson and sophomore Denzel Boston have been the go-to options, combining for 52.4% of the targets. Boston has been impressive, catching 35 passes for a team-leading 492 yards (14.1 ypc) and eight touchdowns. Jackson leads the team in receptions with 38 for 479 yards (12.6 ypc) and two touchdowns. Senior tight end Keleki Latu is third on the team with 20 catches for 180 yards (9.0 ypc), while California transfer Jeremiah Hunter has 19 receptions for 222 yards (11.7 ypc).

Looking at offensive line play, per Pro Football Focus, the Huskies rank 98th in pass blocking (66.2) and 85th in run blocking (59.9). Although Will Rogers has been sacked just six times, he has been pressured 55 times, which is nearly 30% of his dropbacks. Guard Enokk Vimahi is the Huskies highest-graded lineman (62.8) and he ranks 51st in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes will have to find a way to generate some pressure against an offensive line that is vulnerable.

HUSKIES DEFENSE

2024 Numbers: 13.2 PPG (10th), 130.5 RUSH (58th), 125.5 PASS (3rd), 256.0 TOTAL (8th)

Defensively, Washington has been quite a bit better than many likely expected. Defensive Coordinator Steve Belichick (son of Bill) is in his first season with the Huskies after spending the last five seasons as the defensive play caller for the New England Patriots.

Starting up front for Washington, the Huskies defensive line is led by senior edge rusher Voi Tunuffi. He has totaled 17 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, but leads the team with 16 quarterback pressures, including 12 quarterback hurries. The production is pretty spread out amongst the group, with DT Sebastian Valdez (21 tkls, 3.5 tfls), DE Zach Durfee (15 tkls, 2.5 sks, 10 pressures) and Arizona transfer DE Isaiah Ward (13 tkls, 4 tfls) all getting in on the action. The Washington pass rush ranks 49th in the country per Pro Football Focus.

At linebacker, the Huskies are led by seniors Carson Bruener and Alphonzo Tuputala. Two guys that opted to stick around through the coaching change and roster turnover, they ranked third (86 tkls) and fourth (69 tkls) on the team in tackles last season. This season, Bruener leads the team with 36 tkls, while Tuputala is second on the team with 30 tackles and 14 quarterback pressures. Other names to know at the linebacker position include true freshman Khmori House (12 tkls) and San Jose State transfer Bryun Parham (11 tkls).

The Huskies secondary is the strength of the defense, as they rank 14th in the country in pass coverage grade (90.8) and second in the Big Ten in pass breakups (29) behind Oregon. Four of their top five in snaps played reside in the secondary, led by safety Kamren Fabiculanan and corner Thaddeus Dixon. The two have combined to play 661 snaps, totaling 39 tackles, eight passes broken up and two interceptions. In pass coverage, Dixon has been targeted 26 times, allowing just ten catches (38.5%) for 93 yards.

Arizona transfer corner Ephesians Prysock (10 tkls, 2 PBU) is fourth on the team in snaps, while safety Cameron Broussard (20 tkls) is fifth in snaps. Washington ranks third in the country in passing yards allowed, but Prysock is the weak link of the group, allowing ten receptions for 117 yards (11.7) on 19 targets. Another name to know is Indiana transfer Jordan Shaw. He plays the HUSKY position and has been solid in pass coverage, allowing just seven receptions on 15 targets, and has four pass breakups.

HUSKIES SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker Grady Gross: 9/15 FG, 4/19 30+, LNG 44, 16/16 PAT

Punter Jack McCallister: 18 punts, 44.3 AVG, 7 In20, LNG 54

Kick Returner Keith Reynolds: 7 returns, 135 yds, 19.3 AVG, LNG 25

Punt Returner Denzel Boston: 8 returns, 65 yds, 8.1 AVG, LNG 25

FINAL THOUGHT

Just like the Minnesota game a couple of weeks ago, this game against the Huskies has a chance to be a season-defining one for the Hawkeyes. Washington is not the team they were last season, but they are coming off of a big home win over a ranked Michigan squad. Statistically, their defense is one of the better ones in the country, while they have the weapons on offense make things tough on Iowa. Although the Hawkeyes are just 27-31-2 against the spread when favored at home over the last ten seasons, they have outright won eight of their last ten at home when favored by five points or less. That seems like a significant stat given that the line is just -3 in favor of Iowa.