SEATTLE, Wash. — Whenever there is rain and heavy winds forecasted for a football game, many fans assume the game will be a defensive slugfest.
Washington did not get that memo in their dismantling of the Fighting Illini.
The Washington Huskies offense had their way with the Illini defense, scoring touchdowns on six of eight drives in the 42-25 loss. And one of those drives was Washington kneeling out the clock to end the game.
The inability to get off the field on third and long has been a consistent
issue in 2025 for Illinois. The biggest example of this was when Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. converted a 3rd and 18—yes 18— with his legs, that led to yet another Huskies touchdown.
Third and long was not the only problem on defense, every third down was. The Huskies converted nine third downs on 12 tries. The Illini simply could not get off the field.
Aaron Henry’s defense has long relied on the philosophy of giving up yards, but forcing turnovers. And while that is good when it works, it leaves fans puzzled when it does not.
The Huskies did not play a completely clean game however. Three times they put the ball on the ground, and Illinois was unable to recover any of the fumbles. For a team that does give up yards, when those opportunities present themselves, it feels as if you have to capitalize, and capitalize the Illini could not.
In Big Ten games this season Henry’s crew has given up: 63, 32, 27, 34 and now 42 points. That is an average of 39.6 points per game. The Illini can not continue to give up that many points, and rely on quarterback Luke Altmyer and his offense to bail them out.
And while this may seem like the end of the world for the Fighting Illini, there are still four contests left. Henry has shown he can get the most out of his players, but it feels as if time is running out on the high-expectation 2025 season.
