Ahead of their first trip to East Lansing as members of the Big Ten, Washington will face some serious pressure to come out on top over the 3-6 Michigan State Spartans. A win for the Huskies doesn't exactly tip the scales on what has been a disappointing season, but suffering their fifth loss of the season to a team with just one win in conference play could prove to have a major impact on the future of the program.
Before taking a snap, Jedd Fisch's program entered the season as the No. 17-ranked team in the country in the preseason AP Poll. With College Football Playoff aspirations from those both within and outside the building, those hopes quickly drifted away. After narrowly escaping their first two games, including a 16-14 win over Utah
State in Week Two, the Huskies dropped out of the top 25 and haven't been back since.
Since beginning conference play, UW has lost four of six, three of which were at home.
To fall short of expectations is one thing, but the fashion in which Washington has done it is concerning. The offense, led by second-year starter Demond Williams Jr. and an offensive line that once had a goal of bringing home the Joe Moore Award, ranks just No. 13 in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 26.3 points per game. On the other side of the ball, the defense has been stout at times and vulnerable at others. In each of their home losses, Ryan Walters' squad has given up 21, 27, and 28 points in the first half, creating a massive hurdle for an offense that ranks No. 103 in the country in first-half points.
If the Huskies were to fall to the Spartans on Saturday afternoon, the odds of becoming bowl-eligible are slim. Washington concludes their regular season schedule by hosting No. 4 Indiana before heading to Eugene to face off against No. 23 Oregon, and in neither game would UW be favored. There's not much to salvage from the underwhelming season, but being able to reach a bowl game and potentially knock off a couple of ranked opponents along the way would at least create a bit of momentum entering a critical offseason.
So, the question remains: what has been the problem for Fisch and company this season?
It's not exactly a straightforward answer. Injuries have riddled the Huskies all season, especially at key positions. Center Landen Hatchett only appeared in two games before being sidelined with a head/neck/spine injury, and running backs Jordan Washington, Quaid Carr, and Jayden Limar have all missed significant time. This issue has forced the third-year head coach's hand into becoming a pass-heavy offense, which at first glance shouldn't be too big of an issue with an experienced quarterback and reliable weapons on the outside.
The only problem is that the veteran quarterback has had struggles of his own. Starting in seven games and making a late-game appearance in a comeback win over Nebraska, Williams has taken a step back, throwing for eleven touchdowns and four interceptions while posting a completion percentage of 64.5, his lowest during his time in Seattle by a wide margin.
Combine the inconsistent quarterback play with youth and inexperience sprinkled along the offensive line and at the running back position, and it's safe to say there is plenty of frustration surrounding the state of the offense led by their head coach.
Youth certainly does play a factor as well, as Washington is the third-youngest team in the Big Ten behind only USC and Ohio State. But being young doesn't automatically equal losing, as demonstrated by the two other named programs. As a matter of fact, some of the Huskies' youngest players have been their best at times, such as freshman cornerback Jeron Jones and first-year starter Chris Lawson. Growing pains have been evident, but they are nowhere near the sole reason for what has transpired this fall.
Assuming the odds play out the way they're projected to and the Huskies come out victorious against MSU, Washington is still set to finish the season 6-6, the same record as Fisch's first year taking over the program. While the difference between 5-7 and 6-6 is seemingly minimal, an unsuccessful trip to East Lansing could have major implications for a program that was playing for a national championship less than three years ago.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football Facing Must-Win Game With Trip to Michigan State
