No matter who was throwing to Baron Naone or what it took to make it happen, the second-year tight end made a significant impact for Washington in Saturday's 25-21 loss at No. 18 USC.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder leaked through the Trojans' defense on the Huskies' third drive of the game and hauled in a 5-yard pass from wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck to put UW ahead for the first time at the 4:23 mark in the first quarter.
On the heels of his first career touchdown reception against Minnesota, Naone added his second of the season and continued to make key plays over the final three quarters in at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night.
Naone caught his second pass, a 17-yard reception, which helped set up the second UW touchdown and put
the road team ahead 14-10 when fourth-year tight end Kade Eldridge punched in a direct snap for a 1-yard score with three-plus minutes left before halftime.
NAONE PUTS WASHINGTON ON THE BOARD 🙌
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 4, 2026
Baron Naone scores the first touchdown of the game as @UW_Football takes the lead!
Watch on NBC pic.twitter.com/uoLaGwzK0k
The West Linn, Oregon native opened the second half with an 18-yard reception that put the ball in Trojan territory. On the following play, third-year tight end Decker DeGraaf ripped off a 42-yard touchdown to extend the Huskies' lead to 21-10.
Although Naone wasn't targeted again in the four-point loss, finishing the Week Five Big Ten Conference game third with 3 receptions for 40 yards, it's another positive step in the right direction for the rising sophomore.
Given UW's offensive struggles through the first five games in 2026, especially the past two weeks against the Gophers and Trojans to start league play, it offers a glimmer of optimism that when Williams and Fisch need an answer, there's a dependable weapon in Naone.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Barone Naone Continues to Deliver for Washington Football Despite Loss
