DON’T use marijuana at all or not in the past month, and most (88%) young adults in wa state
DON’T drive under the influence of marijuana. Most (66%) young adults in wa state
read out loud and let everyone know!!
MARIJUANA CAN IMPAIR DRIVING FOR AT LEAST 6-8 HOURS AFTER USE, EDIBLES EVEN LONGER. COMBINING ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA INCREASES IMPAIRED DRIVING.
KEEP YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS SAFE! CALL A RIDE SHARE, SOBER FRIEND, OR FAMILY MEMBER FOR A RIDE IF YOU OR YOUR FRIENDS HAVE BEEN USING MARIJUANA OR ALCOHOL.
3-2-1: Preview of Boise State
By Ethan Kilbreath The Daily
3 Numbers to Know:
167.7: Passing yards per game that Boise State allowed in 2022, which was good for fifth-best in the nation. Granted, they didn’t face a passing attack nearly as potent as these Huskies, but the Broncos’ success in the secondary is still enough to create an intriguing matchup with UW’s touted receiving group.
1,978: Yards that running backs George Holani and Ashton Jeanty combined for on the ground last season. The pair also combined for 17 total touchdowns, and they return to the Broncos looking to wreak more havoc on opposing defenses. The Huskies’ defensive line has been highly advertised, and they should be up for the early challenge from Boise State.
13: Years since Washington lost to a Group of 5 team at home (no, Montana doesn’t count). The Huskies have largely taken care of business against Group of 5 teams in Husky Stadium — the most recent such loss came in 2008 — which… checks out.
2 Players to Watch:
Taylen Green: Standing at 6’6”, the redshirt sophomore quarterback can make it happen for the Broncos on the ground and through the air. Green rushed for 586 yards and a whopping 10 touchdowns in 2022, and passed for 2,042 yards with 14 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Dual-threat quarterbacks can give
any defense fits on the right day, and the week one test will be especially pertinent for the Huskies’ defense given the magnitude of dual-threat quarterbacks that await in Pac-12 play.
George Holani: If Boise’s running game doesn’t show up, then they may as well just get on the bus back to the Gem State before kickoff. The Broncos’ offensive success hinges on the effectiveness of their two-headed monster at running back, Holani and the aforementioned Ashton Jeanty.
1 Recap of Last Season:
10-win seasons and conference championship game appearances have become the norm in Boise. The Broncos did exactly that, running the table in the Mountain West regular season before falling to Fresno State in the championship game. Aside from a disaster at UTEP and a hiccup against BYU, Boise staved off most of its competition, culminating in a Frisco Bowl win over North Texas. However, the Broncos faced just one Power 5 opponent, Oregon State, which resulted in a 34-17 defeat for Boise State. The Broncos are predicted to win the Mountain West this season, something they haven’t done since 2019. That span feels like light years for this program, so it’s set to be a consequential year three for head coach Andy Avalos.
Reach Sports Editor Ethan Kilbreath at sports@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @EthanArles
“They’re my brothers for life”
Dillon Johnson’s family continues to grow after move to Seattle
By Ty Gilstrap The Daily
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, Dillon Johnson couldn’t help himself from crying.
Draped in a blue hospital gown inside a Mississippi hospital, Johnson held his newborn son, Dillon Johnson Jr., for the first time. In a post-practice interview session this fall, the junior running back still struggles to articulate the overwhelming emotions that come with a title sweeter than starting running back. Father.
“People often don’t understand that having a child is a different type of feeling,” Johnson said. “I didn’t really understand it until I had my own, but it makes you practice harder; it makes you think about stuff before you do it. You want to make the right decision, not only for you but for your family in general. He’s definitely brought some different things out of me for sure.”
But a little over a year later, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, Johnson wept once more.
It was hours after the last scrimmage of fall camp, and the raw emotion from the devastating news still lingered. Junior running back Cameron Davis, who many believed would be the starting running back for the opening snap against Boise State, had gone down with a lower-body injury. A short while later, Davis would be ruled out for the season.
“I went into the training room to try to talk to him, and I just broke down in front of him,” Johnson said. “It just hurt me because I remember being in the same situation when I was at Mississippi State, and when I went down, not knowing what it was, you know, it just hurts. It hits different when you’ve been in that situation.”
With 2,466 miles separating Johnson and his girlfriend, Jalyn,
and “Little DJ,” who currently reside in Starkville, Miss., the distance has been a difficult reality to handle. As a stopgap solution, Johnson has created his own pseudo-family in Seattle: the running back room. A group that has embraced him from the moment he stepped onto Montlake.
“Those are my dawgs,” Johnson said with a smile. “As far as the running back room as a whole, it’s hard bringing in a transfer guy, but the way they accepted me and helped me through, even when I was injured, helping me through the plays, trying to get me back on the field, keeping me positive and giving me positive vibes, it’s like they’re my brothers for life. Whatever they need, I’m going to be there for them, for sure.”
Which perhaps explains why Johnson was so crestfallen over the loss of Davis. His running back counterpart wasn’t just a teammate — he was a brother. A family member worthy of bringing out the deepest emotions, just like those waiting back in Starkville.
When Johnson speaks of holding lifelong connections with his “brothers,” there’s truth in what he says. Look no further than the left tackle just a few miles down I-5, Charles Cross. The two played together at Mississippi State before the Seattle Seahawks took the 6’5”, 311-pound lineman in the 2022 NFL Draft.
When UW reached out after Johnson entered the transfer portal, the junior immediately knew who he had to contact.
“Especially being so far away from home, I asked [Cross] what’s different about it, what are things I can do down there for fun and stuff like that,” Johnson said. “He gave me a lot of ideas and stuff that he said was great.
“Then, I asked [Cross], ‘Would you ever move back to
Mississippi?’ He said ‘No!’ So you know, that gave me the answer right there.”
On Johnson’s official visit, the junior met up with Cross and the two took a trip to Bellevue together. Just a few hours later, the running back knew he had found his new home. On Jan. 3, Johnson announced his verbal commitment to Washington — denying a late push from Auburn to keep him tied down to the South.
A long flight was in store, but the transition across the country would be the easy part — at least compared to learning the play sheet.
“Knowing the system he was coming from, it’s definitely going to be a learning curve — not from the standpoint that he doesn’t know football — but it’s just a lot more plays,” running back coach Lee Marks said. “He would go into a game with probably just a third of what we do, easily, if not less than that. So just getting used to the play sheet and knowing that now he has to go into the game and memorize a whole big huge play call sheet that’s different to what he was used to before.”
But for junior running back Daniyel Ngata, he never had any reservations about Johnson’s ability to grasp the offense. After all, when the pair shared a recruiting visit this past offseason, they were next-door neighbors in their hotel. Johnson stopped by to introduce himself and it didn’t take long before the duo fired up YouTube to watch some film.
Now, the two running backs share the same apartment complex, and on most nights, not much has changed.
“Dillon is a football guy,” Ngata said. “Now, he’ll come over, and he’ll go to YouTube and put on highlights, and he just likes watching that. It inspired me to
watch more film, and watch more running backs because it just shows how much there is to understand about football. From Dillon, I’ve learned how to stay locked in on football, how to get smarter, and see different views of the game. That’s one thing I’ll always thank him for.”
Johnson wears his emotions on his sleeve, but don’t let that mistake you; the junior plays a hard-nosed brand of football, one that has benefited him immensely inside the confines of Davis Wade Stadium, where he ran for 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns on 229 carries over three seasons in Starkville.
Ironically, in the wake of former running back Wayne Taulapapa’s absence, the junior will be asked to pick up the same duty as his buddy down in Lumen Field — blocking for a star Seattle quarterback. Johnson may stand five inches shorter and 93 pounds lighter than Cross, but the differential doesn’t dissuade him from absorbing contact, a trait that piqued Marks’ interest in the Greenville, Miss. native.
“[Johnson] has contact courage,” Marks said. “And when a guy has that, you know you can teach him how to block, and he’s done a really good job of that as well.”
But the physical style of football comes with a cost, one that he suffered when he went down with a knee injury. The junior acknowledged that he underwent minor knee surgery last fall but later learned the ligament never healed properly. This past April, Johnson underwent another procedure to return to full health. With the procedure comes a lengthy recovery time, one that has kept Johnson on the back burner for much of fall camp.
Slowly but surely, however, Johnson has been ramping up
in preparation for Boise State, hoping to add another weapon to an already high-powered offense that has local and national experts excited.
“Full game, I think we’re close,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “He’s getting stronger every day, but we’re getting there. But if he had 15-20 touches in a game, I don’t think he’d have a problem with that.”
As fall camp winds to a close, there’s plenty for Johnson to be excited for: whether it’s his full recovery, a front-row seat to senior quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s expected final season, or participating in what he tabs as “the best offense in the country.” But most of all, it’s the scheduled appearance of “Little DJ” on Montlake, with the one-year-old slated to arrive before the season opener and stay for the course of the season.
A few months back, Jalyn gifted Johnson a memory book full of family pictures. Each night, after a FaceTime call with his son, Johnson flips through the pages, reminiscing on the times when father and son shared a smile that lit up a room.
Undoubtedly, a few pages at the end of the book are still left blank. That’s because a few photobook worthy moments are still to come. On the final page, Johnson imagines a picture of himself, Jalyn, and “Little DJ,” all draped in purple and gold with broad smiles and a trophy in hand. And, of course, Johnson’s newfound family, the running backs room, photobombing the shot as well.
It’s the perfect end to the perfect book.
Reach Sports Editor Ty Gilstrap at sports@dailyuw.com.
Twitter: @ty_gilstrap
Evan Morud The Daily
Cornerbacks look to make leap forward in 2023
By Jack Norris The Daily
The biggest question mark coming into the 2023 season for the Washington football defense may very well be at the cornerback position. After a 2022 season that was ravaged by injuries in the cornerback room, the Huskies are looking for a bounce back year from a position group with a history of dominance.
To facilitate that bounce back, head coach Kalen DeBoer and Co. will call on junior transfer Jabbar Muhammad and sophomore Elijah Jackson to start the year.
Muhammad has been the presumptive number one corner throughout fall camp — a title that was only solidified by his play on the practice field throughout August.
“He understands our philosophies, he understands our culture,” DeBoer said. “He’s a guy that makes you feel like there’s a great promise to what we can do as a defensive backfield.”
Muhammad’s direct competition in scrimmages, junior wide receiver Rome Odunze, added to the praise espoused by DeBoer.
“He’s so savvy with his defense, he’s so sharp; it’s a blessing to go against him,” Odunze said. “He’s an NFL guy. He has a lot of assets to help that defense and is a formidable force to go against.”
Coming into fall camp, the coaching staff was tight-lipped when it came to who would start opposite Muhammad. But as fall camp rolled along, it became increasingly clear that Jackson would be named the second
Also looking to make an impact in the revamped secondary is junior Thaddeus Dixon. The junior college transfer is poised to be the third man in the cornerback room, and if and when the Huskies’ cornerback depth is inevitably tested, it will be players like Dixon and sophomore Jaivion Green who will be counted on.
A common cliche in football is that “iron sharpens iron.” The wide receiver group that the cornerback room has been tasked with defending this fall camp is as strong as any Husky defense has ever seen, providing a level of competition to practice that can only serve to help both groups.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb certainly appreciates the competition that corners have poised — but make no mistake, he still prefers to see his guys come out on top.
“I’m pissed off,” Grubb said. “Am I excited for our defensive players? Absolutely. They made some good plays at the end of practice but the competitive part in me wants to score every drive.”
A defense is only as strong as its weakest link. If the cornerback room plays to its capabilities and avoids the injury bug, the Husky defense will only serve to heighten the expectations for a season that is as highly anticipated as any in Husky football history.
Will the Huskies benefit from moving to the Big Ten Conference?
By The Daily Sports Staff
Ultimately, yes. The games will provide fans and players with sold-out crowds and marquee matchups for almost every game of the season. This will also improve the program and draw more talent towards Washington, due to the high caliber of teams in the Big Ten. However, I am strongly against the move because it is purely for money and completely ignores the history and tradition of the Pac-12. Part of the reason college football is the closest thing in America to European sports is due to the passion, history, and unwavering support of fans. Hopefully, these are not jarred in the conference change.
- Logan Redinger, sports reporter
The Pac-12 looks to be dead, so jumping ship and joining a powerhouse like the Big Ten makes too much sense to pass up. The concerns regarding travel are real, but at the end of the day, the Huskies needed to do something or risk being left behind.
-
Jack Norris, sports reporter
In the short term it feels like everything is upside down in the college football world, but ultimately I think the Huskies will benefit from this move in the future. Although I would’ve loved to see the Pac-12 try to keep its members, it just feasibly could not have happened given the gigantic hole the conference dug themselves, so it was either jump ship or sink, and the Huskies chose to jump when they could. In the Big Ten, the Huskies will still get to play their biggest rival, Oregon, while also having marquee matchups against familiar foes in USC and UCLA, along with the likes of new top competition Michigan, Ohio State, and Rutgers (just kidding, sorry Rutgers). Overall the move to the Big Ten gives Washington a chance to play college football at the highest level while still having the opportunity to keep its biggest rivalry intact.
- Danny Williams,
sports reporter
The Huskies will benefit from moving up to the Big Ten Conference because, although we will always cherish old traditions, it is important to consider the future. If you were to look at the alternative option through an objective lens, you would see a dying Pac-12 Conference and come to the conclusion that UW will find a much more stable future in the Big Ten Conference, especially when taking finances into account.
- Matthew Robi, sports reporter
I, like many lifelong fans of the conference, mourned the untimely death of the Pac-12. Reading the headline of UCLA and USC’s departure last summer was a punch to the stomach, and the increasingly likely prospect of the Pac-12’s demise became nauseating in the year that followed. But as much as we’ll miss the conference we all knew and loved, the time for doom and gloom is over. The Huskies are joining one of the two most competitive and stable conferences in the country, and the move ensures that they’ll remain relevant on the national stage. Sure, it’s going to take some getting used to, but the only way ahead now is forward. To whoever ends up on the football beat in 2024 and beyond, make sure to enjoy the Chicago dogs in Evanston, and corn — lots of corn — in Iowa.
- Ethan Kilbreath, Sports Editor
Battle Royale
Ethan Kilbreath
The Daily’s picks for UW vs. Boise State
Who will be the first Husky to reach the end zone in the 2023 season?
Boise State is famous for their blue turf. Would you support turning the Husky Stadium turf purple?
Would you rather eat only potatoes or only apples for the rest of your life?
What’s your confidence level in the Huskies winning this game?
SPORTS EDITOR
How cool would it be if Daniyel Ngata or Germie Bernard ran back the opening kickoff to start the season, and UW never looked back? If not that, I’ll go with Jalen McMillan hauling in a touchdown pass from Penix for the first of hopefully many.
That would be a unique kind of home field advantage, but I think it’s best to leave the colorful fields in Boise and our friends over in Eastern Washington.
While there’s little money to be made on these odds, I’ll gladly take junior wide receiver Rome Odunze as the first Husky to reach the end zone this season. Granted, the Boise State defense finished eighth in the nation with 167.7 yards per game allowed and 14th with 15 passes intercepted, but since then, the Broncos have undergone immense turnover, losing a safety, linebacker, and two cornerbacks to the NFL Draft. And, well, Odunze is Odunze, and Penix Jr. is Penix Jr. Need I say more?
I’m a firm believer that the utmost priority for Washington’s athletic department should be keeping head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb happy — especially now that Jen Cohen is patrolling the waters down at USC. So, if the pair even hints that they miss the non-traditional colored field from their brief stint at Eastern Michigan, I’ll be at Husky Stadium first thing tomorrow morning to paint the turf purple.
Ideally, the Huskies will start the game off with a meticulous, 10-plus play drive, capped off with a Jack Westover snag in the endzone. With Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan being the main focuses on offense, Westover will have the perfect opportunity to start the season off on the right foot.
I’m all for the narrative arc, so Rome Odunze no question. I have to agree with Ty here that Odunze and Penix are a match made in Husky heaven on the field.
Apples can be fairly easily replaced by more superior fruits such as mangoes, peaches, oranges, etc. But what’s a good substitution for potatoes? I think there’s your answer.
Boise State is certainly no slouch; it’s been the face of the Group of Five for two decades, and last season the Broncos won 10 games. But they’re outclassed by the Huskies in talent and coaching, and the vibes are simply too good for UW at Husky Stadium, where it hasn’t lost in 22 months. It’s certainly not a game to overlook, but the Huskies will come out on top, 35-20.
I think that if I said I would only eat apples for the rest of my life, my Mom would submit a letter to the editor that disputes how often I truly eat fruit. I’ll take potatoes in this faceoff — partially because it means I get to keep french fries.
Perhaps there’s something to be said about revenge games, and if so, Boise State has a prime opportunity to take advantage when they bring Bush Hamdan back to Montlake in his new role as offensive coordinator. But I think I’ll put more stock in history, which indicates the Broncos aren’t necessarily bucking out of the gate. Look no further than last year, where the offense promptly turned the ball over five times in a 34-17 loss to Oregon State in the season opener. Boise State will have to play a virtually perfect game to keep up with Penix Jr. and Co. — a feat that may be too much to ask this early in the season. I’ll take Washington running away with it in the second half, 35-21.
Logistically, purple turf would only create a massive eyesore in the “best setting in college football,” making it the not-so-good setting in college football. However, I do think having purple turf for one game would be pretty electric. For one game, fans would not be thinking about how ugly the turf looks, instead, they will hopefully be too busy watching Michael Penix throw bombs down the field.
I’m taking potatoes based on sheer versatility. Baked, mashed, fries, tots — need I say more?
Call me a traditionalist but I went to the only high school in my area with a natural turf field. As much as my blood runs purple and gold, going to a purple field would be a tough pill to swallow.
I think Boise State has the ability to keep the game close for the first quarter at least, if not for the entire first half. Boise State quarterback Taylen Green has the ability to make plays out of the pocket which could give the Husky-D fits. However, I think the Huskies’ combination of an already elite offense and improved defensive unit will outlast the Broncos, ultimately ending in a Husky victory, 31-14.
I’ll take the other side of this one. Maybe an all-potato diet is technically healthier, and maybe many apples a day won’t keep the doctors away, but there’s something about the first bite of a crisp, Washington apple I couldn’t ever give up.
I want to say it’s going to be a cake walk for the Huskies returning to one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory. But that would ignore a Boise State team that has one good defense and no slouch of an offense either. But the Huskies are going to get out there and take care of business, 28-25.
Ty Gilstrap SPORTS EDITOR
Danny Williams SPORTS WRITER Luke Amrine EDITOR IN CHIEF
Big Ten move presents new slate of opponents for Washington
By Andrew Sousa The Daily
Does Alaska Airlines give Washington frequent flier miles? If not, UW might want to negotiate.
On Aug. 4, the Washington football team announced its move to the Big Ten conference, joining Pac-12 rival Oregon in the sudden shift. This announcement came on the heels of massive conference realignment, spurred by fellow Pac-12 schools USC and UCLA.
When these four schools move to their new football home in 2024, a fresh wave of opponents will welcome them, extending from the Midwest to the East Coast. Who are these new teams, and what challenges will they offer the Huskies?
Illinois Illini
Washington all-time record: 7-4
The last 50 years of this matchup has been all Huskies, who have won the last four matchups against the Illini by double digits. But the next time the two schools clash could be a much closer affair.
After years of struggles, Illinois seems to have turned a corner last season, posting its first winning record since 2011. A middleof-the-pack offense in 2022 was bolstered by one of the best defenses in the country, which allowed just 12.8 points per game.
A potential matchup in 2024 could see an elite Washington offense against a premier Illinois defense, a showdown that could test Washington’s half-century of success.
Indiana Hoosiers
Washington all-time record: 1-2
A program seemingly on the rise in 2020 has fallen off dramatically in the last two years, becoming one of the worst teams in the Big Ten over the past two seasons.
A bottom-ranked defense paired with a middling offensive attack shouldn’t provide too much of a challenge for UW on the football field.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Washington all-time record: 3-3
The last time the Huskies and the Hawkeyes squared off was all the way back in 1995, resulting in a 38-18 Sun Bowl loss for UW. However, a modern-day matchup might struggle to reach those point totals.
Much has been made of Iowa’s maligned offense, amplified last season after a puzzling 7-3 victory over South Dakota State. The Hawkeyes’ defense is certainly no laughing matter though, surrendering just 13.3 points per game to carry the Hawkeyes to a surprising 8-5 record.
Unless former tight end George Kittle plans on returning to Iowa in 2024 or 2025, expect a defensive slugfest when the two
teams rekindle the old flame.
Maryland Terrapins
Washington all-time record: 1-0
After joining in 2014, Maryland is still relatively new to the Big Ten family, so the two schools don’t have much of a history.
But if a middle-of-the-road team is your cup of tea, look no further than the Terrapins. UM doesn’t excel at much on the gridiron, but it’s been a stable and consistent program led by senior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.
Should Tagovailoa be gone in 2024, Washington might kick off its new conference foe against a team on the decline.
Michigan Wolverines
Washington all-time record: 5-8
One of the flagship programs of the conference lies in Ann Arbor, with the Wolverines winning the past two Big Ten championships. By the time Washington joins the fray, it very well could be three straight. Michigan’s passing and rushing game are elite, manned by Heisman contender and junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Its defense is no slouch either, as long as its not playing Texas Christian University.
Barring a significant falloff in 2024, UW will have its work cut out for itself to avenge its 31-10 loss against the school in 2021.
Michigan State Spartans
Washington all-time record: 3-1
Washington won’t have to wait long for its test against the Spartans, with the two teams squaring off in week three of this season in East Lansing.
MSU took a considerable step back in 2022, but this year’s matchup will be a good indication of whether or not Michigan State will provide a formidable challenge to Washington in the years ahead, especially in late-season matchups in a hostile Spartan Stadium.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Washington all-time record: 7-10
You have to go back 50 years to find the last time the Huskies squared up with the Golden Gophers, a 1977 matchup that UW lost 19-17. Minnesota hasn’t been in any championship talks in recent years, but it has put out a consistently quality product, producing winning seasons in four of the last five years.
Minnesota may not have many highlight players, but it works hard under head coach P.J. Fleck and typically plays above its talent level. Any away game in Minneapolis shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Washington all-time record: 4-5-1
Scott Frost was not the savior this once-dominant program needed, and the Cornhuskers will still likely be in a transition
The two schools became very familiar with each other in 2010-2011, clashing three times in a one-year span. Now that both schools have found themselves in the Big Ten, expect some heated and exciting shootouts if new head coach Matt Rhule can quickly turn the Huskers around.
Northwestern Wildcats
Washington all-time record: 3-0
Northwestern has been a disaster on and off the field in recent years, culminating in the firing of former head coach Pat Fitzgerald after accusations of hazing and racism within the program came to light.
The Wildcats were at or near the bottom of the Big Ten in offense and defense in 2022, with the replacement coaches likely needing at least a few years to heal the wounds left by the previous regime.
At least the Wildcats’ new stadium in 2026 will be nice. It’ll even have lights!
Ohio State Buckeyes
Washington all-time record: 3-9
The Buckeyes have been the harshest opponent so far, beating the Huskies in nine of their previous 12 meetings. Ohio State canceled their home-and-home series with Washington for 2024 and 2025, but after conference realignment, the two schools might end up playing in the same time frame anyways.
Whether it’s playing Pac-12 teams or Big Ten teams, OSU has been an unstoppable force. The Buckeyes have been one of the best teams in the country over the last decade, notching a resounding 116-15 record, with a 2014 national championship to boot.
As Washington continues to rise, future meetings will likely possess massive conference and national title implications far beyond the Rose Bowl games of old.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Washington all-time record: 0-3
Penn State is the only team in the Big Ten that Washington has yet to beat, falling in all three of its past meetings.
Coming off a Rose Bowl victory in 2022, the Nittany Lions are a sneaky contender for the Big Ten crown. PSU has a new starting
quarterback for the first time in five years, and Happy Valley is always a nightmare for opposing schools.
UW and PSU should be highly competitive in the years ahead, making for thrilling matchups down the line.
Purdue Boilermakers
Washington all-time record: 7-2-1
Washington won seven straight against Purdue before the Boilermakers finally got one back in 2002. Despite this consistent success, Purdue is not a team Washington can overlook.
While the Boilermakers finished around the middle of the Big Ten in both offense and defense in 2022, they were still able to make the conference championship game, a matchup they eventually lost to Michigan. Purdue has been the distributor of massive upsets in recent years, and Washington will have to be on high alert against their future conference foes.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Washington all-time record: 2-0
As the perennial doormat of the Big Ten, Washington likely hasn’t thought too much of late-season games at Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights have finished near or at the bottom of the Big Ten since moving from the Big East in 2014. But with a top-20 recruiting class for 2024, perhaps future matchups can be more competitive than many think, and the extended flights from Seattle to New Jersey certainly won’t help.
Wisconsin Badgers
Washington all-time record: 4-0
Washington has had their way against Wisconsin in the past, winning all four contests between the schools. And with the Badgers making little noise in the Big Ten in recent years, that streak has a good chance of continuing.
A beacon of light for the Badgers has been their defense, which is among the best in their conference. If Wisconsin can get its offense back on track, the matchups can become very interesting in a battle of the UWs.
Reach reporter Andrew Sousa at sports@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @andrew_soozay
Caean Couto The Daily
Huskies’ quick turnaround was remarkable; now is the time to cash in
Evan
10
Wins Boise State had in 2022, their 18th 10-win season in program history
Rush yards by quarterback Taylen Green last season 5 8 8
By Danny Williams The Daily Reach reporter Danny Williams at sports@dailyuw.com.
19.5
Average opponent points per game allowed by Boise State last year
Fans singing Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” on Saturday
70,000
4,641
Passing yards by Michael Penix last season, a UW record
39.7
UW’s points per game last season, seventh best in the country
10
UW’s preseason AP ranking
12
3 Wins against Boise State in program history Billion
