Washington football: Scouting Week 3 opponent Michigan State
Washington football (No. 8) will travel to East Lansing in Week 3 to take on the Michigan State Spartans in their final non-conference game of the season.
The upcoming clash between Washington football and the Michigan State Spartans will be a fun encounter. Both teams come into this game with 2-0 records, but there are key factors that could tip the scales in favor of the No. 8-ranked Washington Huskies, despite Michigan State playing on home turf.
Michigan State’s preparation for this matchup has been impaired by off-field distractions. Head coach Mel Tucker’s suspension, following allegations of sexual harassment, has left the team under the interim leadership of secondary coach Harlon Barnett. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the team in Saturday’s game.
Offensive comparison
The Spartan’s slow but steady offense is led by redshirt junior quarterback Noah Kim in his first season as a starter. Kim has played well, completing 36 of 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Nathan Carter has been a force to be reckoned with, amassing 225 yards and four touchdowns on the ground while averaging 112 yards per game.
On offense, Michigan State has an edge in the run game, averaging 144.5 rushing yards and 291 passing yards per game, whereas the Huskies have posted 93.5 rushing yards and an impressive 472 passing yards per game.
One of Washington’s strengths is its potent passing game, spearheaded by quarterback Michael Penix Jr., a Heisman Trophy candidate. The Huskies lead the nation in passing yards per game, averaging 472 yards, and have showcased a powerful offense, ranking sixth in total offense and tied for eighth in scoring, averaging 49.5 points per game.
Defensive comparison
In contrast, the Spartans’ defense has been effective in generating pressure, recording 10 sacks this season, while the Huskies have only managed three. If Michigan State hopes to prevail in this matchup, they will need to disrupt Penix’s rhythm and keep pace offensively. Comparatively, the Spartans have been more stingy, allowing only 99 rush yards and 107 pass yards per game versus the Huskies’ 153 rush yards and 207 pass yards allowed.
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A potential Achilles’ heel for the Huskies could be their run defense, which needs to improve to contain Michigan State’s ground game. As these two teams collide, it’s evident that Washington football’s explosive passing attack will be a major factor, and their defense will need to rise to the occasion to secure a victory on the road.