Apple Cup a slow start for first-time starters on Washington's offensive line

The No. 17-ranked Washington Huskies won the 2026 Apple Cup 24-10 despite an underwhelming performance from head coach Jedd Fisch’s offense. The Huskies’ revamped offensive line, which currently features just two returning starters, had a notably rough outing.

Although Washington’s offensive line did not allow a sack, the unit went 0-2 on fourth-and-1 conversions and was responsible for four penalties, all of which were called on first-time starters. In total, the team committed 12 penalties, the most for a Fisch-led team since the 16-penalty disaster that was the 2024 Apple Cup.

First-year left tackle Kodi Greene was called for holding on Washington’s second drive, which negated a 15-yard defensive pass interference penalty and forced the Huskies to retry a third-and-9 conversion. Seven plays later, right guard Champ Taulealea was called for a holding penalty on a quarterback option, turning a would-be third-and-5 at the Cougs’ 8-yard line into a second-and-18 from outside the red zone. 

After an incompletion and a delay of game penalty, an unnecessary downfield hold from Taulealea negated a 20-yard Dezmen Roebuck catch-and-run which would have given UW a fourth-and-2 at WSU’s 5-yard line. Instead, the Huskies were ultimately forced to settle for a 48-yard Tyler Robles field goal which momentarily appeared to be going wide right. Geirean Hatchett, Washington’s starting left guard from a year ago, took Taulealea’s place for UW’s third drive and ultimately finished with 41 snaps to Taulealea’s 27.

The offensive line didn’t pick up any penalties in the second or third quarters, but the team’s game-sealing final touchdown drive was momentarily jeopardized when a Greene false start forced an early third-and-9 at the Huskies’ own 38-yard line. Greene was nearly pushed into his quarterback on the ensuing play, but Williams stepped up in the pocket and escaped for a decisive 21-yard scamper across midfield. The Huskies would go on to secure a 24-10 victory via an 11-yard touchdown run from Oregon transfer Jayden Limar.

PFF grades tell the tale of Washington’s blocking struggles

The Huskies triumphed over the Cougars without allowing a sack, but Pro Football Focus (PFF) makes it crystal clear that Washington struggled along the offensive line.

Of Washington’s five starters, only star left guard John Mills played particularly well. Mills allowed just one pressure, achieved the unit’s highest individual grade with a pass blocking mark of 82.4, and finished with a career second-best offensive grade of 73.9.

Unfortunately, the rest of Washington’s starting offensive line struggled against the Cougs. Right tackle Drew Azzopardi, the only other returning offensive lineman to start on Sunday, received a middling offensive grade of 63.0, and his run block grade of 55.5 was the unit’s worst.

Grades were even worse among the team’s first-time starters. Neither Taulealea nor first-time center Kolt Dieterich (who formerly started at tackle for Sam Houston) achieved a single grade of 63.0 or above. Dieterich allowed two pressures, and Taulealea allowed one in his smaller workload.

However, neither’s struggles were on the same level as Greene’s. The former five-star recruit allowed five pressures–including four quarterback hits–and tallied the unit’s worst overall grade: a dismal passing grade of just 34.1.

The future is still bright for Washington’s offensive line

The offensive line’s Week 1 PFF grades weren’t great, but the unit didn’t allow any sacks, didn’t suffer any injuries, and Washington won the Apple Cup. There’s still plenty to be happy about, especially with the number of talented players available.

Greene’s debut wasn’t perfect, but he performed fairly well in the run game, finishing with the team’s third-best grade (67.7). He’s making his collegiate debut at just 18 years old, and shouldn’t be expected to play his best football just yet.

Sunday was also Taulealea’s first collegiate start, and Dieterich’s first start as a center at any level. They both have a chance to improve in the games to come, but if they don’t, there’s solid depth behind them, too.

Geirean Hatchett started all thirteen games at right guard for the Huskies last season, and his performance on Sunday indicates that he’s still a capable option. Meanwhile, his younger brother Landen is in the final stages of recovery from a broken wrist he suffered against Illinois last October, and will soon resume his previous role as the Huskies’ starting center. 

With the older Hatchett rotating in at guard and Dieterich serving a swing tackle/center role, a healthy Washington has seven starting-caliber offensive linemen at its disposal. Such depth is a major asset for a program which was decimated by injuries to the offensive line last season. Washington allowed the Big Ten’s third-most sacks (34) in 2025, but there’s potential for the unit to take a major leap forward in 2026.

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