Washington and No. 1 Ohio State have delivered a rollercoaster first half at Husky Stadium, with momentum swinging back and forth in a game that already feels like a classic home-field affair for the Huskies.
The game started with a missed opportunity for Washington. On their opening drive, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. tried to do too much with his legs, missing a wide-open Jonah Coleman on a critical third-and-short, ultimately leading to a poor punt.
Ohio State moved the ball efficiently in response, averaging five yards per play and dominating on the ground, with the Huskies coverage on star receiver Jeremiah Smith notably lax on the second play of the drive. However, a key fourth-and-short stop by Washington’s defense in the red zone gave the Huskies some momentum -- but that spark was quickly extinguished by two penalties that derailed their next drive.
Still, Washington’s fortune swung back almost immediately. Ohio State’s punt returner fumbled deep in Husky territory, giving Washington better field position than where it started its previous possession. The Huskies capitalized, driving down the field to first-and-goal. Though they couldn’t punch it in the end zone before the quarter ended, a Grady Gross field goal early in the second quarter put Washington on the board first, leading 3-0.
The second quarter featured more dramatic swings. Washington’s defense forced an Ohio State punt shortly after the field goal, with the Husky Stadium crowd making their presence felt even through the TV broadcast. On the ensuing possession, the Huskies attempted a trick play on a field-goal attempt, with Gross as the passer, but a miscommunication left no receiver open, keeping the score at 3-0 while giving the Buckeyes excellent field position.
Eventually, Ohio State’s offense broke through. After a patient 10-play, 73-yard drive, Smith hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass to put the Buckeyes ahead 7-3. That drive consumed most of the remaining second-quarter clock, and Washington failed to respond before halftime.
Key stats and storylines:
- True freshman Dezmen Roebuck proved to be a reliable secondary receiving target to Denzel Boston that Washington needed, making two crucial catches for 36 yards.
- Washington’s defense, which allowed just 62 rushing yards per game entering this matchup (ninth-fewest in the nation), has already given up 75 on the ground today.
- Williams Jr. has completed 11-of-12 passes for 102 passing yards, while Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is at 7-of-10 passing for 63 yards and a touchdown.
- Smith leads all receivers with three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Ohio State's other standout receiver, Carnell Tate, has yet to receive a target.
- Washington’s starting edge rusher and team captain, Zach Durfee, exited with an apparent injury and was visibly emotional on the sidelines, raising concerns about the Huskies’ defensive front.