Washington falls apart to Michigan on the road, suffers crushing 24-7 defeat

The Huskies were simply outplayed on both sides of the ball.
Oct 18, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA;  Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Andrew Marsh (4) is tackled by Washington Huskies linebacker Xe'Ree Alexander (10) in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Andrew Marsh (4) is tackled by Washington Huskies linebacker Xe'Ree Alexander (10) in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Washington entered Saturday’s matchup against Michigan knowing its margin for error was razor-thin against a previously-ranked opponent on its home field. By the end of a punishing afternoon in the Big House, the Huskies blazed past that margin for error in an ugly defeat to the Wolverines.

Despite a resilient first half that saw the Huskies weather early storms and head into halftime tied 7-7, Washington unraveled in the second half, turning the ball over four times times and failing to find the scoreboard in a 24-7 loss to the Wolverines.

The opening drive of the third quarter set the tone for Washington’s struggles. After a quick three-and-out, Michigan pieced together a long, methodical series featuring short passes from freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood that exploited the Huskies’ poor open-field tackling. But Washington’s defense ultimately held firm, stuffing a 4th-and-2 rush from its own six-yard line for a huge momentum shift.

But that momentum didn’t last. Michigan’s defensive front began to dominate, taking advantage of the Huskies’ weakened offensive line, which was missing starters John Mills and Carver Willis on the left side. Demond Williams Jr. faced relentless pressure, forcing him into hurried decisions. The two teams would exchange punts on consecutive drives.

After Michigan's punt, Williams’ first throw of the ensuing drive was intercepted by Wolverines linebacker Cole Sullivan, who lurked the passing lane perfectly to set Michigan up in Washington territory. One play later, running back Jordan Marshall darted 14 yards for a touchdown, putting Michigan ahead 14-7.

The way Williams responded would ultimately decide the game, and he briefly seemed to settle back in -- hitting back-to-back 17-yard completions on the next possession. However, that momentum was also short lived, as the young quarterback threw his second interception of the game on the following play.

Still, Washington had a chance to win the game, trailing just 14-7 entering the fourth quarter. But its defense just couldn’t hold. Underwood delivered a pinpoint throw on 3rd-and-11 to extend a key drive, then capped it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to give Michigan a commanding 21-7 lead.

The Huskies’ final attempts at a comeback also fell apart. A failed fourth-down conversion on a strip sack set up a Dominic Zvada field goal, pushing Michigan's lead to three possessions, 24-7. Then, Williams’ third interception on a deep ball that bounced off Denzel Boston's hands, sealed the defeat.

Underwood finished with 230 passing yards and two touchdowns on a 77.8 completion percentage, turning in the best performance of his young collegiate career. Marshall filled in outstandingly for an injured Justice Haynes in Michigan's backfield, carrying the ball 25 times for 133 yards and a score. Both performances underscored yet another inconsistent game by the Huskies defense, which failed to establish pressure on the line of scrimmage.

But this loss ultimately falls on the shoulders of the Huskies offense. Contrary to Underwood, Williams endured his worst outing as a Husky, tossing three interceptions -- one more than his total from the previous 19 games combined. Running back Jonah Coleman was held to 50 yards on 16 carries, and coach Jedd Fisch's play-calling simply wasn't creative enough to counter the relentless pressure Michigan's D-line was putting on Williams.


The Huskies have now scored just 13 points in their two defeats -- six against No. 1 Ohio State, and now seven today to Michigan. Poor outputs in the two biggest games of Washington's season so far continue to be the defining obstacle keeping the Huskies from a national ranking and playoff contention.

With the loss, Washington falls to 5-2 (2-2 Big Ten), while Michigan improves to 5-2 (3-1 Big Ten). The Huskies will need to run the table to even be considered for the CFP, and that starts next week against a strong Illinois team at home.

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