By Khalid Bennett, The Seattle Medium
In front of a sellout crowd at Husky Stadium on a sunny afternoon, the Washington Huskies took on the University of Michigan Wolverines for the first time as Big Ten conference rivals. Last season, these two teams met in the national championship, where Michigan claimed the title. Heading into this matchup, Washington had already suffered two disappointing losses, including last week’s stumble on the road at Rutgers. Michigan entered the game ranked No. 10 in the nation, boasting one of the top rushing offenses in the country, while Washington’s defense had been solid but plagued by costly penalties, averaging over 80 penalty yards per game.
The Huskies’ offensive struggles had largely come from red-zone inefficiency and missed field goals, including three crucial missed kicks in their loss to Rutgers. That inconsistency turned what could have been a 5-0 start into a 3-2 record. But Washington was determined to change that narrative against Michigan.
Washington came out firing on the first play, with quarterback Will Rodgers connecting on a 36-yard pass to sophomore receiver Denzel Boston. The drive stalled, however, and kicker Brady Gross continued his struggles, missing a 41-yard field goal—his fourth straight miss, dating back to the Rutgers game. Despite the kicking woes, Washington built a 14-0 lead, thanks to two touchdown passes from Rodgers, one to Boston and another to Giles Jackson.
“Whenever you can jump on a team like that early, and make them feel you, it definitely puts them to a halt and gives you better odds to win the game,” Boston said of the Huskies’ strong start.
Michigan responded by making the Huskies fight for every yard, applying relentless pressure on Rodgers throughout the game. Known for their dominant run game, Michigan was forced to adjust as their quarterback Alex Orji struggled, completing just 3 of 7 passes for 15 yards. He was replaced by senior Jack Tuttle in the second quarter to spark the offense. Tuttle provided a lift, leading two scoring drives that cut Washington’s lead to 14-10.
With a chance to extend the lead before halftime, Gross had another field goal attempt blocked, his fifth consecutive miss. Washington took a slim 14-10 lead into the break, with momentum starting to shift toward Michigan.
In the second half, Michigan turned to its run game, attacking the trenches with force. Tuttle also improvised key plays to keep drives alive, eventually hitting Colston Loveland for an 8-yard touchdown to give Michigan a 17-14 lead. Washington rotated quarterbacks as well, bringing in freshman Demond Williams, who had been used in previous weeks to provide a different offensive look. Williams went 2-for-2 for 44 yards and added 20 rushing yards, including a double pass play to running back Cameron Davis. Gross finally ended his streak of missed kicks, nailing a 28-yard field goal to tie the game at 17.
“I believe in our kicker. I see how hard he works every day. My heart breaks for him after those misses, but that can wear on anyone,” said Washington head coach Jedd Fisch.
The game remained tied in the fourth quarter until Rodgers, who hadn’t thrown an interception in 269 pass attempts, was picked off for the first time this season.
“I think the last one was against Alabama last year. I threw quite a few that night, so I got my money’s worth,” Rodgers joked after the game.
However, Washington’s defense quickly responded, with junior defensive tackle Logan Salapolu forcing and recovering a fumble by Tuttle, setting the Huskies up at Michigan’s 32-yard line. Running back Jonah Coleman then carried the offense, ripping off a 27-yard run that brought Washington inside the 5-yard line. Coleman finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown, putting Washington up 24-17.
Michigan’s formidable rushing attack, which had been held to just 174 yards, was stifled late by Washington’s defense. With less than three minutes remaining, senior defensive back Kam Fabiculanan intercepted Tuttle, sealing the game for the Huskies.
“I was joyful. I got the interception, looked up at the clock, and saw there were 3 minutes left. It was a big-time turnover, and I couldn’t have done it without my brothers,” Fabiculanan said.
Gross added a late field goal to cement Washington’s 27-17 victory, as Husky fans stormed the field to celebrate their upset over the No. 10-ranked Wolverines.
“At the end, he made some big-time kicks to put it away. I’m proud of Brady for hitting that last one. Hopefully, it gives him confidence going into a tough environment at Iowa next week,” Fisch said, looking ahead to the Huskies’ next Big Ten clash.
