Ohio State Buckeyes 2025 Opponent Preview: Washington Huskies

Last year, Huskies' fans were able to see a glimpse of sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. in the team's bowl game matchup against the Louisville Cardinals. The young talent put on a show, throwing for 374 yards and four touchdowns while completely 81.3 percent of his attempts. With veteran wide receiver Denzel Burke and transfer portal addition Omari Evans at Williams disposal, Washington's passing attack will be a major part of the program's offensive attack in 2025.

Looking at the Huskies' ground game, senior running back Jonah Coleman is primed for another spectacular season. The former three-star prospect quickly became a staple of the Fisch's offense in 2024, as he finished the season with 1,053 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Both Williams and Coleman have proven to be threats on the ground, which makes the program one of the most underrated offenses in the nation.

On defense, Fisch will roll out a dynamic cornerback duo of Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis Jr. in the secondary this year. Prysock ended his junior season as the team's No. 1 cornerback, recording 45 tackles and six pass breakups. He received some much-needed assistance with the addition of Davis, who spent the past two seasons with the Arizona Wildcats. At 6-foot-4, 200 lbs., Davis has a rare blend of size and speed that makes him a tough matchup for opposing wide receivers.

Weaknesses

Despite the program's slew of offensive weapons, one of the key issues the Huskies faced in 2024 was consistency from the offensive line. The unit gave up 15 sacks in the team's last two games of the season, with 10 of the sacks coming against the Oregon Ducks. Williams' ability to be a dual-threat quarterback completely elevates the offense, however, it does cause additional stress within the trenches. If Ohio State can limit Williams scramble attempts, the defense has an increased chance to keep Washington's offense under wraps.

Looking at the defensive side of the ball, the program lost multiple starters from the 2024 season in their front seven, including linebacker Carson Bruener. And while the Fisch was able to use the transfer portal to address the holes on defense, the Huskies still allowed an average of 23.8 points per game in 2024. Luckily for Washington, former Purdue head coach and newly-hired defensive coordinator Ryan Walters could offer some stability. Walters and the rest of the defense must work quickly to mesh in order to limit the Buckeyes' high-power offense in week five.

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