Success Indicators for UW Against Eastern Washington; Preview & Prediction
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Eastern Washington has yet to win a game on the road in two tries this season. It enters Husky Stadium with a 1-2 record to play Washington in what should be a definitive opportunity for the Huskies to put their early-season issues behind them. On paper, the FCS opponent provides a mismatch in favor of the home team. In each of the last two weeks, however, favorability was also on the side of Washington, albeit at the FBS level. That mismatch didn’t show itself on the field as expected, and the Huskies enter this week with a final opportunity before Big Ten play begins.
UW Eastern Washington
“What I was excited about for our team was, we weren’t very good last year in close games.” Jedd Fisch said during his Thursday press conference. He recalled the one-score halftime point differentials against Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Oregon last year. Washington lost all four of those games in 2025. “In both of these games [this year], while they were closer than we wanted them to be, it showed our staff that we had some resilience, and that we didn’t panic,” Fisch said. “We’re glad that we are 2-0 right now.”
Run Game Goals
“What we would like to do is try to get as many linebackers and DB’s to tackle the runners, and not defensive linemen,” Fisch said, describing what he’s looking for from his offensive line this week. “I think that would be really a good way to measure, are we doing a good job to get to the second level of the defense.”
On Monday, Fisch described some of those issues with the offensive line specifically as it related to the run game. He was confident that those problems can be fixed in a short turnaround. This week for UW, Eastern Washington provides an opportunity against an FCS roster to begin to see strides taken in improving the run.
From a pass protection perspective, Washington’s front five have been solid. Of the six players who have lined up along the offensive line through two games, they’ve been responsible for just one sack. “I think they’ve done a good job,” Fisch said on Thursday, regarding pass blocking. The offensive line has given up 11 quarterback hurries on 94 pass blocking snaps thus far. “I don’t think that’s been a big issue. But I would like to see in the running game [is] for us to make a little bit more second-level backers make the tackles.”
Wide Receiver Expectations
Rashid Williams was cleared to return, and he’s expected to play on Saturday against Eastern. “He’s had a really nice week of practice, so we will certainly use Rashid in the rotation,” Fisch said this week. “I think it’s good to see the receiver corps is continuing to get a little bit more competitive.
Fisch also noted that Chris Lawson had a good week of practice, and he’ll enter Saturday’s game as the team’s leading wide receiver. After not being listed as a starter for week one, he’s played the second-most snaps of any pass-catcher on the team behind Dezmen Roebuck and leads the offense with 116 receiving yards. Lawson is the only Husky to have caught a pass of 20-plus air yards. It was the 35-yard reception at the end of the Washington State game.
Christian Moss will be out until at least the beginning of November, according to Fisch. As such, Jordan Clay and Trez Davis still figure to be contributing members of the rotation. But getting Williams back and Lawson’s early-on high-level play provide an opportunity for the offense to find explosive plays through the air against Eastern.
Indicators of Success
In order for Washington to come out of Saturday with a “successful” game, you’ll have to look past the final score and potentially even past the team stats. The main indicator of success will be an offensive line that generates push and can extend into the second level of the defense to create run lanes for its zone scheme. Washington had to go to a gap scheme to help simplify things for its young backfield after the injuries in week one. But UW Eastern Washington is a game where quality zone reps can be stacked. That can then allow the running backs to be more decisive and gain confidence moving forward.
In the passing game, Demond Williams Jr. started each of the first two games of the season with two consecutive incompletions. In each game, he only completed four of his first eight passes. In addition to a confident run game, Washington’s offense needs to create rhythm plays in the pass game early. Washington has not scored a first-quarter touchdown this season. It has just three first-quarter points in total thus far.
Early rhythm will be another indicator of success, especially with the quality of players Washington has catching passes. If the Huskies can make these two things happen on Saturday, the scoreboard and the stats will follow. And it has to do so with Big Ten competition just a week away.
UW-Eastern Washington Prediction
Washington – 31
Eastern Washington – 6
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