Illinois football AT Washington Huskies – Saturday, October 25 (No time set)
After a tough game against Ohio State, Illinois gets a much-needed week off. This will enable us to figure out what went wrong and rest up for a West Coast road trip to Washington.
Washington is coming off its first season in the Big Ten, finishing 6-6 overall and 4-5 in the conference. Nothing really clicked for them last season, as their quarterback play was lackluster. Starter Will Rogers threw for 2,458 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He did graduate, though.
The Huskies did find a spark in freshman Demond Williams Jr. last season. In limited time, he threw for 944 yards, eight touchdowns, and just one interception. He is going to be starting for the program this season.
Illinois’ defense will have some trouble with Williams. While his passing ability looks dangerous, he is also a menace on the ground, rushing for 282 yards and two touchdowns last season. I think the Illini defensive line struggles a bit with him. The passing game could take a step back, as two out of the top three wide receivers departed the program.
The biggest issue for Washington in 2024 was the rush defense. They allowed teams to run for 162.6 yards per game, which ranked No. 83 in the country. Their best linebacker, Carson Bruener, who led the team in tackles and interceptions, is now in the NFL. That should free up Illinois’ running backs and put less pressure on Luke Altmyer.
Washington’s pass defense did rank top 10 in the nation, but they took some hits, too. Thaddeus Dixon led the team in pass deflections, and he is at North Carolina now. They also lost their top two leaders in interceptions. Illinois’ passing game should be able to do some work.
Final score: Illinois 42 – Washington 24