No. 13 Utah (7-2) at No. 5 Washington (9-0)
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Husky Stadium
TV: FOX
Radio: SportsRadio 93.3-FM KJR
Latest line: Huskies by 9
UW key players
QB Michael Penix Jr.: 69.4% completions, 3,201 pass yards, 26 pass TD, 7 INT, 1 rush TD
RB Dillon Johnson: 686 rushing yards, 6.1 yards per carry, 10 touchdowns, 107 receiving yards
Edge Bralen Trice: 26 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio: 59 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup
Utah key players
QB Bryson Barnes: 58.9% completions, 930 pass yards, 8 pass TD, 5 INT, 184 rush yards, 3 rush TD
S/RB Sione Vaki: 243 rush yards, 8.1 YPC, 2 rush TD, 144 receiving yards, 2 receiving TD, 45 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 PBU
RB Ja’Quinden Jackson: 598 rush yards, 5.3 YPC, 2 TD
S Cole Bishop: 46 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4 PBU, 2 sacks, 2 INT, 1 FF
Winning up front
Utah is a program with an earned reputation for relentless physicality. Can the Huskies handle it? A week after rushing for 316 yards and 7.5 yards per carry against the tattered remains of USC, Washington will encounter a Utah defense currently ranked sixth nationally in rushing (81.22 yards allowed per game) and 14th in opponent yards per carry (3.05). On the other side, UW’s run defense disintegrated in Los Angeles, surrendering 203 rushing yards with 7.5 yards per carry and three touchdowns to a Trojan team missing its starting running back. Meanwhile, four Utes — Ja’Quinden Jackson, Jaylon Glover, Sione Vaki and Nate Johnson — all tout at least 232 rushing yards. To stay undefeated, the Huskies have to win a four-quarter fistfight first.
Bend … and break?
UW’s defense has struggled mightily in recent weeks, conceding 33 points to Stanford and 42 more to USC. But the Huskies have also made game-saving plays — an interception against Arizona, three fourth-down stops against Oregon, an 89-yard pick-six against Arizona State, a forced fumble and three sacks against USC, etc. UW opponents have gone for it on fourth down 25 times against UW, less than just two teams in the nation. Given the trends, UW’s defense will bend again on Saturday. Will it break? And will a Ute offense that has surrendered just six turnovers this season — fifth nationally — finally stumble? Speaking of, UW quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has also surrendered a red zone interception in three consecutive games. Penix needs to snap that streak on Saturday.
Protecting Penix
If it seems like this is a standing key to every UW football game … there’s a reason for that. Penix’s health is paramount, and even with a reconfigured offensive line, the Huskies have allowed just six sacks in nine games (third in the nation). With time to work and one of the nation’s most talented group of targets, Penix’s production is unparalleled. (His 355.7 passing yards per game leads the country by a wide margin.) But Utah’s defense has consistently caused chaos, ranking 13th in the nation with 29 sacks. On the other side, UW edge Bralen Trice has produced a remarkable 49 pressures (according to Pro Football Focus) but has managed just three sacks. If Trice can finish plays, that’ll help a beleaguered UW defense.
Vorel’s prediction
Washington continues to find a way. Under second-year coach Kalen DeBoer, UW has won 16 consecutive games. That includes a perfect 12-0 mark inside Husky Stadium, where Utah will attempt to snap the streak on Saturday. This Husky team is both tremendously fun and flawed, with an offense made for national showcases and a defense made to just get by. With Caleb Williams in the rearview mirror, the Huskies will sell out to stop the run and dare Bryson Barnes to beat them. And after overcoming the flu, Penix will once again be at his best. Same as against Oregon, a ravenous home crowd and timely offensive outbursts will help deliver Washington another ranked win.
Final score: Huskies 35, Utes 31
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