Just like Stanford at USC, Tulsa was also unable to score more than three points against the Huskies through three quarters in this one. In what most folks would call a rout Washington certainly overwhelmed Tulsa on the scoreboard in the 43-10 victory. Michael Penix-Jr got three more TD’s to McMillan, Odunze, and Bernard while connecting on 70% of his throws in another 400+ yard effort while the Huskies also stuck three more into the end zone on the ground with Polk, Ngata, and Odunze again cashing in on a rushing effort that averaged 5 yards per carry. The Tulsa secondary must have thought they were seeing double out there with Washington Junior WR’s Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze both picking up over 100 yards and a TD each on just a combined 15 receptions, an average of 15 yards per catch. For Tulsa, playing without their injured starting QB Braylon Braxton, backup QB’s Roman Fuller and Cordell Williams combined on 18-of-32 for 150 yards, 1 TD by Fuller, and 1 pick by Williams. On the ground they had three RB’s pick up more than 50 yards each but never found the end zone.
But it was clear afterwards that both the players and the head coach had issues with their execution in this one with Husky head coach Kalen DeBoer commenting that; “We’re doing a good job getting the (wins) but we know we left a lot out there that we know we can improve on.” Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio was less diplomatic in message and tone; “At the end of the day, I mean, that wasn’t our best game—and it was clear to see.” Regarding their concerns, Penix hadn’t thrown any interceptions before this one and his first hopefully will be his worst—a pick in the end zone on a miscommunicated pass play. And there were more mess-ups with normally a sure handed Odunze dropping a couple and his twin McMillan letting what the AP described as, “a sure touchdown bounce off his hands late in the first half,” and then fumbling the ball three plays later to Tulsa Senior Cornerback Reggie Ellis who ran by everyone and would have scored with time running out in the first half except for a TD saving tackle by the last man between him and the end-zone, Michael Penix-Jr. So yeah, it wasn’t all that pretty but Washington got it done and whether it was good enough to keep them at No. 8 remains to be seen.
Besides some sloppy play the Husky run defense, after giving up 138 yards and a TD to Boise State the previous week, allowed the Hurricanes to pick up 168 yards on the ground in 40 attempts. It’s certainly an area that needs addressing considering that they’ll be facing a Michigan State team on the road this next Saturday who has picked up about 300 yards on the ground and 5 TD’s in their first two games. In addition to winning the 1st Down battle, 30-22, the Huskies converted their 3rd down attempts 70% of the time and were successful the only time they went on 4th down. In passing yardage they prevailed 454-to-150 but lost on the ground, 109-168. There was only a 10 second difference in time-of-possession between the two with both logging seven penalties.