College football hits the Pacific Northwest this Friday night, where the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-2, 0-2) visit the No. 18 Washington Huskies (4-1, 1-1) under the lights at Husky Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET on FS1, with both Big Ten teams boasting top-40 offenses — and one desperate to stop the slide in conference play.
After a promising 3-0 start, Rutgers has dropped back-to-back games (38-28 to Iowa in Week 4, 31-28 to Minnesota in Week 5), while Washington rebounded from a 24-6 loss to Ohio State with a gritty 24-20 win over Maryland last week.
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Rutgers vs. Washington Prediction, Preview: Friday, Oct. 10
The Huskies roll into this one with a nice balance — top-20 in yards allowed per game (300.3),paired with an offense that averages 401.5 yards per game. Washington’s defensive front has been especially stout, allowing just 79.3 rushing yards (ninth in FBS) and only 2.9 yards per carry (17th FBS).
For Rutgers, the story has been offensive growth. The Scarlet Knights rank 17th nationally in offensive success rate (49.1%), per Game On Paper, and are averaging 33.8 points per game (26th), a nice jump from last season’s 28.9 average.
Both teams lean on tempo and physicality, and the defensive fronts will be tested against the Big Ten’s two RB touchdown leaders in Washington’s Jonah Coleman (11) and Rutgers’ Antwan Raymond (9).
Rutgers Preview
Head coach Greg Schiano has quietly built one of the more balanced teams in the Big Ten. QB Athan Kaliakmanis has stabilized the passing game, completing 67.3% of his passes with 9 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions. The Scarlet Knights rank No. 8 nationally in passing success rate (53.8%) on standard downs, reflecting the strength of their vertical attack and their ability to stay ahead of the curve through the air.
The offense still runs through Raymond, who has emerged as one of the country’s most efficient backs, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He’s recorded 4.3 yards after contact per attempt and 33 missed tackles forced, per PFF. When Raymond gets downhill early, Rutgers’ offense tends to stay on point, tied for eighth in the country with 4.8 red-zone scores per game.
Defensively, Rutgers remains a work in progress (113th in defensive EPA/play). The red-zone defense, allowing scores on 94.4% of trips (119th), has been costly in close games — including both of their conference losses, allowing 10 scores from inside the 10 in the previous two contests. Still, their ability to control tempo and sustain drives — averaging 33:12 in time of possession (14th nationally) — has kept the defense fresher than most Big Ten units. That ball-control style could prove vital in keeping Washington’s explosive offense off the field.
Washington Preview
After a hard-fought home loss to Ohio State, the Huskies bounced back with a 24–20 win over Maryland in Week 6. QB Demond Williams has continued to impress, throwing for 1,226 yards while completing 73.3% of his passes through five games. Washington ranks 14th in EPA per pass and fifth in EPA per rush, illustrating an offense that blends efficiency with deep-shot capability.
The backfield is powered by Coleman, who’s been the spark plug of this group. The senior RB averages 5.8 yards per carry and leads the country in rushing TDs (10).
Defensively, Washington has been elite against the run — allowing just 78.4 rushing yards per game (ninth in FBS) — but they’ve been far less consistent in the red zone, giving up points on 94% of opponent trips (118th nationally). That bend-don’t-break style has held up so far, but Rutgers’ balanced offense could stress that weakness if it sustains long drives.
Rutgers vs. Washington Picks for Friday Night
Rutgers RB Antwan Raymond Projection: 72.5 Rush Yards
Raymond has scored twice in four straight games, and his efficiency metrics back it up — 59.7% snap share in Rutgers’ offense. Washington’s rush defense is elite statistically, but opponents like Ohio State that commit to the run have managed to find some daylight. The Buckeyes RB tandem of Bo Jackson and CJ Donaldson mustered up 119 yards combined against the Huskies in Week 5.
If Rutgers can keep the pace throughout the game, Raymond should have volume-driven upside. He’s recorded 16+ carries in each of the last three games, and he’s exceeded 70 yards four times in 2025. Raymond has accounted for 23.7% of Rutgers’ total offensive yards, and he will likely continue being their top playmaker on Friday.
Washington QB Demond Williams Projection: 262.5 Pass Yards
Williams has exceeded 260 passing yards in 2 of his 5 appearances this season, completing 73.3% of attempts. Rutgers’ secondary allows 250 yards per game and 8.8 yards per pass attempt. Washington’s tempo-heavy offense also generates 26.8 pass attempts per game, and Williams has 8 TD passes with only 1 interception, so there’s a lot of trust to be had in his throwing arm.
Rutgers WR KJ Duff Projection: 75.5 Receiving Yards
Duff has quietly emerged as Rutgers’ most reliable downfield option, topping 70 yards in three straight games. His 420 yards is 26th among WRs in college football, and he’s been Kaliakmanis’ go-to target. Washington’s secondary has allowed multiple 40-plus-yard completions in consecutive weeks — an area where Duff thrives with his size and body control. If Rutgers can protect long enough for routes to develop, Duff may be key to keeping pace with Washington’s explosive passing game.
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