Minnesota Hands Washington First Reality Check of Big Ten Slate, 27-24
The short version
- Minnesota beat Washington 27-24 at Husky Stadium on September 26, 2026.
- Drake Lindsey threw three first-half touchdowns and 204 yards on 21-of-29 passing.
- Washington rushed for 40 yards on 27 carries and allowed seven sacks.
- Demond Williams threw two interceptions and accounted for three total touchdowns.
- Washington's next two games are against ranked opponents: at USC, then home vs. Iowa on a Friday night.
The Golden Gophers beat the Huskies at Husky Stadium on September 26, 2026, exposing Washington's run game and pass protection issues and dimming its College Football Playoff hopes.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Washington Huskies 27-24 on September 26, 2026, at Husky Stadium in Seattle. The loss dealt a significant blow to Washington's hopes of a College Football Playoff run, which some supporters had viewed as a long-shot possibility after the team's preseason projections.
Washington fell behind early, trailing 14-0 by the end of the first quarter. Minnesota's first score came right after an interception by Huskies quarterback Demond Williams, the first of two he threw on the night. The Huskies later fought back when the deficit threatened to become lopsided, with Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey also throwing an interception that sparked a Washington rally, but the home side could not complete the comeback.
Lindsey turned in a sharp performance against a Washington defense that has defended the pass well over the past three seasons. He completed 21 of 29 passes for 204 yards and threw three touchdowns, all of them in the first half. Despite those numbers, Williams actually finished with more passing yards than his Minnesota counterpart, though the overall feel of the two performances differed considerably.
Minnesota's ground game provided steady support, with the Gophers rushing for 125 yards on 33 carries. Washington's rushing attack managed just 40 yards on 27 attempts, a figure dragged down further by seven sacks allowed by the Huskies' offensive line. The inability to establish a run game has been a season-long issue for a Washington backfield depleted by injuries and lacking top-end talent.
Williams accounted for three total touchdowns but was inconsistent throughout the game, missing throws, taking bad sacks, and turning the ball over twice. After a controversial offseason, the quarterback has struggled rather than shined so far, and the source of the report noted that Washington's improvement likely depends on his development in his third year under head coach Jedd Fisch, with questions also raised about the team's preparation.
Defensively, Washington showed noticeable improvement in the second half after being pushed around on the ground and beaten through the air over the early going. Minnesota still connected on some big plays, but they became far less frequent as the game went on. The warning signs, including the run-game troubles, had been visible across Washington's previous three outings.
The schedule ahead does not get easier for the Huskies. Washington's next two opponents are ranked, beginning with a road trip to USC, followed by a Friday evening home game against Iowa at Montlake. After a home date with a struggling Purdue team, the Huskies travel to Nebraska, host Penn State, visit Michigan State, host Indiana, and close the regular season on the road against Oregon.
Fisch has earned a reputation as an excellent recruiter, but questions remain about how much that matters unless Washington wins at least half of those remaining games. The loss to Minnesota reinforced the view that the Huskies remain a distance from competing with the Big Ten's best and that preseason projections have not translated into a higher place in the conference hierarchy.
Games to watch
