Can Iowa's Ground Game Finally Break Through Against Washington?
Iowa heads west on a short week to face Washington Friday night, hoping to snap a decades-long road losing streak west of the Rockies while dealing with a banged-up quarterback and a struggling run game. The Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) take on the Huskies (3-2, 0-2) at Husky Stadium in Seattle, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. CT on FS1.
The matchup comes six days after a 35-7 home loss to Ohio State, a game that exposed Iowa's offensive line and left quarterback Hank Brown questionable with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. Signs out of Iowa City point to backup Jeremy Hecklinski making his first career road start.
What happened against Ohio State?
Iowa's offense managed just 39 rushing yards against the Buckeyes, the third straight game a Power Four defense has shut down the run. The Hawkeyes gained 93 yards on the ground against Iowa State, 58 at Michigan, and then a season-low 39 on Saturday.
Brown took multiple sacks and a shot to his throwing shoulder before leaving the game. The injury has him questionable for Friday, and the team has prepared Hecklinski to start.
Why Iowa's history out west is a concern
Iowa has not won a regular-season game west of the Rockies since September 12, 1987, when Chuck Hartlieb led a 15-14 escape at Arizona. Since then, the Hawkeyes are 0-for-6 in regular-season road games in Pacific or Mountain time zones.
Under head coach Kirk Ferentz, Iowa is 0-4 in true road games played out west. The closest precedent came two years ago when the Hawkeyes lost at UCLA on a Friday night after a Saturday home game.
Why this game could be different
Despite the travel and short week, Iowa has won 13 of its last 15 regular-season Friday games dating back to 2015. The most encouraging stat: after a 35-7 loss at Ohio State in 2024, Iowa hammered Washington 40-16 the following week.
Washington's offense has struggled under head coach Jedd Fisch, who calls plays himself. The Huskies rank in the 80s nationally in total offense and 130th in third-down conversions at just 29 percent. Their ground game sits among the bottom 15 teams nationally at 109 yards per game, and the offensive line has allowed the second-most sacks in the Big Ten.
Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. completes 67.5 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and three interceptions, but he has struggled against quality defenses. Minnesota sacked him seven times, and USC held him to a season-low 198 yards.
What Phil Parker's defense will do
Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker will likely pressure Williams and force him to throw from the pocket behind a shaky offensive line. Washington's offense could be the worst third-down unit Iowa faces all season.
On the other side, Washington's defense allows 18.4 points per game but has not faced a potent rushing attack. After three straight weeks against elite defensive fronts, Iowa's ground game could find room to operate.
Game details and series history
Friday's game features Iowa leading the all-time series 4-3, including a 40-16 win in 2024. Washington's wins came in Rose Bowl meetings in 1982 and 1991. Iowa has won both regular-season trips to Seattle, including a 17-7 win in 1963 and a 14-0 loss in 1937 that marked Nile Kinnick's varsity debut.
The betting line has moved from Washington -1.5 to -2.5 with a total of 41.5, implying a final score around 22-19. ESPN's computers lean Iowa despite the spread.
Friday night's game could be a rock fight decided by a field goal, but Iowa's recent history of bouncing back from top-5 losses offers hope. The 2024 blueprint says run it back.