Hawks Face Shuffling Huskies Line in Friday Night Showdown
The No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes will face a Washington Huskies offensive line that is expected to look significantly different when the two teams meet Friday night at Husky Stadium in Seattle.
Washington (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) is coming off a 25-21 loss to No. 19 USC on Oct. 3, a game that exposed problems up front and prompted head coach Jedd Fisch to announce a rotation of offensive line combinations during practice this week.
The most notable change: true freshman left tackle Kodi Greene, the team's highest-rated recruit in the Class of 2026, could move to guard after struggling against USC. Greene played only 14 pass-blocking snaps and received a 0.0 grade from Pro Football Focus in that game.
John Mills Earns Starting Look at Left Tackle
Second-year lineman John Mills, a 2025 true freshman All-American, took over at left tackle against USC and graded out at 90.8 in pass protection, the highest mark among Washington offensive linemen according to PFF.
Fisch was direct in his praise Monday during a weekly news conference.
“I thought John played really well at left tackle,” Fisch said. “As we've evaluated, how we grade it out, he graded out at a high level.”
The 6-foot-6, 325-pound Mills appears poised to draw the start against Iowa's defensive front, which has been a disruptive force all season.
Landen Hatchett Could Make Season Debut at Center
Fisch also revealed that fourth-year center Landen Hatchett, a preseason Rimington Trophy watchlist selection, is expected to return after missing the first five games. Hatchett was a game-time decision in each of the last two weeks.
His return would allow Kolt Dieterich to slide to guard or tackle. Dieterich, who transferred from Sam Houston State, was the highest-graded offensive lineman in Conference-USA last season and played right tackle in 11 of 12 games.
Fisch Draws NFL Comparison for Greene
Fisch said he has spoken with Greene about the potential move inside and pointed to a familiar example to keep the freshman's spirits up.
“What I mentioned to Kodi is, I remember two years ago, we were coaching Jordan Morgan (with the Arizona Wildcats),” Fisch said. “(He) was a first-round pick at left tackle, he got picked by the (Green Bay Packers) and in the first year, he played guard. And now he's playing left tackle.”
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT (8 p.m. CT) Friday. Iowa fans can watch the game on Fox.
What This Means for Iowa
For the Hawkeyes, the timing could not be better. Iowa's defensive line has been a strength all season, and facing a reconfigured offensive front with limited game reps together presents an opportunity to pressure Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. early and often.
The Huskies have already allowed pressure in key moments, and the USC loss highlighted the consequences of breakdowns in protection. If Iowa can exploit the uncertainty along Washington's line, it could be a long night for the home team.
Friday's game also carries significant Big Ten implications for both programs. Iowa enters with momentum while Washington is desperate to avoid a third conference loss.