Washington appeared in control of Saturday night’s game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, leading USC 21-10 in the third quarter. The Huskies then surrendered the final 15 points, allowing the Trojans to rally for a 25-21 victory.
Demond Williams Jr. threw for 198 yards and a touchdown, but his second-half fumble after a pump fake was returned 48 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. This marked the second consecutive game where a Williams turnover directly resulted in seven points for the opposition in a loss decided by fewer than five points. Despite a touchdown throw and a respectable yards-per-attempt average of 7.6, Williams completed fewer than 60 percent of his passes, a rare dip in his usually accurate performances. His struggles with pocket awareness and timely decision-making limited Washington’s offensive consistency.
Washington’s passing game stalled, converting just one of twelve third-down attempts and now sitting at two of 22 in conference play. The offensive line allowed five sacks, but late in the first half, coach Lincoln Riley moved John Mills to left tackle, a change that might become permanent until Kodi Greene adjusts further. Wide receivers Chris Lawson and Decker DeGraaf produced big plays—a 43-yard catch on fourth down and a 42-yard touchdown, respectively—but both came from improvisation or poor tackling rather than structured offensive execution. Dezmen Roebuck, frequently targeted, struggled to gain yards after the catch.
Brian Bonner stood out in the rushing attack, carrying 19 times for 89 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He appeared more comfortable with the pace of the college game, but many second-down runs were stopped for minimal gain by a struggling offensive line. Kade Eldridge’s one-yard direct snap touchdown provided a creative wrinkle, though his involvement remained limited.
Defensively, Washington limited a USC offense that had scored 27 or more points in every previous game to just 18 points during regulation. Cornerback Dylan Robinson delivered his best performance as a Husky, while Emmanuel Karnley contributed a tackle for loss. The secondary held firm against one of the nation’s top offenses, despite Jayden Maiava throwing an interception under pressure. The pass rush was less effective, producing only one sack from a defensive back.
USC’s rushing attack gained 125 yards on 30 carries, averaging just over four yards per carry. Washington’s defense missed over 20 tackles according to Pro Football Focus, allowing the Trojans to control the clock for nearly 35 minutes. Only four tackles for loss were recorded, insufficient to disrupt USC’s ground game consistently.
Special teams provided a relative bright spot for the Huskies. Punter Hunter Green averaged more than 51 yards per punt and twice pinned USC inside its own 5-yard line. Green’s performance remains a standout on a Washington team that has struggled in other areas. Opponents muffed a punt for the fourth time this season, continuing a troubling trend for special teams units facing the Huskies.
Coaching decisions played a significant role in the final outcome. USC committed nine penalties for 94 yards and missed two-point conversions. They also nearly compromised their lead with penalties that gifted a touchdown to Washington and negated one of their own. Late in the game, Washington called an unnecessary timeout before a fourth-and-two play with just over two minutes remaining and failed to adjust protection schemes on the final third-down play against a USC blitz. These errors echoed similar situational awareness issues from the previous week.
Five games into the season, Washington’s identity is becoming clearer. Williams flashes athleticism and playmaking ability but is prone to costly mistakes and inconsistency. The offensive line remains one of the weakest in the conference, and while the defense shows promise, it has not been enough to secure victories. Washington faces Iowa at Husky Stadium on Friday night. The challenge will be to maintain composure and execute more reliably against a strong opponent.
According to Yahoo Sports.
