Washington Huskies host Minnesota in Big Ten opener | What to watch

After an uninspiring-but-unbeaten start to the 2026 season against three overmatched opponents, Washington returns to Husky Stadium for a fourth consecutive weekend for its biggest test of the young campaign as coach Jedd Fisch’s team welcomes Minnesota to open Big Ten play. 

Here’s what to watch when the Huskies take on the Golden Gophers: 

Washington (3-0) vs. Minnesota (2-1)

Kickoff: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Husky Stadium

TV: FOX

Radio: SportsRadio 93.3-FM KJR

Latest line (via DraftKings): Washington -9.5, Total 44.5

All-time series: Minnesota leads 10-7; Most recent meeting: 19-17 UMN win on Oct. 1, 1977

UW key players

QB Demond Williams Jr.: 70.6% completions, 890 pass yards, 77 completions, 109 attempts, 5 pass TD, 1 INT, 25 carries, 150 rush yards, 1 rush TD

WR Rashid Williams: 10 catches, 182 receiving yards, 3 receiving TD

S Alex McLaughlin: 22 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 INT, 3 PBU, 1 forced fumble

EDGE Isaiah Ward: 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

UMN key players

QB Drake Lindsey: 65.1% completions, 747 pass yards, 67 completions, 103 attempts, 4 pass TD, 1 INT

WR Javon Tracy: 17 catches, 240 receiving yards

LB Maverick Baranowski: 21 tackles, 1 TFL, 

EDGE Anthony Smith: 5 tackles, 2 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 PBU

An important test in the trenches

Through three games this season, the Husky defensive line has enjoyed a strong start to the season. Washington held Washington State to 100 yards rushing, then limited Utah State to 75 yards a week later, despite missing defensive tackle Elinneus Davis (lower leg). 

FCS Eastern Washington, and quarterback Nate Bell in particular, caused Washington some problems. The Eagles posted 142 yards rushing against the Huskies, while Bell gained 80 total yards with his legs, not counting lost sack yardage. Yet UW still held EWU to 3.1 yards per carry and the Eagle running backs managed just 73 yards rushing on 26 carries. 

Minnesota, however, will offer UW’s defensive line its biggest test of the season. Left guard Greg Johnson was a second-team preseason AP All-American, while the Golden Gophers also have returning starters in left tackle Nathan Roy and center Ashton Beers. Right guard Tony Nelson started Minnesota’s final two games of 2025 before starting all three games in 2026. 

Washington’s defensive line, however, will get a boost. Fisch announced Davis is fully available on Thursday, and said senior DeSean Watts, listed questionable with an undisclosed injury on Wednesday’s availability report, will likely be available if he gets through practices healthy. 

Minnesota, however, may be missing Beers, who picked up an undisclosed injury during a 41-7 win over Akron last week and has been listed as questionable on the Golden Gophers’ availability reports. Regardless of Beers’ availability, playing well against a line that still includes Johnson will go a long way toward proving UW’s defensive line can hold up in the Big Ten. 

How much can Darius Taylor play?

While Beers’ availability remains questionable, Minnesota announced running back Darius Taylor is probable to face Washington after sitting out against Akron. 

The 6-foot, 215-pound tailback burst onto the scene at Minnesota in 2023, totaling 799 yards rushing and five touchdowns in just six games. He was named Big Ten freshman of the week three times, and rushed for more than 190 yards three times, though a hamstring injury cost him seven games. 

Taylor’s impressive freshman season led into a strong sophomore campaign. He totaled a career-high 986 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in 2024 to earn All-Big Ten honorable mention status for a second consecutive year. Another hamstring injury cost Taylor three games in 2025, and he finished his junior season with 670 yards rushing and four touchdowns. 

His 2026 season, however, got off to another difficult start, as he played just 16 snaps during Minnesota’s second game of the season, against Mississippi State, before exiting with a lower-body injury after just six carries for 15 yards. The Golden Gophers, who were already trailing by 11 points after the first quarter, lost 38-13 and finished the game with only 13 yards rushing. 

During Taylor’s four seasons of college football, Minnesota is 17-4 in games where he takes more than 10 carries. When he takes 10 carries or fewer — or is absent entirely — the Golden Gophers are 7-14. 

Anthony Smith vs. UW offensive line

Washington’s offensive line has been inconsistent through three games this season. So of course, the Huskies open Big Ten play by welcoming one of the conference’s premier pass rushers. 

Anthony Smith, a 6-6, 280-pound edge rusher, racked up 17.5 tackles for a loss and 12.5 sacks in 2025, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors from the conference’s coaches and a second-team selection from media members. He tallied 44 pressures according to Pro Football Focus. 

It was Smith’s second consecutive season reaching double figures in TFLs, and helped him earn preseason All-American consideration entering 2026. 

Smith will be a significant test for UW’s freshman left tackle Kodi Greene. The Renton native is coming off his best performance of the season, allowing zero pressures against EWU in 47 snaps. PFF graded Greene as UW’s best pass-blocking offensive lineman, and Fisch said the freshman was noticeably more confident during the week leading up to UW’s 48-16 win as he continues to settle into his role. 

But Smith, who can line up on either side of the defensive line, offers a whole new level of challenge for Greene, right tackle Drew Azzopardi and tight ends Baron Naone and Decker DeGraaf. 

Andy Yamashita’s prediction

Minnesota may not be one of the Big Ten’s traditional powers, but the Golden Gophers under coach P.J. Fleck has assembled consecutive 8-5 seasons. Washington has never finished above Minnesota since joining the conference in 2024. 

But while Washington’s offense has been underwhelming, Fisch has a strong record at Husky Stadium. And while UW might not enjoy an 8 p.m. kickoff, UMN faces an even larger challenge because of the two-hour time difference. Start this game at Noon and there might be a different result, but home advantage sees the Huskies through to stay undefeated.

Prediction: Huskies 26, Golden Gophers 17