SEATTLE (AP) — Washington’s program-best 22-game winning streak at Husky Stadium is up against its toughest challenge yet: the No. 1-ranked team in the country. The Ohio State Buckeyes will make their first visit to Washington in nearly two decades on Saturday. Washington coach Jedd Fisch, who has yet to lose at home in his brief tenure, is eager for the challenge. Washington running back Jonah Coleman leads the nation with nine rushing TDs, and quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has been an efficient dual-threat option. Ohio State cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. recognizes that Coleman, Williams and others could pose challenges, but it won’t be anything unfamiliar.
UNDATED (AP) — No. 3 Penn State hosts No. 6 Oregon and No. 1 Ohio State heads to Washington in the two best games on this week's Big Ten schedule. The Oregon-Penn State game is a rematch of the Ducks' 45-37 victory in last year's Big Ten championship game. Washington will be putting its 22-game home winning streak on the line against the defending national champion Buckeyes. Washington's Jonah Coleman has scored 60 points to lead all Bowl Subdivision players.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — James Franklin didn’t think his team was equipped to beat Oregon in the Big Ten championship game last season. Things are different now. The No. 3 Nittany Lions have spent the nine months since their 45-37 loss to the Ducks in the Big Ten championship retooling their wide receiving corps and reimagining their defense. Their goal? Keep pace with the high-flying team currently riding the longest regular-season winning streak in college football. Franklin is hoping the new defensive scheme will be enough to stop Oregon’s offense.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — UCLA has formed a search committee to find a new head football coach. The committee includes Casey Wasserman, the chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic organizing committee, and Adam Peters, the general manager of the Washington Commanders. Athletics director Martin Jarmond announced the six-member team on Thursday. They are seeking a replacement for DeShaun Foster, who was fired on Sept. 14 after the team's 0-3 start. Other members include former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers, 10-year NFL player Eric Kendricks and UCLA executive Erin Adkins. Wasserman, Peters, Myers, and Kendricks are all UCLA alumni.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State is changing its travel plans for a game against Washington. Coach Ryan Day says the Buckeyes will leave Thursday after practice to adjust to the Pacific Northwest. Last year, they left on Friday for a game against Oregon and lost by one point. Day says the timing wasn’t a factor in that loss. He consulted with NFL experts and other sports teams to decide on the new plan. Players are excited for the game at Husky Stadium. Ohio State's offensive line is prepared for the noise, having played in loud venues before.
DALLAS (AP) — Judge Dale Tillery has ruled in favor of Indiana safety Louis Moore, making him eligible to play the rest of this season with the 11th-ranked Hoosiers. Tillery allowed Moore to play each of Indiana's first four games as the battle against the NCAA played out in Dallas County, Texas, near Moore's hometown. Moore filed suit in August, challenging the governing body's five-year rule. Tillery ruled the NCAA rule violated Texas Antitrust Act. Moore spent three seasons in junior college, redshirting one year, then spent two years at Indiana before transferring to Mississippi. He transferred back to Indiana this season and leads the unbeaten Hoosiers with 23 tackles and two interceptions. Indiana visits Iowa on Saturday.
UNDATED (AP) — Football Bowl Subdivision teams are averaging 3.82 punts per game through Week 4 of the season. That figure on track to be the lowest since the NCAA began keeping the statistic in 1937. Punt attempts have decreased eight straight seasons, and the 2024 average of 4.06 was one full punt per game less than in 2015. The sport’s growing reliance on analytics has encouraged coaches to be aggressive on fourth down. Also, field goals from long distances are on the rise.
UNDATED (AP) — Four Top 25 matchups headline the Week 5 college football schedule. The only matchup of top-10 teams happens Saturday night when No. 3 Oregon visits No. 6 Penn State for a Big Ten showdown between teams yet to be tested. No. 17 Alabama travels to No. 5 Georgia and No. 4 LSU goes to No. 13 Mississippi. The Crimson Tide have won nine of the last 10 meetings with Georgia and the Tigers and Rebels have split their last four. The other Top 25 game has No. Southern California going to No. 23 Illinois.
