DraftKings · as of July 8, 2026
Washington defeated Rutgers 38–19 to secure a comfortable win. Washington covered by 9.5; Game went Under by 5.5. The market closed at Washington -9.5 and the Blue Chip model made it Washington -18.5 - a gap of 9.0 points toward Washington, of which 7.6 points were beyond the model's measured factors. That was an information gap - the market pricing something the model does not carry - rather than a measured edge.
Rutgers led 13-10 at halftime but allowed Washington to score touchdowns on four consecutive drives in the second half, ultimately losing 38-19. Missed assignments and an inability to contain quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (402 passing yards, 136 rushing yards, 4 total TDs) were key issues.
Rutgers failed to convert on two fourth-down attempts inside the Washington 10-yard line, squandering chances to extend leads or keep the game close. These failures proved costly as the game slipped away.
Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis set career highs with 386 passing yards, 31 completions, and 50 attempts, throwing two touchdowns. Wide receiver Ian Strong had 7 catches for 124 yards, showing offensive potential despite the loss.
Washington's defense held Rutgers' rushing attack in check, limiting star running back Jonah Coleman to a season-low 44 yards. This forced the offense to rely heavily on the passing game, which became one-dimensional.
Rutgers (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) hosts No. 2 Oregon next, a formidable opponent. The team must address defensive lapses and red-zone efficiency to compete, especially after allowing 38 points and failing to capitalize on scoring chances.
Williams threw for 402 yards and 2 TDs and rushed for 136 yards and 2 TDs, becoming the 16th player in FBS history with 400+ passing and 100+ rushing yards in a game. He set a school total offense record with 538 yards.
After trailing 13-10 at halftime, Washington scored touchdowns on their first four drives of the second half, turning the game into a 38-19 victory. The team has now overcome double-digit deficits in consecutive games.
Coleman was limited to a season-low 44 rushing yards, as Rutgers focused on stopping him. However, this opened up opportunities for Williams to exploit the defense on zone reads.
Rutgers failed to convert on two fourth-down attempts inside the Washington 10-yard line, and Ephesians Prysock sealed the win with an interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter.
Washington travels to face Michigan on October 18. The Huskies will need to start faster to avoid another double-digit comeback, as they have done in their last two games.
At kickoff, conditions at Husky Stadium were Cloudy, 55°F with winds of 5 mph. Weather is not expected to be a meaningful factor in this game. Historical weather data for this game is preserved in the panel alongside. Weather data is sourced from WeatherAPI.com.
Cloudy
55°F
| Measure | RutgersAway | WashingtonHome |
|---|---|---|
| This week | 2,392 miles | 0 miles |
| Last week | Bye week | 4,654 miles |
| Season total | 4,392 miles | 5,155 miles |
| Body clock | 21:00 | 18:00 |
| Rest | 14 days | 7 days |
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