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The Washington Huskies have passed every test placed in front of them so far. Now coach Kalen DeBoer's squad has to take to the road for one last time in the regular season to face off with the No. 10 Oregon State Beavers.
Coach Jonathan Smith's team has lost just one game in the past three seasons at Reser Stadium. Here's how the Huskies can add another blemish to that record.
Stop the Run
Running back Damien Martinez leads the Pac-12 with 1,024 rushing yards this season and, with rain in the forecast, will be a big part of Oregon State's game plan. Dealing with the Beavers' strong offensive line, Washington will have to prevent Martinez from extending drives, draining the clock and keeping the high-powered Huskies off the field.
Tackle
Martinez isn't the only tackle-breaking threat on Oregon State's offense that will worry co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrel. Wide receivers Anthony Gould and Silas Bolden are proficient at making defenders miss in open space and can't be allowed to pick up extra yards after contact.
The Huskies need to make sure that, instead of laying a big hit, they wrap up and drive ball carriers into the ground. Safety Dominique Hampton and linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio are Washington's leading tacklers with 70 and 65, respectively, and will be asked once more to keep the other side from picking up extra yards.
Win the Turnover Battle
Oregon State's defense does a great job of forcing turnovers, leading the conference with 12 interceptions. Washington has won the takeaway battle just three times this season and doing it again in Corvallis would go a long way towards securing a victory.
If the Huskies are able to capitalize on an errant throw or a fumble and ask the Beavers to defend a short field, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington offense becomes even tougher to contain.
Get Jalen McMillan Involved Early
After suffering an injury against Michigan State, McMillan has played briefly in three games, including last weekend against Utah. Even though he took just six snaps, the junior should see a significant increase in playing time against the Beavers.
Getting him a few targets early in the game will require the defense to account for his presence and, while he won't play every snap, McMillan's addition adds a game-breaking threat to Washington's offense.
Establish the Run
Running back Dillon Johnson has been at his best in ranked matchups, rushing for at least 100 yards in each of Washington's three games against a ranked opponent. He'll have a chance to extend that streak to four against Oregon State and could take advantage of the Beavers' smaller defensive line.
Although Oregon State allows just 102 yards per game on the ground, Johnson will be quite a test between the tackles. Establishing the run early on will also open up a lot of alleys downfield for Penix and his full complement of receivers.
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