How to Watch: No. 23 Illinois Football at Washington in Week 9

The Illini (5-2) need to pressure the Huskies (5-2) in Seattle this week, but will the defense go against the grain – for once – to create it?

Oct 4, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Nitro Tuggle dives short of the goal line against Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Saboor Karriem (2) and defensive back Tyler Strain (20) during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Even with more than half the 2025 season behind us, it's hard to get a read on No. 23 Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten). The Illini have dominated lesser opponents, had their lunch money stolen by the best and have turned in mixed results against the rest. Facing Washington (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) in Seattle on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, BTN), the Illini have an opportunity to show they are College Football Playoff-worthy by taking down a very good Big Ten foe in one of college football's most unfriendly environments.

Day and time: Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2:30 p.m. CT
Venue: Husky Stadium, Seattle, Washington
TV/Stream: Big Ten Network
Listen: WDWS-AM 1400 and WDWS-FM 93.9 (Champaign)
WLS-AM 890 (Chicago)
Illini Sports Network affiliates (other local markets)
Fighting Illini Mobile App
SiriusXM 372
SXM App

Locked in. Coast to coast. It’s 1-0 every week. pic.twitter.com/uJBYZMXyao

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) October 20, 2025

Odds and ends

lllinois vs. Washington all time: 4-7
Streak: Washington has won four in a row
Last meeting: Washington 44, Illinois 19, Sept. 13, 2014

By the numbers

Team	PPG	PPG allowed	3rd down success %	3rd down % allowed	Red zone scoring %	Red zone scoring % allowed	TOs	Opposing TOs
Illinois	34.0	25.4	36.7	45.1	84.4	91.7	0.9	1.4
UW	34.6	20.3	52.5	41.9	89.7	81.5	0.9	1.1

The statistics paint a pretty accurate picture of this matchup: two high-powered offenses will attempt to outdo one another, but only one defense that will be in the building has shown any ability to consistently get off the field against quality competition. If the numbers hold up, Illinois' best – and perhaps only – realistic shot against the Huskies is to win the turnover battle. That hardly means all is lost. (In fact, this week's X-factor would seem to give the Illini some leverage.) But there is little room for error: Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry's unit must create a handful of takeaways to make the work of quarterback Luke Altmyer and the offense stick.

Against Ohio State last week, Illinois produced no sacks and zero quarterback hurries, and the Buckeyes chewed up the Illini D. Maybe it's unfair to expect a great deal more against college football's No. 1 team and defending national champs, but if Illinois wants to compete with the big boys, it needs to start winning more of the mano-a-mano battles – especially if Henry isn't going to take more chances with the blitz. Aside from fellow edge Gabe Jacas, Leon Lowery Jr. has been the only consistent pass-rush force for the Illini. Given Washington's raft of injuries at tight end and offensive line (Huskies left tackle Carver Willis is questionable for Saturday), Lowery will need to take advantage and provide Illinois with another source of heat on quarterback Demond Williams Jr. to give his team a shot at the road upset.

Illinois on SI preview

Huskies quarterback Williams has quietly put up some of the best numbers in the league, and his only hiccups have come against opponents who can dial up pressure to speed him up or put him down. He and running back Jonah Coleman may be the best offensive 1-2 punch in the Big Ten, which means Illinois must shake things up, throw some odd coverage looks and more than straight four-man pressure at Williams to create a bit of chaos and turn Washington over. Henry, however, doesn't seem inclined. The Illini might gamble, give up a couple big plays and lose – but if they play it straight, they are almost certain to lose. Williams, Coleman and the meat grinder of Husky Stadium will simply be too much for Illinois to overcome.