Saturday, September 17
Seattle, WA
4:30 PM
University of Washington
vs
Michigan State
Photo by: Red Box Pictures
Dawgs Host No. 11 Michigan State In Final Non-Conference Game
September 12, 2022 | Football
THE GAME: The Washington football team (2-0) continues its season-opening, four-game homestand this Saturday, as Michigan State (2-0) makes its first visit to Seattle since 1970. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT, and the game will air on ABC television. The Huskies have opened the season with convincing wins over Kent State and Portland State in new head coach Kalen DeBoer's first year at the helm. Following the game vs. the Spartans, the Huskies wrap up their month-long homestand with the Pac-12 opener vs. Stanford.
QUICK HITTERS: This Saturday's game will mark only the fourth-ever UW-Michigan State game, and just the second in Seattle ... the first, on Sept. 19, 1970, was the debut of legendary UW quarterback Sonny Sixkiller, in one of that era's most memorable home games (more on page 3) ... through two games, new UW QB Michael Penix, Jr., leads the Pac-12 in passing yards and TDs ... the Huskies lead the conference in total offense, passing offense, third-down conversions, and first downs; while the defense leads the league in pass efficiency defense and total defense ... four true freshmen have played for the UW this season: DL Jayvon Parker, CB Jayvion Green, PK Grady Green & WR Denzel Boston ... UW's 21 first-quarter points vs. Kent State marked the Huskies' highest total in a single quarter since they scored 24 in the fourth quarter vs. Arizona on Oct. 12, 2019, a stretch of 22 games ... UW scored on its first six possessions vs. Kent State (five touchdowns, one field goal) and on their first four vs. Portland State (all TDs) ... UW has scored on 15 of 21 drives this year, including 10 out of 11 in the first half ... other than the pandemic-shortened 2020 season – when due to cancellations, the entire UW schedule consisted of just four games, all at home – the last time the Huskies opened a season with four consecutive home games was in 1976, when the Dawgs opened vs. Virgina, Colorado, Indiana and Minnesota ... the Husky roster includes 31 newcomers in 2022; here's a breakdown: 20 freshmen, two junior college transfers, and nine four-year college transfers ... of the 114 players on the roster, 55 are listed as freshmen (17) or redshirt freshmen (38), with an additional 27 sophomores ... that means that 82 of 114 players (72 percent) have three or more years of remaining eligibility entering the 2022 season ... Washington has 12 players who have just one remaining year of eligibility.
TELEVISION: The Washington-Michigan State game will air on ABC, with Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III and Quint Kessenich calling the action. Fans with the proper subscription can also watch at WatchESPN.com.
RADIO: All Washington football games will air on the Washington Sports Network from Learfield, with Tony Castricone (play by play), former Husky tight end Cameron Cleeland (analyst) and former UW basketball player Elise Woodward (sidelines) on the call. Radio coverage begins four hours before kickoff on the network's flagship station – Seattle's SportsRadio KJR 93.3 FM – with "Husky Gameday" live from The Zone for Husky home games. Statewide coverage on the 12-station Washington Sports Network begins two hours before kickoff. The entire broadcast is available worldwide on the Huskies Gameday mobile app and the Varsity app. The UW broadcast of this game will also air on SiriusXM channel 99 or 197. This game will also air on a syndicated, national basis on Learfield Sports, with Sloane Martin (play by play) and Mike Golic, Jr. (analyst) on the call. Additionally, the Husky Football Coaches Show airs each Wednesday during the season (starting Aug. 24), at 6:00 p.m. PT.
HUSKIES vs. MICHIGAN STATE: Washington and Michigan State have played one another only three times – once each in Seattle and East Lansing, and once in Honolulu. UW leads the series, 2-1. In reverse chronological order, here's a look at those three meetings:
Washington 51, Michigan State 23 • Aloha Bowl, Aloha Stadium • Dec. 25, 1997
The Huskies wrapped up the 1997 season with a convincing win over the Nick Saban-coached Spartans, led by numerous big plays and 193 rushing yards and two TDs from tailback Rashaan Shehee. The win broke a three-game losing streak that had ended the Huskies' regular season. Along with Shehee's big day, the Huskies got 179 passing yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Brock Huard, while both Tony Parrish (56 yards) and Lester Towns (66 yards) returned interceptions for touchdowns. (Towns would go on to work for Saban at Alabama.) Additionally, fullback Mike Reed scored on a 64-yard run in the third quarter.
Washington 42, Michigan State 16 • Husky Stadium • Sept. 19, 1970
The 1970 season opener is still a memorable game for Husky fans as it marked the debut of quarterback Sonny Sixkiller, who had burst on to the scene at the 1970 spring game, which followed a dreadful 1969 season (1-9) short on offense. Against the Spartans, Sixkiller completed 16 of 35 passes for 276 yards, three interceptions, and three touchdowns, in just three quarters, before the second string took over the offense. On the game's fourth play, Sixkiller connected with Ira Hammon for a 59-yard touchdown pass. Later in the first, Sixkiller threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7, but in the second quarter, Sixkiller connected with Bo Cornell on a five-yard TD pass. Early in the third, UW made it 21-7 thanks to a 37-yard connection with Hammon. Halfback Mark Wheeler provided another highlight, running for a 48-yard score. Sixkiller would go on to become one of UW's all-time fan favorites and appeared on the cover of the Oct. 4, 1971, edition of Sports Illustrated.
For more on the landmark UW-MSU 1970 game, go to GoHuskies.com/1970s. For stats & recaps from all three games, go to GoHuskies.com/FBArchive.
Michigan State 27, Washington 11 • Spartan Stadium • Sept. 20, 1969
Washington opened the 1969 season facing a challenging, three-game non-conference slate with games at Michigan State and Michigan, before taking on Ohio State in Seattle. The '69 season would prove to be a tumultuous one for the Huskies, who won the Apple Cup to finish 1-9. The year opened in East Lansing in front of 63,022 fans, who watched the Spartans come back from a 9-7 deficit through three quarters to win 27-11, thanks to a 20-point fourth quarter. Quarterback William Triplett rush for two scores (one of them on the first play of the final quarter go give MSU the lead), while running backs Donald Highsmith (143) and Eric Allen (113) each topped 100 yards. Donald Law added a 70-yard interception return and halfback Thomas Love threw a 29-yard TD pass to Franklin Foreman. UW's lone touchdown was a second-quarter, 20-yard run from Luther Sligh. The Huskies also got a field goal from Ron Volbrecht and then score two points in the final quarter on a safety.
HUSKIES vs. THE BIG TEN: Washington holds a 48-47-2 record all-time vs. current Big Ten opponents, a record that includes an 0-3 mark against Penn State (though the Nittany Lions were not members of the Big Ten at the time of two of those games against the UW) and 4-5-1 vs. Nebraska, also not a Big Ten member at the time of any of those games. Washington has played all 12 current Big Ten teams but have faced a Big Ten opponent only nine times since 2003 (the UW played Indiana in '03, Ohio State in '07, Illinois in 2013-14, Rutgers in 2016-17, Penn State in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl; Ohio State in the 2019 Rose Bowl; and at Michigan in 2021). The Huskies have played Big Ten teams nine times in bowl games since 1990 (not counting Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl in 2010): Iowa in the 1990 Rose Bowl, Michigan in the 1992 and 1993 Rose Bowls, Iowa in the 1995 Sun Bowl, Michigan State in the 1997 Aloha Bowl, Purdue in the 2001 Rose Bowl, Purdue in the 2002 Sun Bowl, Penn State in the 2017 Festa Bowl and OSU the 2019 Rose Bowl. The Huskies went 4-5 in those games. Here's the UW's all-time record vs. current Big Ten teams: 7-4 vs. Illinois; 1-2 vs. Indiana; 3-3 vs. Iowa; 1-0 vs. Maryland; 5-8 vs. Michigan; 2-1 vs. Michigan State; 7-10 vs. Minnesota; 4-5-1 vs. Nebraska; 3-0 vs. Northwestern; 3-9 vs. Ohio State; 0-3 vs. Penn State; 7-2-1 vs. Purdue; 2-0 vs. Rutgers; 4-0 vs. Wisconsin.
EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH: Thanks in part to the extended eligibility that resulted from the pandemic, Washington's 2021 roster is remarkable for both its youth and its experience, all at once. The roster includes 18 individuals who have started at least one game on offense, and another 18 on defense. All totaled, those 35 players (one of them, Alex Cook, has started on offense and defense) have started 248 games (147 on offense, 101 on defense). And, that doesn account for the handful of veteran transfers who were mulit-year starters at their previous school, and also doesn't account for specialists, who are also seasoned starters at their positions.
All that said, the UW roster includes just 12 players in their final year of available eligibility: CB Jordan Perryman, LB Cam Bright, EDGE Jeremiah Martin, S Alex Cook, WR Brennan Holmes, PK Peyton Henry, OL Jaxson Kirkland, OL Henry Bainivalu, OL Corey Luciano, P Kevin Ryan, LB Kristopher Moll and RB Wayne Taulapapa. Of the 114 players on the current roster, 55 are listed as freshmen (17) or redshirt freshmen (38), while 27 more are sophomores. That means that 82 of 114 players (72 percent) have three or more years of eligibility remaining, entering the 2022 season.
HOME vs. NON-CONFERENCE: Washington has been very tough to beat in home, non-conference games over the last several decades. Going back to (and including) the 1981 season, the Huskies have posted a 74-14 record against non-Pac-10/Pac-12 foes in Husky Stadium. Those 14 losses have come to Montana (2021), Nebraska (2010), LSU (2009), BYU (2008), Oklahoma (2008), Ohio State (2007), Notre Dame (2005), Fresno State (2004), Nevada (2003), Air Force (1999), Nebraska (1997), Notre Dame (1995), Colorado (1989) and Oklahoma State (1985). Notable wins wins during that stretch include victories over No. 19 Boise State in 2013, No. 22 Boise State in 2007, No. 11 Michigan in 2001, No. 4 Miami in 2000, and No. 12 Nebraska in 1992. Prior to the 2004 loss to Nevada, Washington hadn't lost a home game to a non-league opponent since falling to Air Force, 31-21, on September 18, 1999. The Huskies had won 10 such games before that Nevada loss. UW had a 20-game home, non-conference win streak broken last year.
THE PAC-12: Prior to the 2011 season, the Pac-10 Conference added Utah and Colorado to expand to the Pac-12. Washington, which along with California is one of two schools who have been in the conference since its founding in 1915, plays in the Pac-12 North, along with the other three Northwest schools (Oregon, OSU, WSU) and Stanford and Cal. Under the current system, each school plays all five division rivals, plus four of six teams in the other division each season. The first two seasons, the Huskies did not face UCLA or Arizona State. In 2013 and 14, the Huskies didn't play Utah or USC. In 2015 in 2016, neither UCLA nor Colorado were on the UW schedule, while the Huskies didn't face USC and Arizona in 2017 or 2018. The 2019 season marked the start of a new cycle, moving the rotation back to where it started. Therefore, the Huskies 2019 and 2020 scheduled did not include UCLA and Arizona State. In 2021 and 2002, Washington are not scheduled to play USC and Utah.
HUSKY STADIUM RENOVATION: Husky Stadium underwent a major renovation over from Nov., 2011, through Aug., 2013, as the entire lower bowl and south upper deck were demolished and replaced. The new facility features a new, state-of-the-art football operations center (weight room, training room, locker room, meeting rooms, coaches' offices) in the west end, much more premium seating options and a new playing surface. Husky Stadium had featured a track up until 2011, so seats that were once far from the field, particularly in the west end, are much closer to the action. UW is 45-16 at home since the re-opening of Husky Stadium.
ALASKA AIRLINES FIELD AT HUSKY STADIUM: The Oregon game on Nov. 5, 2011, marked the final game in Husky Stadium prior to major renovations that were completed in summer, 2013. The Huskies re-opened their home field with a 38-6 win over then-No. 19 Boise State on Aug. 31, 2013. The 2021 season marks the 101st season of play in Husky Stadium. Original construction on the facility was completed in 1920 when Washington played one game in the new campus facility. UW's all-time record in Husky Stadium stands at 401-185-21 (.678).
QUICK HITTERS: This Saturday's game will mark only the fourth-ever UW-Michigan State game, and just the second in Seattle ... the first, on Sept. 19, 1970, was the debut of legendary UW quarterback Sonny Sixkiller, in one of that era's most memorable home games (more on page 3) ... through two games, new UW QB Michael Penix, Jr., leads the Pac-12 in passing yards and TDs ... the Huskies lead the conference in total offense, passing offense, third-down conversions, and first downs; while the defense leads the league in pass efficiency defense and total defense ... four true freshmen have played for the UW this season: DL Jayvon Parker, CB Jayvion Green, PK Grady Green & WR Denzel Boston ... UW's 21 first-quarter points vs. Kent State marked the Huskies' highest total in a single quarter since they scored 24 in the fourth quarter vs. Arizona on Oct. 12, 2019, a stretch of 22 games ... UW scored on its first six possessions vs. Kent State (five touchdowns, one field goal) and on their first four vs. Portland State (all TDs) ... UW has scored on 15 of 21 drives this year, including 10 out of 11 in the first half ... other than the pandemic-shortened 2020 season – when due to cancellations, the entire UW schedule consisted of just four games, all at home – the last time the Huskies opened a season with four consecutive home games was in 1976, when the Dawgs opened vs. Virgina, Colorado, Indiana and Minnesota ... the Husky roster includes 31 newcomers in 2022; here's a breakdown: 20 freshmen, two junior college transfers, and nine four-year college transfers ... of the 114 players on the roster, 55 are listed as freshmen (17) or redshirt freshmen (38), with an additional 27 sophomores ... that means that 82 of 114 players (72 percent) have three or more years of remaining eligibility entering the 2022 season ... Washington has 12 players who have just one remaining year of eligibility.
TELEVISION: The Washington-Michigan State game will air on ABC, with Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III and Quint Kessenich calling the action. Fans with the proper subscription can also watch at WatchESPN.com.
RADIO: All Washington football games will air on the Washington Sports Network from Learfield, with Tony Castricone (play by play), former Husky tight end Cameron Cleeland (analyst) and former UW basketball player Elise Woodward (sidelines) on the call. Radio coverage begins four hours before kickoff on the network's flagship station – Seattle's SportsRadio KJR 93.3 FM – with "Husky Gameday" live from The Zone for Husky home games. Statewide coverage on the 12-station Washington Sports Network begins two hours before kickoff. The entire broadcast is available worldwide on the Huskies Gameday mobile app and the Varsity app. The UW broadcast of this game will also air on SiriusXM channel 99 or 197. This game will also air on a syndicated, national basis on Learfield Sports, with Sloane Martin (play by play) and Mike Golic, Jr. (analyst) on the call. Additionally, the Husky Football Coaches Show airs each Wednesday during the season (starting Aug. 24), at 6:00 p.m. PT.
HUSKIES vs. MICHIGAN STATE: Washington and Michigan State have played one another only three times – once each in Seattle and East Lansing, and once in Honolulu. UW leads the series, 2-1. In reverse chronological order, here's a look at those three meetings:
Washington 51, Michigan State 23 • Aloha Bowl, Aloha Stadium • Dec. 25, 1997
The Huskies wrapped up the 1997 season with a convincing win over the Nick Saban-coached Spartans, led by numerous big plays and 193 rushing yards and two TDs from tailback Rashaan Shehee. The win broke a three-game losing streak that had ended the Huskies' regular season. Along with Shehee's big day, the Huskies got 179 passing yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Brock Huard, while both Tony Parrish (56 yards) and Lester Towns (66 yards) returned interceptions for touchdowns. (Towns would go on to work for Saban at Alabama.) Additionally, fullback Mike Reed scored on a 64-yard run in the third quarter.
Washington 42, Michigan State 16 • Husky Stadium • Sept. 19, 1970
The 1970 season opener is still a memorable game for Husky fans as it marked the debut of quarterback Sonny Sixkiller, who had burst on to the scene at the 1970 spring game, which followed a dreadful 1969 season (1-9) short on offense. Against the Spartans, Sixkiller completed 16 of 35 passes for 276 yards, three interceptions, and three touchdowns, in just three quarters, before the second string took over the offense. On the game's fourth play, Sixkiller connected with Ira Hammon for a 59-yard touchdown pass. Later in the first, Sixkiller threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7, but in the second quarter, Sixkiller connected with Bo Cornell on a five-yard TD pass. Early in the third, UW made it 21-7 thanks to a 37-yard connection with Hammon. Halfback Mark Wheeler provided another highlight, running for a 48-yard score. Sixkiller would go on to become one of UW's all-time fan favorites and appeared on the cover of the Oct. 4, 1971, edition of Sports Illustrated.
For more on the landmark UW-MSU 1970 game, go to GoHuskies.com/1970s. For stats & recaps from all three games, go to GoHuskies.com/FBArchive.
Michigan State 27, Washington 11 • Spartan Stadium • Sept. 20, 1969
Washington opened the 1969 season facing a challenging, three-game non-conference slate with games at Michigan State and Michigan, before taking on Ohio State in Seattle. The '69 season would prove to be a tumultuous one for the Huskies, who won the Apple Cup to finish 1-9. The year opened in East Lansing in front of 63,022 fans, who watched the Spartans come back from a 9-7 deficit through three quarters to win 27-11, thanks to a 20-point fourth quarter. Quarterback William Triplett rush for two scores (one of them on the first play of the final quarter go give MSU the lead), while running backs Donald Highsmith (143) and Eric Allen (113) each topped 100 yards. Donald Law added a 70-yard interception return and halfback Thomas Love threw a 29-yard TD pass to Franklin Foreman. UW's lone touchdown was a second-quarter, 20-yard run from Luther Sligh. The Huskies also got a field goal from Ron Volbrecht and then score two points in the final quarter on a safety.
HUSKIES vs. THE BIG TEN: Washington holds a 48-47-2 record all-time vs. current Big Ten opponents, a record that includes an 0-3 mark against Penn State (though the Nittany Lions were not members of the Big Ten at the time of two of those games against the UW) and 4-5-1 vs. Nebraska, also not a Big Ten member at the time of any of those games. Washington has played all 12 current Big Ten teams but have faced a Big Ten opponent only nine times since 2003 (the UW played Indiana in '03, Ohio State in '07, Illinois in 2013-14, Rutgers in 2016-17, Penn State in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl; Ohio State in the 2019 Rose Bowl; and at Michigan in 2021). The Huskies have played Big Ten teams nine times in bowl games since 1990 (not counting Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl in 2010): Iowa in the 1990 Rose Bowl, Michigan in the 1992 and 1993 Rose Bowls, Iowa in the 1995 Sun Bowl, Michigan State in the 1997 Aloha Bowl, Purdue in the 2001 Rose Bowl, Purdue in the 2002 Sun Bowl, Penn State in the 2017 Festa Bowl and OSU the 2019 Rose Bowl. The Huskies went 4-5 in those games. Here's the UW's all-time record vs. current Big Ten teams: 7-4 vs. Illinois; 1-2 vs. Indiana; 3-3 vs. Iowa; 1-0 vs. Maryland; 5-8 vs. Michigan; 2-1 vs. Michigan State; 7-10 vs. Minnesota; 4-5-1 vs. Nebraska; 3-0 vs. Northwestern; 3-9 vs. Ohio State; 0-3 vs. Penn State; 7-2-1 vs. Purdue; 2-0 vs. Rutgers; 4-0 vs. Wisconsin.
EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH: Thanks in part to the extended eligibility that resulted from the pandemic, Washington's 2021 roster is remarkable for both its youth and its experience, all at once. The roster includes 18 individuals who have started at least one game on offense, and another 18 on defense. All totaled, those 35 players (one of them, Alex Cook, has started on offense and defense) have started 248 games (147 on offense, 101 on defense). And, that doesn account for the handful of veteran transfers who were mulit-year starters at their previous school, and also doesn't account for specialists, who are also seasoned starters at their positions.
All that said, the UW roster includes just 12 players in their final year of available eligibility: CB Jordan Perryman, LB Cam Bright, EDGE Jeremiah Martin, S Alex Cook, WR Brennan Holmes, PK Peyton Henry, OL Jaxson Kirkland, OL Henry Bainivalu, OL Corey Luciano, P Kevin Ryan, LB Kristopher Moll and RB Wayne Taulapapa. Of the 114 players on the current roster, 55 are listed as freshmen (17) or redshirt freshmen (38), while 27 more are sophomores. That means that 82 of 114 players (72 percent) have three or more years of eligibility remaining, entering the 2022 season.
HOME vs. NON-CONFERENCE: Washington has been very tough to beat in home, non-conference games over the last several decades. Going back to (and including) the 1981 season, the Huskies have posted a 74-14 record against non-Pac-10/Pac-12 foes in Husky Stadium. Those 14 losses have come to Montana (2021), Nebraska (2010), LSU (2009), BYU (2008), Oklahoma (2008), Ohio State (2007), Notre Dame (2005), Fresno State (2004), Nevada (2003), Air Force (1999), Nebraska (1997), Notre Dame (1995), Colorado (1989) and Oklahoma State (1985). Notable wins wins during that stretch include victories over No. 19 Boise State in 2013, No. 22 Boise State in 2007, No. 11 Michigan in 2001, No. 4 Miami in 2000, and No. 12 Nebraska in 1992. Prior to the 2004 loss to Nevada, Washington hadn't lost a home game to a non-league opponent since falling to Air Force, 31-21, on September 18, 1999. The Huskies had won 10 such games before that Nevada loss. UW had a 20-game home, non-conference win streak broken last year.
THE PAC-12: Prior to the 2011 season, the Pac-10 Conference added Utah and Colorado to expand to the Pac-12. Washington, which along with California is one of two schools who have been in the conference since its founding in 1915, plays in the Pac-12 North, along with the other three Northwest schools (Oregon, OSU, WSU) and Stanford and Cal. Under the current system, each school plays all five division rivals, plus four of six teams in the other division each season. The first two seasons, the Huskies did not face UCLA or Arizona State. In 2013 and 14, the Huskies didn't play Utah or USC. In 2015 in 2016, neither UCLA nor Colorado were on the UW schedule, while the Huskies didn't face USC and Arizona in 2017 or 2018. The 2019 season marked the start of a new cycle, moving the rotation back to where it started. Therefore, the Huskies 2019 and 2020 scheduled did not include UCLA and Arizona State. In 2021 and 2002, Washington are not scheduled to play USC and Utah.
HUSKY STADIUM RENOVATION: Husky Stadium underwent a major renovation over from Nov., 2011, through Aug., 2013, as the entire lower bowl and south upper deck were demolished and replaced. The new facility features a new, state-of-the-art football operations center (weight room, training room, locker room, meeting rooms, coaches' offices) in the west end, much more premium seating options and a new playing surface. Husky Stadium had featured a track up until 2011, so seats that were once far from the field, particularly in the west end, are much closer to the action. UW is 45-16 at home since the re-opening of Husky Stadium.
ALASKA AIRLINES FIELD AT HUSKY STADIUM: The Oregon game on Nov. 5, 2011, marked the final game in Husky Stadium prior to major renovations that were completed in summer, 2013. The Huskies re-opened their home field with a 38-6 win over then-No. 19 Boise State on Aug. 31, 2013. The 2021 season marks the 101st season of play in Husky Stadium. Original construction on the facility was completed in 1920 when Washington played one game in the new campus facility. UW's all-time record in Husky Stadium stands at 401-185-21 (.678).
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