It feels weird. Seeing the purple and gold of Washington clashing with Ohio State’s scarlet and gray used to be a rare treat, a "once-every-decade" non-conference showdown or a Rose Bowl special. Now? It’s just another Saturday in the Big Ten.
But don't let the newness of the conference alignment fool you. The uw vs ohio state football history is actually a lot deeper—and weirder—than most fans realize. We aren't just talking about a couple of high-ranked teams trading blows. We’re talking about a series that has historically defined national championship trajectories and broken massive home winning streaks.
Take the most recent meeting on September 27, 2025. Ohio State rolled into Seattle as the No. 1 team in the country and did something almost nobody does: they silenced Husky Stadium. It wasn't just a win; it was a 24-6 statement that effectively ended Washington’s 22-game home winning streak.
The Reality of the All-Time Series
If you ask a casual fan in Columbus, they’ll tell you the Buckeyes own the Huskies. They aren't exactly wrong. Ohio State leads the all-time series 10-3. But that number hides how much Washington has actually tormented Ohio State at specific points in history.
Honestly, the Buckeyes have struggled in the Pacific Northwest. Before the 2025 win, Ohio State was just 1-3 in their last four trips to that region. They lost to the Huskies in 1986 and 1994, and then dropped a heartbreaker to Oregon in 2024.
The 1986 game was a total bloodbath. Washington, ranked No. 17 at the time, absolutely dismantled No. 10 Ohio State 40-7. It was the first time since 1894 that the Buckeyes started a season 0-2. People still talk about that second quarter where the Huskies hung 24 points on the board in what felt like three minutes.
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Why the 2025 Matchup Changed the Narrative
For a long time, the "book" on Ohio State was that they didn't travel well to the West Coast. The 2025 game changed that. Under Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia (yeah, that Matt Patricia), the Buckeyes' defense looked like a brick wall.
They held Washington to just 234 total yards.
They forced the Huskies to go 1-for-11 on third downs.
They sacked freshman sensation Demond Williams Jr. six times.
It was a clinic. Julian Sayin, the Buckeyes' quarterback, wasn't even flashy—he was just efficient. He went 22-of-28 for 208 yards and two scores. One of those was an 18-yard laser to Jeremiah Smith that basically sucked the air out of the stadium right before halftime.
Looking Back: The 2019 Rose Bowl
You can't talk about uw vs ohio state football without mentioning Urban Meyer’s finale. The 2019 Rose Bowl was supposed to be a coronation for the Buckeyes, and for three quarters, it was. They led 28-3.
Then Washington did what Washington does.
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Myles Gaskin and the Huskies roared back with 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. If it wasn't for a failed onside kick recovery, Ohio State fans might have had a very different memory of Meyer’s last game. That 28-23 final score is the closest the Huskies have come to beating the Buckeyes in the modern era.
The "New" Big Ten Dynamics
Now that Washington is a full-fledged member of the Big Ten, the stakes have shifted. This isn't just about pride anymore; it’s about a path to Indianapolis.
Washington’s transition hasn't been seamless. Moving from the Pac-12 to a travel-heavy Big Ten schedule is a grind. When they faced Ohio State in September 2025, they were coming off an emotional Apple Cup win over Washington State. You could tell they were gassed by the fourth quarter.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, have built a roster specifically designed to handle the physicality of the "old" Big Ten while maintaining the speed needed to track down dual-threat guys like Demond Williams Jr.
Key Stats from the Recent Series
- Total Points (Last 5 Games): Ohio State 143, Washington 72.
- Third Down Efficiency: In the 2025 game, OSU converted 60%, while UW managed only 9%.
- Rushing Dominance: Bo Jackson (the freshman RB, not the legend) led the way with 80 yards in 2025, marking the first time a team rushed for over 100 yards against Fisch’s defense that season.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think this is a "friendly" rivalry because there isn't a trophy involved. Ask a Washington fan about 1994. Ask an Ohio State fan about the 2007 blowout in Seattle where the Buckeyes finally broke their Pacific Northwest curse. There is genuine friction here.
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Washington views Ohio State as the gold standard they need to topple to prove they belong in the Big Ten's upper echelon. Ohio State views Washington as a dangerous trap game that requires a cross-country flight and a deafening environment.
Actionable Insights for the Future
If you're betting on or just following the next few years of uw vs ohio state football, keep these factors in mind:
- The "Sailgating" Effect: Don't underestimate the home-field advantage at Husky Stadium. Even though OSU won in 2025, the crowd of 72,845 was the loudest it’s been in over a decade.
- Quarterback Development: Watch the trajectory of Demond Williams Jr. He struggled against the Buckeyes' pass rush, but his mobility is exactly what gives Ohio State fits historically.
- Recruiting Battles: Now that they share a conference, these two are fighting for the same four- and five-star kids in California and Arizona. The winner on the field usually wins the living room visit.
The series is currently on a five-game win streak for the Buckeyes, dating back to 1995. Washington is overdue for an upset, but as we saw in 2025, closing the gap on a No. 1 ranked Ohio State squad is a mountain that Jedd Fisch is still learning how to climb.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for the next meeting, specifically in the secondary. Washington missed Tacario Davis in the last blowout, and against a guy like Jeremiah Smith, that's essentially a death sentence.