Washington Huskies Secure Bowl Eligibility With Win Over No. 23 Illinois

The Washington Huskies secured a decisive 42-25 victory over No. 23 Illinois, marking their first ranked win of the season and making them bowl eligible with four games remaining. Sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. threw four touchdown passes and rushed for 66 yards, demonstrating significant improvement after a prior game with three interceptions. Wide receiver Denzel Boston had a standout performance with career highs of 10 catches and 153 receiving yards, and uniquely threw a touchdown pass on a trick play to Jonah Coleman. The Huskies' offense was efficient, scoring on six of their eight drives and converting nine of 11 third-down attempts, while the defense capitalized on critical turnovers, including a pivotal interception by cornerback Tacario Davis. Washington's sustained offensive pressure and opportunistic defense allowed them to outscore Illinois 28-10 after Illinois briefly took the lead in the second quarter. This win matched Washington's total victories from the previous season and was their second against a Top 25 team under coach Jedd Fisch.