The Washington Huskies football team, for the second week in a row, came one possession shy of earning a win against a Big Ten opponents.

The Huskies fell 25-21 to the No. 19 Southern California (USC) Trojans on Saturday at L.A. Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.

Washington's offense was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. In the third quarter, third-year quarterbacck Demond Williams Jr. fumbled the ball which led to a 48-yard scoop-and-score for the Trojans, which ended up being the deciding score for the home team.

Here's several takeaways from the Huskies' loss to USC:

Demond Williams Jr. needs to improve

Williams entered this season with a significant amount of expectations in his third year of college ball and second full season as a starter.

The Chandler, Ariz., native has failed to meet those expectations through the first five games of the season, four against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents and two against Big Ten rivals.

The offense has yet to score more than 24 points against an FBS opponent.

In the team's last two games, the aforementioned loss against the Trojans and a 27-24 result against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Sept. 26, Williams has completed 61% of his passes for 437 yards, three passing touchdowns and two interceptions. He's committed three turnovers including the aforementioned scoop-and-score.

THE SCOOP AND SCORE FOR THE USC LEAD! 😱
📺 Big Ten Saturday Night: Washington at USC on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/Ui2tMNuvh9

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 4, 2026

Williams has added another 30 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound signal-caller hasn't been the only player on the offense that has struggled. The offense, via injuries and youth, is yet to hit a real stride. The running back room has also been ransacked with injuries.

However, the main criticism for Williams through his two seasons as UW's starter has been that he's unable to show up in key moments.

There is no room for error for Washington the rest of the season if it hopes to make the College Football Playoff, or even a top-paying bowl game such as the Citrus Bowl. And in order for the Huskies to do so, Williams has to shake that narrative.

Baron Naone, Chris Lawson should be UW's top targets going forward

One of the few bright spots for the UW offense on Saturday was the tight end room. All three touchdowns scored by the Huskies involved a tight end. Second-year Baron Naone scored on a five-yard trick play on a reception from second-year wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck, third-year Decker DeGraaf scored on a 40-plus yard grab and fourth-year Kade Eldridge, lined up as a running back, scored on a one-yard rush.

Washington gets tricky with it! Baron Naone finds the end zone.
📺 Big Ten Saturday Night: Washington at USC on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/fPWYEh48v6

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 4, 2026

Naone has had at least 30 yards receiving in all five of Washington's games this season and a touchdown in two-straight games. He's caught 16 passes for 245 yards and two scores this season.

Lawson finished with a team-high five receptions and 82 yards. He caught two passes for 58 yards on the Huskies' final drive of the game to convert on third and fourth down, respectively. It was his second-straight game with at least 70 yards receiving and third overall this season. He's second on the team in receptions (18) and receiving yards (294) and has brought in one touchdown.

WASHINGTON WILL NOT GO AWAY! 😤
📺 Big Ten Saturday Night: Washington at USC on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/atvxI9zPEW

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 4, 2026

The two second-year players have been responsible for a good chunk of UW's explosive plays this season, and should receive more opportunities as the primary targets on the offense.

Defense is legitimate

What made Saturday's loss all the more frustrating for Washington fans was that the defense did more than enough to win.

Unlike the loss against Minnesota, where the defense allowed 21 first-half points (all passing touchdowns), Ryan Walters' allowed just 18 points to the USC offense and had a takeaway.

Despite giving up 27 points against the Gophers, that game still came down to the final drive of the game.

The defense has done enough to keep the Huskies in games against Big Ten competition. Now, it's simply a matter of the offense doing enough for that to translate to wins.

Up next

The Huskies will have another opportunity to earn a ranked win and will return home to play the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes at 6 p.m. PT on Oct. 9 at Husky Stadium in Seattle.