After the 40-22 win over Stanford that moved the Huskies to 4-0, the AP rewarded Kalen DeBoer’s squad by moving them up to 15th in the nation. Washington has been putting up elite numbers on the offensive side of the ball all season, and the pass rush matched the offense’s elite production in the first matchup of conference play in 2022. We can make those kinds of statements, but let’s back them up with some numbers.

1,388

The number of passing yards Michael Penix has thrown for so far this season, which is the top mark in the nation. Husky fans should start to keep an eye on the school’s all-time single-season passing record, which is currently held by Cody Pickett, who threw for 4,458 in 2002. On his current pace, Penix would finish a 12-game season with 4,164 yards, good for second in school history. Keep in mind that if Washington made the Pac-12 championship game, and a bowl game, those numbers would also go towards his numbers, so he’s currently on pace to smash that record, and potentially finish the year as the nation’s leader in passing yards, which would be a first in Washington’s history.

56.4

Sadly, not all of these stats can be positive. This is Jaxson Kirkland’s Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade in his return to the field. It also happened to be the lowest grade on PFF of the 11 qualified pass blockers against Stanford. Some of the notable names that finished above Kirkland include Wayne Taulapapa, Richard Newton, and Ja’Lynn Polk. Penix looked much more comfortable in the pocket after Kirkland got pulled in the second half, when Troy Fautanu kicked out to tackle, and Kalepo came in at guard.

15

Bralen Trice is currently leading the team with 4.5 sacks, and is second in the conference behind UCLA (and former Washington) edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who has five. Trice, Zion Tupuola-Fetui, and Alphonzo Tuputala all recorded multiple sacks against Stanford, and more than doubled the team’s sack total for the year, from seven to 15. Those 15 sacks are good for first in the Pac-12, and tied for third in the nation.

86

After allowing just 86 yards on the ground against the Cardinal, Washington has now allowed under 100 yards rushing for three straight weeks. After last year the Huskies were among the worst teams in the league against the run, and due to an offense that can score at will, along with an improved scheme and talent, especially at the middle linebacker position, the Huskies currently sit 20th in the nation against the run, allowing just 89 yards per game.