No. 13 Indiana will rely on Tayven Jackson to maintain its undefeated record against Washington

WHAT IS AT STAKE?

A magical season has made Indiana the biggest surprise in college football. A win this week would give the 1967 Rose Bowl team the best start in school history and keep the Hoosiers atop the Big Ten in the hunt for a playoff spot. It was a tough season for the Huskies, who replaced 21 of 22 starters from last year’s runner-up team.

KEY MATCHUP

Washington WR Denzel Boston vs. Indiana Secondary. The Huskies lost their top three 2023 receivers to the NFL, giving the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Boston native room to showcase his skills. While his 40 receptions and 540 yards may not look particularly eye-catching, he leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally with nine touchdown catches. He will present a completely different challenge for the nation’s 30th-ranked pass defense.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Washington: CB Thaddeus Dixon. The game video of the prep star from Los Angeles shows his versatility. At 6-foot-10, he can compete with taller receivers and enters Week 9 with a team-high 19 tackles, 1/2 tackle for loss, an interception and a team-high six pass breakups. Testing him could prove dangerous.

Indiana: QB Tayven Jackson. The third-year player has been a fan favorite since transferring from Tennessee to his home state school. Although he struggled last year, he seemed quite comfortable replacing the injured Kurtis Rourke in the second half last week. With Rourke out for a week (right thumb surgery), Jackson’s job is to maintain the Hoosiers’ perfect touch.

FACTS & FIGURES

The College Gameday studio team is traveling to Bloomington for the second time. His only previous appearance on campus was a Thursday night season opener against Ohio State in 2017. … Washington won the last match of the series in 2003 after losing twice to Indiana in the 1970s. … The Hoosiers have scored more than 40 points in a school-record six straight games. … The Huskies rank third in pass efficiency defense, eighth in total defense and 16th in scoring defense. … Washington QB Will Rogers is one of 14 FBS players to surpass 14,000 receiving yards in their careers. … Indiana’s 28 rushing TDs rank second in the FBS, behind Army (28). … Washington is 4-0 at home but 0-3 outside of Husky Stadium, including a loss to rival Washington State at the home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.