PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Washington Huskies faced another heartbreaking loss on Friday night, falling to Rutgers by a close score of 21-18. In a game that mirrored the team’s ongoing struggles, head coach Jedd Fisch's pre-game comments about needing to "finish plays" rang all too true.

Despite having superior talent and overwhelming Rutgers in total yardage (521 to 299), the Huskies could not find a way to translate that dominance into points when it mattered most. With 314 passing yards and 207 rushing yards, Washington boasted impressive stats along with a clean turnover slate. However, penalties and mental errors thwarted their efforts, revealing a troubling pattern of underachievement that has emerged this season.

Throughout the game, the Huskies struggled to maintain discipline at critical moments. Three promising drives ended abruptly due to flags, including a costly late hit from center D’Angalo Titialii that nullified a series of first downs. A false start by tight end Keleki Latu stalled another drive, leading to a field goal attempt, while a personal foul by running back Cameron Davis erased a third-down completion, leading to another missed long-range field goal.

As if to underscore their struggles, Washington’s mistakes took on a life of their own. Leading up to halftime, they appeared poised for a momentum-shifting play when edge rusher Lance Holtzclaw blocked a Rutgers field goal. However, the Huskies' celebration was short-circuited when a redshirt freshman safety, Vincent Holmes, inadvertently incurred a penalty on the field, which allowed Rutgers to retain possession and score shortly thereafter.

Quarterback Will Rogers delivered a mixed performance, completing 26 of 36 passes but failing to make key plays when it counted. On a pivotal third-and-goal situation, his pass was tipped and went awry, leaving a wide-open Giles Jackson without a chance to score.

Despite flashes of brilliance, including an electrifying performance from running back Jonah Coleman, who rushed for 148 yards at an average of 9.3 yards per carry, the team struggled to capitalize in the red zone and finish drives.

Defensively, the Huskies' tackling woes allowed Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai to burst through the line for key gains, including a 40-yard rush that showcased Washington's inability to close out drives. Monangai finished with 132 yards and a touchdown, highlighting the deficiencies in the Huskies' defense.

Coach Fisch's frustrations were palpable as he addressed his players after the game, urging them to avoid playing against themselves as well as their competition. "We can’t beat ourselves and our opponent," he declared, emphasizing the critical need for improvement.

Looking ahead, the road only gets tougher for Washington. With a challenging schedule that features opponents like Michigan, Iowa, USC, and Oregon, the Huskies will need to shake off their "failure to finish" mentality quickly if they hope to salvage their season and reach bowl eligibility.

Rogers and his teammates recognize the urgency. "It’s time to correct those mistakes," he said. The question remains: Can they rise to meet that challenge? As it stands, the clock is ticking for Washington's hopes this season.