We say, “once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye,” but how would you feel if you had to coach against the same school where you once starred? For Scottie Graham, Washington Huskies’ RB coach, Saturday’s matchup against Ohio State isn’t just a Big Ten opener against the defending national champions; it’s a stroll straight into his past. A classic showdown awaits this week, as Ohio State takes on the Washington Huskies, with both teams 3-0 and leading their respective conferences.
Graham is an Ohio State alum and a former Buckeye star from 1988 to 1991. That’s why, in the wake of this game, Scottie didn’t hold back on his feelings. “Saturday is a momentous occasion!” he writes on X. “We play our first Big 10 game of the season against The Ohio State University! I’ll be coaching against my alma mater, where I earned 2 degrees. My wife and I graduated in ‘91 & both her parents graduated in the 50s. It will be a great day.” Graham’s story is quintessential Buckeye: a full-ride recruit who became a three-year starter, earned team captain honors.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Off the field, he crushed it academically, earning a bachelor’s and then a master’s in Black Studies. On the field, he was rock-solid, six seasons in the NFL without ever fumbling. Graham joined the Huskies in 2024, bringing tons of experience from his playing days and years in player development. Before Washington, he spent three seasons on Jedd Fisch’s staff at Arizona. In his second year with Fisch at Washington, Graham is running the backs, and the OSU game comes with big expectations given his Buckeye experience.
For Graham, this game is as much emotional as tactical. He remembers the intensity, the discipline, and the culture of OSU, what it takes to thrive in a place where excellence is expected every day. In a 2014 interview with the Eleven Warriors, he reflected on what sets the program apart. “What I say about Ohio State, the people— and it’s so much different at Ohio State than any other school—is just the character, man. Because you have to be intellectually superior, athletically superior, and you’ve got to be able to handle pressure and the political environment. So, there are so many things you have to go through.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
But let’s talk about the game now. The odds naturally lean toward the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s favored by around 8.5 points after a dominant start, but Washington’s also 3-0 with a high-powered offense putting up 55.7 points per game and a 22-game home win streak.
Experts expect a tight game, with the Huskies keeping it close.
Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports
Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports
What does the AP poll say?
College football powers have a shakeup after week 4. And guess what? Ohio State’s sitting right at the summit. The Buckeyes, fresh off a 37-9 trouncing of in-state rival Ohio and a signature win against preseason No. 1 Texas, remain the team to beat at No. 1. With a tough Big Ten schedule ahead, they look poised to hold onto it. Meanwhile, Washington sits just outside the top 25, still carving their identity under Jedd Fisch and running backs coach Scottie Graham.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The Huskies share a 3-0 record and have shown flashes of brilliance, especially on offense, where they’re averaging over 55 points per game, ranking among the nation’s best. But they haven’t quite made the jump into elite status yet. That’s because they still have some questions about their defense. The OSU-Washington matchup is a major statement game. OSU needs to maintain its lofty perch by proving it can beat a high-powered offense on the road.
The Huskies’ explosive offense and home-field advantage at Husky Stadium make them a dangerous foe, even though they are sitting outside the list. Plus, it’s an opportunity for Graham to showcase his potential as an RB coach right in front of the very school that taught him the skill.