This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/michigan as 3 key matchups for Michigan football vs. Washington. Michigan football (4-2) enters Saturday afternoon's game essentially at a crossroad against Washington (5-1) coming off the team's subpar performance in the USC game last weekend.

▶ The Huskies rank No. 10 nationally in scrimmage plays of 10-plus yards (109) and are No. 4 with 44 plays of 20-plus yards. Washington ranks No. 5 in the nation in third-down percentage, converting 37-of-67 (55%) and pass efficiency, and No. 8 in rushing defense, allowing an average 82.8 yards per game.

A rising star at QB. A team still searching. FOX Sports' Michael Cohen and RJ Young preview the "Big Noon Saturday" game between Michigan and Washington.

Michigan Football still hasn't made a decision about running back Justice Haynes for their upcoming game against Washington.

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The Big Ten teams making the opposite trip have fared better in their 1.5 seasons in the league. Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington are a combined 10-10 when facing the other Big Ten teams on the road. That figure is aided by Oregon’s 5-0 mark. That quartet is 8-12 against the spread: UCLA is 5-0, while USC and Washington are 0-5.

The Michigan Wolverines are 4-2 on the season, tied for fourth in the Big Ten with the Oregon Ducks and in need of a big win this weekend over Washington to keep pace with conference leaders Ohio State and Indiana.

Michigan hosts Washington for a noon game on Saturday. Despite the earlier kickoff, the Wolverines have several highly regarded visitors coming.