Now, that’s more like it, right?

Penn State was finally able to get its first Big Ten win of the season under head coach Matt Campbell with a 31-17 win over Purdue.

As I noted in last week’s column, for Penn State to have success down the stretch, it needed to run the football more effectively and get better ball security from quarterback Rocco Becht. Against Purdue, the Nittany Lions checked both boxes. Penn State rushed for 269 yards and three touchdowns, while Becht threw for 175 yards and a score without committing a turnover.

For the first time in several weeks, Penn State looked physical at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The defensive front took a positive step forward by consistently pressuring Ryan Browne, who has been solid from the pocket for Purdue this season. The Nittany Lions were even more impressive against the run, limiting the Boilermakers to just 33 yards on 15 carries.

In time, this is likely what a Coach Campbell-led Penn State team will look like. It may not always be flashy, but running the football, controlling the line of scrimmage, and playing strong defense is usually a formula for success.

The challenge gets significantly tougher this week, however, as Penn State travels to Seattle to face Washington (3:30 p.m. ET, BTN). The Huskies enter the matchup at 5-3, but their record could easily be much better. Their three losses have come by an average of just 4.6 points and were against Minnesota, No. 20 USC, and No. 19 Iowa.

The Nittany Lions defense will once again be tested by a talented quarterback in junior Demond Williams Jr. A dynamic dual-threat playmaker, Williams has thrown for 1,495 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions this season. He’s also added 211 rushing yards and two touchdowns, making his ability to extend plays and escape pressure a major concern.

Washington leans heavily on its passing attack, ranking 21st nationally at 276.8 passing yards per game. The Huskies have been far less effective on the ground, ranking 135th in the country with just 95 rushing yards per game and averaging only 3.4 yards per carry as a team.

If Penn State’s defensive line can build on last week’s performance, it could go a long way toward slowing down Washington’s aerial attack. The Nittany Lions have been outstanding against the pass all season, ranking third nationally and first in the Big Ten by allowing just 141.1 passing yards per game. Still, Williams and his top targets, Chris Lawson (638 receiving yards) and Dezmen Roebuck (509), present a significant challenge for the Penn State secondary, especially if the front seven struggles to generate pressure. Above all, making Williams uncomfortable from the opening kickoff will have to be one of Penn State’s top priorities.

Running the football will be a little more challenging this week against a Huskies defense that is giving up just 131.3 rushing yards per game. Throughout the season, the Nittany Lions were practically begging one of their running backs to show out and take the reins of the starting running back job. Junior Cam Wallace was finally able to do that last week, rushing for 135 yards on 22 carries with a rushing touchdown.

Washington has been somewhat vulnerable against the pass this season, allowing 211.3 yards per game through the air, which should create opportunities for Becht and the Nittany Lions’ passing attack. Those opportunities could be even greater if Wallace and the running game can put together a solid performance and keep the Huskies’ defense honest. Standout wide receiver Chase Sowell is expected to return this week after missing last week’s game, while Koby Howard has once again been practicing. However, reading between the lines of what Coach Campbell said during his midweek media availability, it doesn’t sound like Howard will be ready to play just yet. For Penn State to come away with a win, I think Becht and the passing game will need to turn in an above-average performance.

Las Vegas has Washington as a 2.5-point favorite over the Nittany Lions.

This would be a big win for Coach Campbell and the Penn State program if it can go on the road and get a win over a talented Washington team. Again, Becht is going to have to have a good day in order for PSU to win, and the defense is going to have to be as good if not better than they were up front in order to get pressure on Williams.

I like Campbell to get the job done this week, but if Washington wins this game, it certainly won’t be a surprise, as they will be the team picked by most of the pundits to gain the victory.

My pick is: Penn State 28, Washington 27.