BY: KENNY VARNER

Jedd Fisch is a proven winner, and don’t be surprised if Washington takes a big leap forward in his second season at the helm. The Huskies were in full rebuild and overhaul mode last year, yet remarkably still won six regular-season games. When you consider that three of their losses came on the road to playoff teams (Indiana, Penn State, and Oregon), that record becomes even more impressive. Early-season losses to Rutgers and Washington State were largely the result of self-inflicted mistakes—something to be expected with a new coaching staff and a roster still finding its identity.

Year two should show a team with more talent, greater depth, and a coaching staff firmly entrenched in its system. Washington also carries a 20-game home winning streak into the season, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Huskies pulled off a couple of big upsets along the way.

The biggest breakthrough at the end of last year was the emergence of quarterback Demond Williams Jr., a former four-star recruit. He started the final regular-season game at Oregon, going 17-for-20 for 201 yards and a touchdown. Even more impressive was his Sun Bowl performance in a narrow loss to Louisville, where he completed 26 of 32 passes for 374 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. With a full offseason under Fisch, Williams Jr. is poised for a breakout year.

He’ll have plenty of weapons to work with. Senior running back Jonah Coleman returns after rushing for 1,053 yards (5.5 yards per carry) and a team-leading 10 touchdowns. Denzel Boston, one of the Big Ten’s most reliable receivers, is back after catching 63 passes for 934 yards and nine touchdowns. Speedster Omari Evans transfers in from Penn State and should help stretch the field, opening up opportunities for tight end Decker DeGraff to develop as a pass-catching threat.

Last season’s biggest offensive weakness was pass protection, as Washington allowed a Big Ten-high 39 sacks. That issue was addressed aggressively through the transfer portal. Carvell Willis, a dominant tackle from Kansas State, is expected to anchor one side of the line, while returning starter Drew Azzopardi holds down the other. Geirean Hatchett, coming from Oklahoma, brings additional size and strength to the interior. With a stronger and more cohesive offensive line, this unit should be far more consistent than last year.

Defensively, the Huskies also tapped the portal to bolster their front seven. Jayvon Parker leads a solid group that now features 350-pound nose tackle Simote Pepa from Utah—if he stays healthy, he could be a major difference-maker. Anterio Tompson (Western Michigan) adds depth up front, while Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei arrives from Arizona looking to make an impact.

Linebacker might be the team’s biggest strength. Taariq Al-Uqdah comes over from Washington State after totaling 116 tackles and four interceptions over two seasons. Xe’ree Alexander (UCF) is coming off a 68-tackle, six–tackle-for-loss campaign and should lock down the middle. The biggest potential addition could be Jacob Manu from Arizona—if he fully recovers from a 2024 knee injury, he could return to his 2023 form when he racked up 116 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks.

The secondary looks just as promising. Ephesians Prysock returns after recording 48 tackles last season, while Tacario Davis (Arizona) brings a strong résumé with 69 tackles and 21 pass deflections over the past two years. At safety, Washington landed one of the most underrated pickups in Alex McLaughlin from Northern Arizona, who dominated with 96 tackles last season.

This year’s Washington squad is far more talented than last year’s version and has the advantage of a proven coach who knows how to win. The Huskies should start the season 3-0, even with a rivalry trip to Washington State early on. In Week 4, Ohio State comes to Seattle in what could be one of the season’s defining games, threatening that long home winning streak. Other key matchups include a road trip to Michigan and home games against Oregon and Illinois, but the rest of the schedule is manageable.

If things break right, this is a team capable of winning nine games—and possibly ten. The Big Ten will be tough, but Washington now has enough talent and experience to still be playing meaningful games deep into October.