Minnesota Stuns Huskies at Home in Conference Opener
Much was expected of the Washington Huskies football team entering the 2026 season.
With the return of $4-plus million quarterback Demond Williams Jr., a stout defense and some highly touted yet inexperienced players around Williams, there was talk of being in the mix for a College Football Playoff.
After three uninspiring wins during a weak non-conference schedule, the Huskies’ thoughts of a strong season suffered a major setback with a 27-24 to midling Big Ten team Minnesota Saturday night in the conference opener at Husky Stadium.
The black uniforms looked cool, the band sounded good and the student section showed out. All else was essentially a mess for the Huskies. It was Washington’s first loss at Husky Stadium to an unranked opponent since a disaster of a 2021 season when UW finished 4-8.
Big Ten Picks: Will The Real Huskies Stand Up Saturday Against Minnesota?
We’ll find out a lot about Big Ten teams this week, after most played Charmin-soft nonconference schedules.
Fifteen of the 18 teams will open their conference seasons this week, including 3-0 Washington. The Huskies host Minnesota (2-1) in a battle of teams with much to prove after underwhelming nonconference slates.
This felt like an easy one to place in the Huskies win column before the season began, but Washington enters the game with a lot of questions on the offensive side of the ball after narrow wins over Washington State and Utah State prior to last week’s domination of a struggling FCS Eastern Washington program.
Huskies Dominate Eastern Washington, Leave Unanswered Questions
No drama this time.
Not in this week’s result, though concerns remain despite a decisive win over an FCS opponent.
The Washington Huskies football team capped its non-conference slate with a 48-16 win over Eastern Washington on Saturday at Husky Stadium. The Huskies, favored by more than three touchdowns before eking out wins against Washington State and Utah State, dispatched the 42.5-point underdog Eagles from Cheney with relative ease.
The announced attendance was 61,619, though it appeared that many of the purported attendees found something else to do while Washington (3-0) played an inferior opponent for the third straight week.
What the undefeated start means remains to be seen when UW opens its stretch of nine straight Big Ten games next Saturday against Minnesota. And despite the lopsided result, there is still work to be done as the competition stiffens dramatically over the next few games.
Jedd Fisch, Huskies Target Four In-State Stars in Loaded 2029 Recruiting Class
In-state recruiting has been a fixture for Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch since he arrived at Montlake two years ago. He has secured a commitment from the best player in the evergreen state in consecutive years.
“It’s important to us to get the best players in the state to stay here, and to get back-to-back No. 1 players in the state. It’s critical.”
Combining the chance of playing for their local school and getting an opportunity to play early will carry a lot of sway with these recruits. 247Sports recently listed four Huskies on its preseason Freshman All-America watch list. This highlights the recruiting angle Fisch gets to pitch to recruits, as they will get the chance to play as true freshmen.
Top 10 Huskies’ Freshmen Poised to Make Impact in 2026
The Washington Huskies’ football program has a long history of playing true freshmen who impact winning on the field. Bringing in coach Jedd Fisch’s best recruiting class - and the best in school history (No. 12) - the Huskies have quite a few freshmen who project to get significant playing time this year.
Fisch preaches that he wants players playing as soon as they are ready regardless of class, stating, “If we make a commitment to go get a great player in high school, why would we not expect to play that player?”
Developing young players is important, but Fisch believes the best path toward development is live-game reps.
“There is too much to learn. We are such a young team... we have to look at the tape and teach off of it... we have to keep learning,” Fisch said.
In 2024, Decker DeGraaf was thrust into a starting role after multiple injuries to the tight end room. His insertion into the starting lineup paid immediate dividends, as his play resulted in him being named a Freshman All-American.
The following year, Texas native John Mills won the starting left guard job over a sophomore blue-chip prospect in Paki Finau. Choosing the freshman again proved to be the right call, as Mills earned Freshman All-American honors as well.
Will the Huskies have a third straight Freshman All-American? Who else might start in their first year?
Huskies ‘Freak’ Freshman Left Tackle Kodi Greene Appears Ready to Block
SEATTLE, Wash. — Huskies left guard John Mills knows a thing or two about freak freshman.
He proved to be one last year, when he earned freshman All-American honors as a starter for the University of Washington football team as a 17-year-old. He sees something similar in Kodi Greene, who appears on track to start as a true true freshman at left tackle in the season-opening Apple Cup on Sept. 5
“He's an absolute stud,” said Mills after UW’s eighth spring ball practice on Thursday. “I'm so proud of just the way he's come in and worked every single day. He's never taken anything for granted. And he came in, he asked all the questions. He works in the weight room, and he works on the field. So I'm sure you guys can see he's an absolute baller.”
Working immediately with the first team from the opening practice, Green has held onto the spot. There’s much to learn before September, but the 6-6 321-pound 18-year-old has shown rare athleticism and effort since arriving at UW in January.
Huskies Talented, Inexperienced Receivers Battle for Roles During Spring Ball
The Washington Huskies football game at Wisconsin last season served as the low point for many.
For receiver Rashid Williams, it was the lowest of the low.
After setting himself apart during 2025 spring and fall camps, Williams earned the starting “Z” receiver position and opened the season with four catches in a 38-21 win over Colorado State. A week later he caught a 27-yard pass on the offense’s first play against UC Davis that ultimately served as the beginning of the end when he broke his collarbone at the end of the play.
That was a low, but things would get lower. After two months of healing and rehab, Williams came back, ready to regain his place in the Huskies offense as the 6-2 team tried to get back into the College Football Playoff conversation. Williams never made it onto the field at Camp Randall, though. He suffered a second injury during practice when his hand got caught in a teammate’s facemask.
Season over.
Huskies Ready to Pad Up and Find Out ‘Who the Real Dawgs Are’
SEATTLE, Wash. — The first two days of Huskies spring football show a team that looks ready to take another step or two forward this season.
They look big, fast, lively and engaged. Practices move quickly, with virtually no wasted time as players move from drill to drill, station to station.
Washington’s second-year defensive coordinator Ryan Walters wants to see more, however. He’ll get that opportunity on Saturday, when UW players put on pads for the first time this spring and pop each other during live sessions.
“This is fake football out here right now. We’re out here in shorts and T-shirts. That’s not how the game is played. We’ll find out who the real dawgs are.”
WATCH: Huskies Seeking Strong Finish in LA Bowl vs. Boise State
Looking for a ninth win before shifting focus back to recruiting, the Huskies will duke it out with a familiar cross-state foe in the LA Bowl. What should fans expect in UW’s final game of the season? And who could be playing/coaching in purple and gold for the last time?
WATCH: Can Huskies Play Spoiler, Knock Rival Ducks Out of College Football Playoff?
The Huskies may not have a shot anymore at making the College Football Playoff field. But entering their season finale, they can take their biggest rival out of the festivities as well, further amplifying the upcoming matchup in Seattle.
Huskies Comes up Roses in Pasadena, Crush UCLA 48-14
The Washington Huskies football team picked up a rare win at the Rose Bowl over UCLA in dominant fashion on Saturday. What led to UW crushing the Bruins 48-14?
Takeaways: Washington Huskies Knock Off No. 23 Illinois
The Washington Huskies finally got a signature win in 2025, beating No. 23 Illinois 42-25 on Saturday. Who stood out for UW, and what led to the big win over the Illini?
WATCH: Have Huskies Met Expectations at Midseason Mark?
Aside from being outclassed by Ohio State at home, the Huskies have posted an unblemished record in the Big Ten thus far and remain in the mix to compete for a playoff spot. Where has UW excelled thus far and where do they need improvement to push for a top spot in the Big Ten?
Demond Williams Jr. Puts On Historic Show in Huskies’ Comeback Win vs. Rutgers
Falling behind for the second straight week, the Huskies came back behind a record-setting performance by quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
Takeaways: Huskies Escape Maryland With Thrilling Comeback Win
The Washington Huskies dug out of a big hole, scoring 24 unanswered points to beat Maryland 24-20. What changed during the game, and what does it mean for UW going forward?
Takeaways: Huskies Come Back from Dead, Beat Maryland 24-20
The Huskies escaped with a 24-20 win at Maryland thanks to 24 unanswered points late in the Big Ten matchup. How did the Huskies come back from the dead to win for a conference road game for the first time under coach Jedd Fisch?
Big Ten Picks: Young Huskies Head to Maryland For Key Conference Matchup
The Washington Huskies head to Maryland for a key conference matchup with several true freshmen playing key roles on Saturday. Can UW win on the East Coast? Who else will pick up victories in the Big Ten this week?
Huskies Hoping to ‘Own the State of Washington’ After Saturday’s Apple Cup
Washington head coach Jedd Fisch says his Huskies want to “own the state of Washington” on Saturday by avenging last year’s loss to Washington State in the Apple Cup, and updates the injury statuses of several players.
New-look Washington Huskies Set to Open 2025 Against Colorado State
The heavily-favored Washington Huskies host Colorado State in the season-opener this Saturday. How good is Colorado State, and what should fans watch for in UW’s first game?
Huskies Head Into Season Opener Ready and Healthy
As the Washington Huskies head into Saturday’s season opener against Colorado State, head coach Jedd Fisch says the team is healthy and ready to go. Who earned the final few starting spots for the Huskies?
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