2026 Washington Football Preview
Jake Wimberly
Abby Boyd Contributing-
What’s to like:
Washington should once again be strong along the offensive line. The Huskies have consistently developed quality linemen, and that group gives the offense a solid foundation entering the season. Good line play should help both the running game and pass protection as Washington looks to compete in another demanding Big Ten schedule.
The run defense is also expected to be one of the team's strengths. Washington has the size and experience up front to slow opposing rushing attacks, which will be important against the physical offenses throughout the conference. If the front seven plays well, it should keep the Huskies competitive in most games.
What’s not to like:
Washington lost a significant amount of production in the secondary, and replacing that experience won't be easy. New starters will have to adjust quickly, especially against some of the better passing offenses on the schedule. Early-season growing pains wouldn't be surprising.
Depth is another concern. The Huskies have a solid starting lineup, but injuries at key positions could become difficult to overcome over the course of a long season. Building confidence in the second unit will be important if Washington hopes to stay in contention throughout the year.
What does the Hourglass say?
Washington- Big Ten (7-5)
Power ranking 40.87.
2026 Washington Analytics
National recruiting rating (three year metric): #45- outside the boundary of a National Championship Roster.
National Coaching Ranking:
Jedd Fisch- 37th in Power 5 and 11th in the Big Ten.
2026 coaching value= 19.5 (average 2026 Power 5 coaching value=21.93) Jedd Fisch is ranked lower of the pack for coaches in the Power 5.
Quarterback Play: Desmond Williams Jr.- ranked 65th in the Power 4, 17th in the Big Ten; 2026 QB value= 14.1 (Power 4 average- 26.43).
Impact Ball Catcher Metric: Washington has an Impact Ball Catcher Metric of 3. This puts the Huskies at the upper tier for the Big Ten in this metric.
Final Thoughts:
Washington enters 2026 with strengths in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and that should allow the Huskies to remain competitive throughout the season. Replacing experienced defensive backs and building more depth are the biggest questions facing the roster. If Washington develops those areas quickly, it should once again be in the mix for one of the better records in the conference.
2026 Schedule analysis:
Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.
9/6/26 Washington State- Win
9/12/26 Utah State- Win
9/19/26 Eastern Washington- Win
9/26/26 Minnesota- Win
10/3/26 USC- Loss
10/9/26 Iowa- Win
10/16/26 At Purdue- Win
10/31/26 At Nebraska- Loss
11/7/26 Penn State- Loss
11/14/26 At Michigan State- Win
11/21/26 Indiana- Loss
11/28/26 At Oregon- Loss
