The Washington Huskies have officially unveiled their full 2026 football schedule, and there’s plenty to unpack as head coach Jedd Fisch enters his second full season at the helm.
Fisch took over the program ahead of the 2024 campaign with a clear mandate: rebuild and revitalize. And so far, he’s delivered.
Washington improved its win total by three games in 2025, finishing with a solid 9-4 record that culminated in a dominant 38-10 win over Boise State in the Los Angeles Bowl. That kind of momentum, paired with what the Huskies just pulled off on the recruiting trail, has fans in Seattle buzzing.
The 2026 recruiting class? It’s the best in school history-ranked No. 12 nationally according to the 247Sports Composite on National Signing Day.
That’s a major statement, and it’s already paying dividends in the form of preseason hype. Washington has cracked several early Top 25 rankings, and expectations are rising.
Now, with the full schedule in hand, we can start to piece together what the road ahead looks like for UW in a competitive Big Ten landscape.
Non-Conference Slate: Three Straight at Home
The Huskies open the season with a trio of home games at Husky Stadium. First up is a Sept. 5 matchup against in-state rival Washington State.
Yes, it’s a non-conference game now, but the Apple Cup energy will still be very real. That’s followed by a Sept. 12 contest against Utah State and a Sept. 19 game versus Eastern Washington, an FCS opponent.
Three games, three chances to start fast-and three opportunities to get the new pieces in rhythm before the Big Ten gauntlet begins.
Big Ten Schedule: No East Coast, But No Easy Weeks
Washington’s Big Ten slate kicks off with a Sept. 26 home game against Minnesota. From there, things ramp up quickly.
The Huskies head to Los Angeles on Oct. 3 to face USC, a team that finished No. 20 in the final AP Top 25 last season. That’s followed by a return to Seattle for a home showdown with Iowa on Oct.
- The Hawkeyes ended last season ranked No. 17 and always bring a physical, disciplined brand of football.
Then comes a road trip to Purdue on Oct. 17, followed by a much-needed bye week on Oct. 24.
But the break is short-lived. The Huskies hit the road again on Halloween to face Nebraska in Lincoln-a notoriously tough environment. Then it’s back home for a Nov. 7 clash with Penn State, another traditional Big Ten power.
The final stretch is a gauntlet: a Nov. 14 road test at Michigan State, followed by a Nov. 21 home date with Indiana-the defending national champions and the No. 1 team in the final AP poll. Washington wraps up the regular season with a rivalry game on Nov. 28 against Oregon in Eugene. The Ducks finished No. 4 in the country last year, and that matchup could carry massive postseason implications.
Ranked Opponents and Travel Outlook
In total, Washington will face four teams that finished in the final AP Top 25: Indiana (No. 1), Oregon (No.
4), Iowa (No. 17), and USC (No. 20).
Two of those games are at home (Indiana and Iowa), and two are on the road (Oregon and USC). That’s a balanced but brutal mix of high-caliber opponents.
One silver lining? Travel is far more manageable this year.
After logging serious miles in 2025 with trips to Rutgers and Maryland, Washington avoids any East Coast travel in 2026. The farthest the Huskies will go is East Lansing, Michigan, for their Nov. 14 tilt with Michigan State-a 2,284-mile trek, but still a more centralized schedule overall.
What’s Next
Kickoff times are still TBD, but the framework is in place for what could be a defining season for Fisch and the Huskies. With a loaded recruiting class, a favorable travel schedule, and a handful of marquee matchups both at home and on the road, Washington has the pieces-and the platform-to make serious noise in the Big Ten.
The rebuild isn’t just underway. It’s ahead of schedule. Now, the question is: how far can this team go in Year Two under Fisch?
We’ll find out soon enough.