Wednesday’s Husky alumni luncheon at the Spokane Club brought the kind of conversation Washington fans always want to hear: what Damon Huard sees in this UW team, where the offense is headed, and how the 2026 season might unfold.
The biggest question centered on Demond, now entering year 3. Huard said there’s no debate about the physical side anymore - “he’s arrived” - but the real jump has come in how he carries the job.
“He’s the one that brings up the team now. It’s a lot easier in Year 3 to do that…but the leadership role, communication, the eye contact in the huddle, his demeanor just feels different.
He’s just older!” Huard also pointed to the smile of competitive joy he sees from Williams, calling it a sign of growth for the now 20 year old quarterback.
With more comfort in the offense, Huard believes the upside is there, though the bigger test remains whether Williams can put it together in the games that matter most.
Huard also liked the way the staff is being built around the quarterback room, especially with Matt Cavanaugh coming in as an analyst. In his view, the setup gives Washington another layer of perspective.
“I think Jedd was looking to bring in another guy with a different offensive background…just another voice in the room”. He also mentioned JP Losman as another important voice, praising his “just years and years of experience…I think they’ll be just fine with the scheme going forward in 2026”.
Huard laughed when the topic turned to Cavanaugh’s role as someone who can push back on Jedd if needed, noting that if a player isn’t performing, Cavanaugh can say, “hey get him out of the game” because he doesn’t have the same attachment to Jedd’s players. Huard added that the loosened staffing rules for off-field assistants have made the arrangement workable.
The schedule came up next, and Huard wasn’t nearly as worried about it as a lot of fans are. Washington has a Sunday game and two Friday games, but he didn’t see that as a major problem.
“They aren’t really short weeks. In the past we’ve played a really physical game and then went across the country to play on a Friday night.
This year there’s not really anything that raises your eyebrows. In fact, the schedule’s very favorable, you don’t play Ohio State or Michigan, you get Indiana and Penn State at home, Iowa at home.
Your toughest games are Oregon and S.C., but they’re teams you know very well. At Nebraska won’t be easy, but it’s a pretty favorable schedule for the Dawgs this year.”
Huard said he has Minnesota circled, and while he acknowledged the Iowa game is a concern, he still views the slate as one of the more manageable ones Washington could have drawn.
I also asked him about which current or former Husky he would have loved to play with, and the answer was predictable in the best way: the big men up front. Huard singled out John Mills and Drew Azzopardi, calling them “Those guys are monsters, they’re as good of O Linemen as we’ve had around here, they’re gonna play football for a long time, and it starts and ends up front.”
He did say the line as a whole might go through some growing pains, something that showed up in the Apple Cup, but he thinks Kodi Greene has the chance to become the next Husky All American. That’s a view he shares with plenty of others, and the hope is that the group keeps improving every week.
The conversation wrapped with the UWDP Writer’s Draft, where Huard was told he’d been picked at quarterback because, as was joked, “Brock can’t take a hit!” After hearing the description of the offense and its pro-style feel, Huard didn’t hesitate.
“Heck yeah! That sounds like a great group of guys for sure!”
In Other News...
Washingtons Offensive Line Suddenly Faces Pressure Heading Into Week 2
The offensive line was one of the quieter reasons Washington came away with a 24-10 win over Washington State, but it was not a clean outing by any means. Offensive line coach Michael Switzer said the group was below standard in its physical play and got hit with penalties, even though the unit settled in as the game went along. Three first-time starters were part of the mix, a reminder that this is still a work in progress as the Huskies try to sort out a front that has to stabilize quickly.
That makes the next step against Utah State worth watching closely, especially with Washington planning to keep rotating players at right guard. The staff wants more help up front for the running backs, and that need becomes even more important with injuries affecting the backfield. For a line trying to grow up on the fly, Week 2 is less about looking polished and more about proving the improvements from last Saturday can carry over when the pressure shifts again. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Stayed Unbeaten But The Poll Sent A Frustrating Message
Washington kept the Apple Cup where it belonged and still had to sit through a minor rankings surprise. The Huskies handled Washington State 24-10 in the 118th meeting between the rivals, a result that should have settled any short-term debate about who has the upper hand in the state, while also giving the program another solid building block as it heads into the next stretch of the season.
Instead, the Associated Press Top 25 nudged Washington backward, a reminder that poll movement does not always match what happens on the field. The Huskies now turn to upcoming nonconference and conference games at Husky Stadium with the same unbeaten record, but with a fresh bit of frustration to carry along with the momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Washington's Penalty Problem Is Putting Ryan Walters On The Spot
The Apple Cup left Washington with more than just a rivalry result to sort through. The Huskies were flagged repeatedly in the game, and the self-inflicted damage was especially glaring on defense, where the discipline issues helped turn a tight contest into a longer afternoon of frustration.
Ryan Walters called those mistakes hot stove moments, the kind that sting enough to teach a lesson if the team handles them the right way. As Washington turns to Utah State, Walters is also drawing on his own background against the Aggies offensive staff, another reminder that the next test is coming quickly for a team still trying to clean up its edge. [Read more 🡒]