The margin for error has vanished for Washington.
What looked like a promising 2026 run has turned into a scramble for survival, and the Huskies now have three games left to keep their season from ending without a bowl trip. At 5-4, UW is staring at a finish that would fall well short of the preseason buzz that surrounded Jedd Fisch’s second year after a nine-win campaign.
The latest setback came in a 28-25 loss to Penn State, a defeat that also marked the program’s third straight home loss. Former UW quarterback Brock Huard said Wednesday on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk that the home struggles have changed the feel of the season.
“I don’t think Kalen DeBoer lost a (home) game in his years there at Washington. Like, he turned Washington in that home environment with (Michael) Penix (Jr.) and crew into one of the most difficult places to play,” Huard said.
“Chris Petersen, certainly in his years there in Seattle, he very, very, very rarely lost. So, to see a season where you have lost three in a row at home - you’re 5-4 (with) a couple good road wins, but it is a little soured by just not being able to get it done at home.”
Now the focus shifts to East Lansing, where Washington faces Michigan State this weekend. The Spartans are 3-6, but Huard pointed out that their upset of rival Michigan last week changed the look of this matchup.
The Huskies’ path from here is clear: Michigan State on the road, then defending national champion Indiana at home, then Oregon to close it out. Huard said Saturday’s game is the one Washington has to have if it wants to reach bowl eligibility.
“If you want to get to a bowl game, you’re 5-4, you gotta win one of these three,” Huard said. “You’re 3 ½-point favorites Saturday afternoon.
You’re not going to be a favorite versus Indiana at home. You’re not going to be a favorite, more than likely, (at Oregon) to end the season.
So, if you want to get to a bowl game, some of your young puppies that have played a lot of ball this year, they’ve got to play some of their best ball against this physical team.”
Huard also tied the final stretch to the future of quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and the direction of the program under Fisch.
“This is not any inside information, but I don’t think Demond Williams is going to be back as a Husky next season. Not after all the trials and travails of this offseason and into this regular season,” Huard said.
“So, can Demond put together his best three-game resume? He’s going to be a free agent.
He was wanted last offseason. You know he’s going to want to play his best ball.
“So, just a whole bunch on the line, and obviously for Jedd as well. To get this momentum and to get the arrow pointing up in this program, you’ve got to get this one Saturday, because the next two, at least physically and matchup-wise and team totality, are gonna be a little bit more difficult.”
In Other News...
Washington Faces A Bowl Pressure Test It Cant Afford To Waste
Washington heads to East Lansing with more than just a nonconference road trip on the line. The Huskies are trying to steady themselves in a game that carries real postseason weight, and the matchup with Michigan State gives this one a different feel than a typical early-season test. Staff analysis around the game has centered on how Washington matches up on both sides of the ball, with the offense and defense each carrying their own questions into a setting that can quickly turn uncomfortable for a visiting team.
For Washington, the pressure is tied to the bigger picture as much as the opponent in front of it. The Huskies need a result that keeps their bowl path moving in the right direction, and this is the kind of game that can shape the rest of the season if it goes the wrong way. The predictions around the matchup reflect that uncertainty, with the stakes rising because of what comes after and because this trip may end up saying a lot about how much margin Washington still has left. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Bowl Push Suddenly Faces A Brutal Michigan State Problem
Washingtons trip to Michigan State hit an unexpected snag Friday when the team could not leave Seattle as planned because of a nationwide flight stoppage ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration. The disruption stemmed from a system-wide telecommunication and network router issue that affected air traffic control centers, leaving the Huskies stuck in place as they tried to sort out what came next.
The delay adds another layer of uncertainty to a game that was already supposed to be a key road test, and it now leaves the schedule in limbo. Washington was back on campus looking into other travel options, while the bigger question is whether the matchup gets moved or whether the Huskies end up having to play on very little rest. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Faces Its First Real Test Against Unbeaten Utah
Utah and Washington arrive in Salt Lake City unbeaten, but the tone of the matchup feels different from the warm-up games that came before it. Utah had to work through a halftime deficit to get past Weber State, leaning on a strong second half and a career-high 21 points from Alec Anigbata, while Washington kept rolling with another convincing win as coach Danny Sprinkle continued to stress the Huskies emphasis on long-range shooting.
For Washington, this is the first real chance to see how that perimeter-heavy approach holds up against a team with size, experience and a little more urgency around the margins. The Huskies have looked sharp early, but facing Utah on the road should reveal more about how sustainable that formula is when the shot-making gets tighter and the margin for error gets smaller. [Read more 🡒]