Washington coach Jedd Fisch has landed on the preseason watchlist for the Bobby Dodd Trophy, another sign that the Huskies’ rebuild is drawing national attention.
The honor puts Fisch among 20 head coaches in the running for the award, which recognizes more than just wins. According to a news release from Huskies athletics, the Bobby Dodd Trophy “celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity - the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy.”
Fisch has already guided Washington through a steady climb in his first two seasons. The Huskies went 6-7 in his debut year and improved to 9-4 last season, a notable step forward after the program entered the offseason following its loss to Michigan in the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game and the departure of Kalen DeBoer to Alabama.
Washington’s rise has also shown up in the preseason polls. The Huskies are appearing in multiple top 25 rankings, usually in the mid-teens, which points to a team with real CFP expectations heading into the season. If Washington gets back to the playoff, it would be the program’s third appearance and its first under the new 12-team format.
Fisch is no stranger to pulling off a turnaround. Before arriving in Seattle, the Florida graduate took over at Arizona ahead of the 2021 season after working across the NCAA and NFL as a positional coach for quarterbacks and wide receivers.
The Wildcats went 1-11 in his first season, then climbed to 5-7 in year two and 10-3 in his final season. Arizona closed Fisch’s last year with an Alamo Bowl win and finished 11th in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll.
The other coaches on the Bobby Dodd Trophy watchlist are Bret Bielema of Illinois, Jeff Brohm of Louisville, Curt Cignetti of Indiana, Mario Cristobal of Miami, Spencer Danielson of Boise State, Ryan Day of Ohio State, DeBoer of Alabama, Sonny Dykes of TCU, Mike Elko of Texas A&M, Kirk Ferentz of Iowa, Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame, Willie Fritz of Houston, Josh Heupel of Tennessee, Brent Key of Georgia Tech, Dan Lanning of Oregon, Lincoln Riley of USC, Steve Sarkisan of Texas, Kirby Smart of Georgia and Brent Venables of Oklahoma.
In Other News...
Jacob Manu Is Suddenly Back At The Center Of Washington's Defense
Jacob Manu arrived at Washington with the kind of reputation that usually comes with a transfer expected to make an immediate difference, and the Huskies still see him that way heading into this season. The senior linebackers first year in Seattle never really got rolling because of injuries, but even in a limited sample he showed enough to remind Washington why he was such an appealing addition from Arizona.
Now Manu is back in the middle of a linebacker room that values both experience and steadiness, and the preseason recognition followed. Washington is counting on him not just for production, but for the kind of depth and leadership that can settle a defense over the course of a long season, especially after a year in which he spent far more time trying to get healthy than making plays. [Read more 🡒]
Former Huskies Star Is Already Showing Why He Went So High
Hannes Steinbach wasted little time giving Charlotte a look at why he went so high. After being taken 14th overall by the Hornets in the 2026 NBA Draft, the former Washington big man turned up in Summer League and delivered a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double in a win over Orlando, a reminder that his calling card travels well from college to the next level.
For Huskies fans, the draft night significance was part of the appeal too. Steinbach became the programs first first-round pick since 2020, when Jaden McDaniels and Isaiah Stewart went in the opening round, and his rise came after a college season in which he led the nation in rebounds per game and was one of Washingtons most dependable pieces. [Read more 🡒]