On a schedule loaded with strong defenses, the biggest problem for Washington may be deciding which one is actually the scariest. Three of the Huskies’ 12 regular-season opponents in 2026 finished in the top 10 in defensive SP+ last year - Indiana, Oregon and Iowa - and four more landed inside the top 44: Penn State, Minnesota, USC and Nebraska. That gives Washington a slate with a lot more resistance than easy points.
Indiana’s defense comes with the same warning label as its offense: the group is dealing with major turnover at key spots. Penn State is a different kind of puzzle. The Nittany Lions posted a top-25 SP+ defense a year ago, and even with James Franklin gone, there’s a real case that the unit could get better under the new staff despite the roster churn.
But the safest bet to be the toughest defense on Washington’s schedule still starts in Iowa City.
Iowa has made a habit of being exactly what it always is under Kirk Ferentz and Phil Parker: disciplined, stubborn, and miserable to play against. Parker has coordinated the defense for 14 years, and in that span the Hawkeyes have finished outside the top 20 in national scoring defense only once - his first season. They’ve also cracked the top 10 in five of the last seven years.
That kind of consistency comes from a system built to wear opponents down. Iowa leans on zone coverages, sound run defense, and a bend-but-don’t-break approach that takes away explosive plays and forces offenses into long, inefficient drives.
It’s the sort of setup that can frustrate teams built around big passing gains and quick-strike scoring. If an offense has a talent edge, it can still hit some shots.
More often than not, though, Iowa makes the other side work for everything.
The Hawkeyes also have a clear defensive identity that fits their personnel pipeline. They may not always be overflowing with raw talent, but they routinely produce the kind of defenders Parker can maximize: sturdy linemen, smart linebackers, and versatile defensive backs who know exactly where to be. Even with major turnover coming, that profile still matters.
This year, Iowa has to replace all four primary contributors on the defensive front. That’s a lot to absorb.
Still, Deshaun Lee and Zach Lutmer return in the secondary as important anchors, and the Hawkeyes added Brice Stevenson from Holy Cross and Kahmari Brown from Elon to help stabilize the front. Whether that’s enough to keep Iowa in elite territory in 2026 remains to be seen.
Penn State may have the clearest route to joining Iowa near the top of the defensive pecking order. The coaching overhaul changed the picture quickly: Matt Campbell is in as head coach, and he brought in former USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, a Penn State alum with a rising reputation.
Lynn’s path has taken him through the NFL, then to immediate success at UCLA in 2023, and later to encouraging work in two seasons at USC. Now he takes over a defense with plenty to sort through.
Jim Knowles left for Tennessee after Franklin’s firing, and several important pieces followed him. Defensive linemen Chaz Coleman and Xavier Gilliam, linebacker Amare Campbell and others were central to a Penn State defense that was loaded but not always as dominant as its talent suggested.
Even so, the pieces left behind - plus the portal additions - give Lynn a real foundation. Fourth-year linebacker Tony Rojas is back, and he’s joined by Iowa State transfers Caleb Bacon, Kooper Ebel and Cael Brezina in what looks like one of the Big Ten’s deepest and most experienced linebacker groups.
The front should be just as imposing. Campbell and his staff added seven players along the defensive line, and six of them are listed between 290 and 320 pounds.
That size is the backbone of what Lynn wants to do. His defense is built on disguise, speed, and pressure, but it only works if the line can hold up and keep the linebackers clean enough to attack from every direction.
For Washington, that means Penn State could bring both the biggest physical challenge up front and a defensive coordinator who knows Jedd Fisch’s offense.
And then there’s Oregon, which doesn’t need much introduction. The Ducks are loaded again, with key returnees like Matayo Uiagalelei and Bear Alexander up front and more talent arriving in the form of Koi Perich, described here as this year’s version of Dillon Thieneman. Oregon does have to replace linebacker Bryce Boettcher, last year’s Burlsworth Trophy winner, along with defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi.
Still, the expectation is that Dan Lanning’s defense will keep humming. There may be some early-season bumps as the staff adjusts and the game-planning responsibilities shift, but the thought here is that any issues should be sorted out by the time Washington heads to Eugene.
In Other News...
USC Looks Like Washingtons Biggest Offensive Test For One Reason
The 2026 schedule already has a handful of offenses worth circling for Washington, but USC stands out as the one that could force the Huskies to be sharp from the jump. Washington State is still rebuilding, Utah State is trying to find its footing under Bronco Mendenhall and Robert Anae, and both bring plenty of unknowns, but the Trojans are the opponent most likely to arrive with enough firepower to stress a defense for four quarters.
Lincoln Rileys team has the kind of roster turnover that can go either way, yet there are still enough pieces in place to make that matchup feel different. USCs offensive outlook is built around a talented backfield and the sort of system that can load up points quickly when the personnel fits, which is why this game reads as Washingtons toughest test on that side of the ball. The bigger question now is whether the Trojans can keep the line intact long enough for all of that promise to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Backcourt Shakeup Puts Tina Langley Veteran In Limbo
Hannah Stines found herself in the middle of one of the more unusual offseason situations in college basketball, even after a U.S. District Court ruling opened the door for another year of eligibility. The decision gave players across the country a temporary path forward, but a later appeals court stay created a more complicated landscape depending on where athletes are located and how their cases are handled. For Washington, it has added another layer to a backcourt picture that is already changing.
Stines has been a significant piece for Tina Langleys program, working as a secondary point guard and giving the Huskies stability in a role that is often hard to fill. But with Washington also adding players through the transfer portal, her return is still uncertain, leaving one of Langleys more familiar veterans in limbo as the roster continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesota Could Catch Washington In A Spot Big Ten Fans Know Well
Washingtons first Big Ten stretch comes with a quick test of nerve, starting Sept. 26 against Minnesota before the Huskies turn around and head into a marquee date with USC a week later. That opening game has drawn attention from analyst Brad Crawford, who pointed to the Gophers as the kind of opponent that can make an early conference schedule feel a lot heavier than it looks on paper, especially for a team trying to keep its footing in a new league.
For Washington, the stakes go beyond simply getting off to a good start. Minnesotas style can drag a game into uncomfortable territory, and the Huskies will be leaning on quarterback Demond Williams Jr. to help them avoid a slow-burn setback before the USC trip even arrives. In a conference where every slip gets magnified, the opener could shape how much room Washington has left to breathe once the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]