Washington Huskies:
A run to the national championship game ended with a loss to Michigan and then an avalanche of coach and players losses for Washington. That’s the price often paid for great success, and the Wolverines are paying it, too. Jedd Fisch, the artist of an incredible turnaround at Arizona, takes over for Alabama-bound coach Kalen DeBoer. The Huskies have only a few full-time starters returning and several stars to replace, but Fisch dipped into the transfer-portal pool to hook some impact players.
Offense
The voids left by quarterback Michael Penix Jr., wideout Rome Odunze and the entire line are immense. Penix led the nation with 4,903 passing yards. Will Rogers, who transferred from Mississippi State, is a suitable replacement with 12,315 passing yards, 94 touchdowns and 40 starts in his career. All 11 starters are history, but Fisch added some transfer reinforcements by bringing in running back Jonah Coleman (Arizona) and wideout Jeremiah Hunter (California) among many others. Running back Cameron Davis, who missed last year with a knee injury, returns to form a potent backfield with Coleman. An all-new line is a major concern.
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Defense
DeBoer took the majority of his staff to Tuscaloosa, leaving Fisch to assemble his own crew of assistants. Steve Belichick, a linebackers coach with the Patriots, is the new coordinator. Fisch is a former New England assistant himself and has close ties to Bill Belichick. There is some experience returning on this side of the ball, most notably senior linebackers Carson Bruener and Alphonzo Tuputala and junior corner Elijah Jackson, all of whom ranked in the team’s top five in tackles. Fisch also brought along a few promising Arizona transfers.
Outlook
Fisch was the ideal hire for a rebuilding project. He went 1-11 in his first season in Tucson and followed with records of 5-7 and 10-3. He will win sooner in Seattle. The Huskies open with Weber State, Eastern Michigan, Washington State and Northwestern, so a 4-0 start is anticipated. Michigan, UCLA and USC are winnable home games, as well. Nothing will be easy in the Big Ten this season, but a veteran quarterback could help Fisch coach his way to at least six wins and seven is not a stretch. While it’s a long fall from 14-1 and a playoff appearance, this new-look Washington team should be a little better than expected.
Pick: Over 6.5 Wins
