I always try to keep the season a surprise, but right around this time, I tend to give in to curiosity, hop in my time machine, and find out what happens in every UW football game for the year. If you don’t want to know for yourself, stop reading now.
Week 1 – vs. Colorado State
Husky fans enter the season with high hopes riding on Demond Williams and the star-level skill position players on offense. Instead, it is the defense that overwhelms the Rams in week one by forcing three turnovers and making
it nearly impossible to move the ball through the air.
Washington 35 – CSU 10
Week 2 – vs. UC Davis
We will all forget this game within a year or two, and that’s for the best when you play a tune-up against an FCS opponent. The Aggies show a worrying ability to grind out long drives in the first half and the Huskies only lead 17-10 at the break. The offense clicks into gear in the third quarter, though, and Williams accounts for four total TDs on the day.
Washington 41 – UC Davis 13
Week 4 – @ Washington State
Last year’s Apple Cup was arguably the low point of the season. The Huskies have improved and the Cougars have started to suffer the talent drain (on the field and on the sideline) associated with being in a less rich and powerful conference. A decade ago, the Huskies out-schemed the Mike Leach Cougars to stymie their offense. This year, it’s about the skill level on the field.
Washington 31 – WSU 15
Week 5 – vs. Ohio State
Games against Iowa, Penn St, and Oregon last year showed the physical limitations of the ‘24 Huskies. The ‘25 vintage has improved strength and depth in the trenches, but not quite to the level of the Buckeyes, who are among the very best in the country in those categories. Constant pressure forces Williams into 5 sacks and 3 turnovers and the Buckeyes snap UW’s lengthy winning streak at Husky Stadium.
Ohio St 35 – Washington 20
Week 6 – @ Maryland
With all due (dis)respect to Purdue, the Huskies may open their conference play against their best and worst B1G opponents, respectively. The cards are stacked against the Dawgs for this one- cross-country roadtrip, following one of the best teams in the country, playing against a team coming off of a bye. But the coaches learned from the Rutgers loss last year and prepare their team better mentally, tormenting freshman QB Malik Washington and locking down a late lead.
Washington 27 – Maryland 21
Week 7 – vs. Rutgers (Friday)
Rutgers has lost 22 consecutive games when giving up 24 points or more. I’m still having flashbacks to special teams play and Kyle Monangai in East Piscataway last year. Fortunately, the Huskies benefit from being from the cross-country travel this year and Monangai plays for the Chicago Bears. Rutgers has the rest advantage in this one and keeps it close, but Grady Gross redeems himself with a 4/4 FG day and the Dawgs win an uncomfortable game.
Washington 26 – Rutgers 23
Week 8 – @ Michigan
Michigan was 21/22nds of a great team last year. Unfortunately, the missing 1/22nd was the QB, which nearly tanked the season. Even without the ability to pass, the defending champs won eight games, including victories over Ohio State and Alabama. Those eight wins did not include a win over the Huskies, who beat then-#10 Michigan 27-17 at Husky Stadium. Bryce Underwood won’t be a QB silver bullet as a true freshman, but he will elevate the passing game enough to make them multi-dimensional. The fearsome running attack wears down the Dawgs at the Big House and the defense struggles to get off the field, reminiscent of the two recent losses to the Wolverines.
Michigan 28 – Washington 16
Week 9 – vs Illinois
The Huskies have mostly overcome the schedule monster to this point in the season, fending off better-rested teams like Maryland and Rutgers. Illinois is closer to the Huskies in overall talent, Luke Altmyer is a steady veteran QB who won’t get rattled on the road, and the Illini have lots of experienced depth on defense to continue the war of attrition that started the week before in Ann Arbor.
Illinois 27 – Washington 21
Week 11 – @ Wisconsin
The Huskies finally get their second bye at just the right time. They are able to regroup following their first consecutive losses of the season before a tough road-trip to Madison. Luke Fickell’s offense starts to look more like a Wisconsin offense than the ill-advised dalliance with the air raid the last two years. Even with the greater physicality, Dawgs make use of their rest and recovery to muscle up to their adversaries. The game comes down to the last drive, where Williams finds Decker Degraaf for a contested catch that he takes to the house for the win.
Washington 30 – Wisconsin 27
Week 12 – vs. Purdue
Results dictated that Ryan Walters earned his dismissal from Purdue. Nonetheless, he rallies his defense to take out his frustration against a still-depleted former team. The Dawgs are relieved to finally have an iota of breathing room in a conference game, led by Jonah Coleman and Adam Mohammed combining for over 200 yards on the ground.
Washington 34 – Purdue 14
Week 13 – @ UCLA
A trip to the Rose Bowl is never easy, and UCLA has high-profile QB transfer Nico Iamaleava leading the offense. Fortunately, the Bruins are weaker in almost every other area. Much like he did in ‘24, Deshaun Foster keeps his team focused and playing hard despite being near the bottom of the standings. DC Ikaika Malloe tests Williams with a bend-but-don’t-break approach and Demond takes what is given to him with consistent short completions to freshmen Raiden Vines-Bright and Dezmen Roebuck to move the chains.
Washington 26 – UCLA 20
Week 14 – vs. Oregon
Sitting at 8-3 with the Ducks coming to town, a win in the finale can be the difference between a good and a great season for the Huskies. The Ducks’ offense has some hiccups prior to this game in the transition from the metronomic consistency of Nix and Gabriel to less experienced Dante Moore. Despite a small dip in offensive line play, the unit is still good enough to give Moore time to develop over the season and he has found chemistry with his receivers by this point. It results in a shoot-out similar to the Deboer-Lanning firefights of previous years.
Oregon 37 – Washington 35
Final record: 8-4 (5-4)
