The Washington Huskies will open the season with the Apple Cup against the Washington State Cougars, as Jedd Fisch's No. 17-ranked team looks to improve on its 9-4 2025 campaign.
Here are three things the Huskies need to do to start their season with a win in the 118th installment of the in-state rivalry.
Establish run game/physicality
In 2025, the Huskies were able to generate 173 yards behind an offensive line that, led by left guard John Mills and right tackle Drew Azzopardi, is expected to be one of the best in the Big Ten this fall. At the same time, the Huskies held the Cougars to just 25 rushing yards on 28 attempts behind their superior strength and physicality in the front seven, as defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' unit looks to re-establish itself as one of the nation's
best run-defending units after finishing No. 12 in the nation in rushing yards per game allowed last season.
Figure out skill position rotations
The Huskies are in no way devoid of talent on the offensive side, but after losing running back Jonah Coleman and wide receiver Denzel Boston to the NFL draft, Fisch has to replace his leading rusher and pass catcher from each of the past two seasons. At receiver, the Huskies have seen a veritable top four establish themselves with Kennesaw State transfer Christian Moss, fourth-year Rashid Williams, and 2025 Freshman All-American Dezmen Roebuck as the starters, while second-year Chris Lawson will be heavily featured.
At running back, behind starter Quaid Carr, the Huskies have a lot to figure out. Transfers Jayden Limar and Trey Cooley both missed time during fall camp while recovering from injuries that kept them out of spring practice, while freshmen Brian Bonner and Ansu Sanoe both took on larger roles and showcased skill sets that should net them some snaps during the early portion of the season.
Get the freshmen comfortable
Washington has released an Apple Cup depth chart. No Landen Hatchett, with Kolt Dieterich listed as the starting center. Jeron Jones gets the "OR" in the nickel next to Rahshawn Clark pic.twitter.com/XFWx0OHRgs
— Roman Tomashoff (@rtomashoff34) August 31, 2026
The Huskies have four freshmen listed as starters ahead of Week One: left tackle Kodi Greene, defensive tackle Derek Colman-Brusa, edge rusher Ramzak Fruean, and nickelback Jeron Jones, with nine members of the 2026 class among the two-deep on the first depth chart of the year. While Jones continues to battle with third-year Rahshawn Clark for the starting job, both are expected to be significant factors in the rotation, and getting them comfortable in the first game of their college football careers is key, especially considering the stakes of the rivalry.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Three keys to a Washington football win in the 118th Apple Cup
