After turning Arizona into one of college football’s biggest surprises, Jedd Fisch arrived at Washington expecting to keep the Huskies in the national spotlight — but his first season didn’t exactly go as planned.
The Huskies came just one game shy of a national championship in 2023, but Jedd Fisch’s first year at the helm fell well short of expectations with a 6-7 finish. Now, facing another tough Big Ten schedule, many are wondering if Washington can avoid slipping further.
One national analyst is already raising red flags about Fisch’s second season.
The prediction? A tough 5-7 campaign that leaves the Huskies stuck squarely in the middle of the Big Ten, far from the playoff contention they once reached.
CBS Sports analyst Tom Fornelli explained how things could quickly unravel for the Huskies — and it starts with the offense under first-year starter Demond Williams Jr.
“Williams flashes brilliance at times, but now that he's the full-time starter, there are the inconsistencies you expect from a young quarterback, no matter how talented,” Fornelli wrote. “Newcomers on the offensive line don't pan out, and injuries result in the Huskies relying on a few too many freshmen up front to be competitive in the Big Ten most weeks.”
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The Huskies saw flashes from Williams Jr. last season, as he completed 78% of his passes for eight touchdowns and just one interception. But stepping in as the full-time starter brings new challenges — especially behind an offensive line full of question marks.
And the defense? Fornelli isn’t optimistic there, either.
He predicts Fisch’s transfer additions will fall short of expectations, and the defense will struggle to keep up with the Big Ten’s size, depth, and physical style of play.
“Defensively, the transfer haul doesn't do enough to turn this into a top-half of the league unit,” Fornelli wrote. “The schedule is too difficult to overcome, particularly in the latter half of the season.”
It’s a harsh reminder of how quickly things can unravel in the Big Ten compared to the Pac-12 — even for a program that reached the College Football Playoff just two seasons ago.
As the conference grows more competitive, especially in the trenches, the Huskies face a tough road ahead. With a brutal Big Ten schedule looming, year two under Fisch will show whether Washington can maintain its place among the sport’s elite or risk falling further down the conference ladder.