Seattle – The Washington Huskies enter the 2026 college football season with a familiar yet uncertain outlook. Head coach Jedd Fisch, now in his third year, will again call the offensive plays after offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty left for a position with the Seattle Seahawks. The biggest storyline is the return of starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who nearly left the program last year but decided to stay for his sophomore campaign.
Quarterback situation
Williams Jr. threw three touchdown passes and six interceptions in the Huskies’ four losses last season. His performance will be closely watched, as the team hopes he can provide steadier leadership against a challenging Big Ten slate that includes trips to Iowa, Penn State and national champion Indiana.
Offensive roster changes
Washington retained 60 players from the 2025 roster, but lost key playmakers. Leading rusher Jonah Coleman entered the NFL, and leading receiver Denzel Boston also turned professional. The running back room saw the departure of Adam Mohammed, who transferred to California after posting 523 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 2025. Jordan Washington, the top returning rusher, remains sidelined after a neck injury suffered in April.
To fill the gaps, the Huskies added senior transfer running backs Trey Cooley from Troy and Jayden Limar, who rushed for 262 yards at Oregon last season. Freshman redshirt Quaid Carr also earned a high ranking from Coach Fisch.
Defensive outlook
Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters stays on staff after guiding a defense that ranked 15th in scoring nationally in 2025. The linebacker corps, led by Xe’ree Alexander with 70 tackles last season, returns as a strength. Jacob Manu, a first‑team All‑Pac‑12 safety in 2023 who missed most of 2025 with injury, could emerge as a breakout performer. Sophomore safety Zaydrius Rainey‑Sale contributed 21 tackles despite injuries.
Other returning defensive standouts include safety Alex McLaughlin, linebacker Buddah Al‑Uqdah and sophomore safety Rashawn Clark, all of whom anchored a stingier-than‑expected defense last year.
Schedule highlights
The Huskies’ 2026 schedule features marquee home games against USC on Oct. 3, Penn State on Nov. 7 and Indiana on Nov. 21, followed by an away contest at Oregon on Nov. 28. The home crowd at Husky Stadium will have a chance to see how the revamped offense and seasoned defense perform against some of the nation’s top programs.
While the team faces uncertainty at the quarterback position and the loss of several top offensive weapons, the combination of experienced coaching, a solid defensive core and new talent in the backfield gives Washington a chance to improve on its 9‑4 record from 2025.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
