| Washington Huskies football | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
 | |||||||
| First season | 1889; 136 years ago | ||||||
| Athletic director | Patrick Chun | ||||||
| Head coach | Jedd Fisch 2nd season, 14–10 (.583) | ||||||
| Stadium | Husky Stadium (capacity: 70,138[1]) | ||||||
| Field | Alaska Airlines Field | ||||||
| Year built | 1920 | ||||||
| Location | Seattle, Washington | ||||||
| NCAA division | Division I FBS | ||||||
| Conference | Big Ten | ||||||
| All-time record | 789–469–50 (.622) | ||||||
| Playoff record | 1–2 (.333) | ||||||
| Bowl record | 21–21–1 (.500) | ||||||
| Claimed national titles | |||||||
| 1960,1991 | |||||||
| Unclaimed national titles | |||||||
| 1910,1984,1990 | |||||||
| National finalist | |||||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| Playoff appearances | |||||||
| 2016,2023 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Conference division titles | |||||||
| Pac-12 North:2016,2017,2018,2020 | |||||||
| Consensus All-Americans | 23 | ||||||
| Rivalries | Oregon (rivalry) Washington State (rivalry) Northwest Championship | ||||||
| Current uniform | |||||||
 | |||||||
| Colors | Purple and gold[2] | ||||||
| Fight song | Bow Down to Washington | ||||||
| Mascot | Dubs II Harry the Husky | ||||||
| Marching band | University of Washington Husky Marching Band | ||||||
| Outfitter | Adidas | ||||||
| Website | gohuskies.com | ||||||
TheWashington Huskies football team represents theUniversity of Washington incollege football. Washington competes in theNCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of theBig Ten Conference, having been a charter member of thePac-12 Conference between 1915 and 2024. The 70,138-capacityHusky Stadium, located on campus in Seattle, has been the Huskies' home field since 1920.
Washington was one of four charter members of what became the Pac-12 Conference and, along withCalifornia, was one of only two schools with uninterrupted membership until the2024 conference realignment.[3] Washington has won 18 conference championships, sevenRose Bowls, and claims two national championships recognized by NCAA-designated major selectors.[4][5] The1960 team defeated that year's AP and UPI national champions,Minnesota, on the field in the1961 Rose Bowl and were recognized as national champions by theHelms Athletic Foundation. Their most recent national title wasin 1991, when the Huskies finished the seasonundefeated at 12–0 with a No. 1 ranking in theCoaches' Poll and defeatedMichigan in the1992 Rose Bowl.[6][7]From 1977 through 2003, Washington had 27 consecutive non-losing seasons—the most of any team in the Pac-12 and the 14th longest streak by an NCAA Division I-A team.[4] The Huskies finished out its Pac-12 legacy with a perfect 12–0 regular season before defeating rivalOregon in the lastPac-12 Championship Game and Texas in theSugar Bowl. The team finished 14–1 after being defeated in the2024 NCAA Championship Game by Michigan in a rematch of the 1992 Rose Bowl.
Washington's 422 conference victories rank second in the legacy Pac-12's history.[3] The school's all-time record ranks 22nd by win percentage and 18th by total victories among FBS schools as of 2023.[4] Washington holds the FBS record for the longest unbeaten streak at 64 consecutive games, as well as thesecond-longest winning streak at 40 wins in a row.[4] There have been a total of 13unbeaten seasons in school history, including eightperfect seasons.[4] Washington is often referred to as a top "Quarterback U" due to the long history of itsquarterbacks playing in theNational Football League (NFL). Dating back toHall of FamerWarren Moon in 1976, 17 of the last 23quarterbacks who have led the team in passing for at least one season have gone on to play in the NFL.
The Huskies have donned several purple-gold combinations in their history, with the current and most widely-known scheme featuring purple jerseys with gold pants and helmets. There are several team symbols: the fight song, "Bow Down to Washington"; theHusky Marching Band; and two official mascots (Dubs II andHarry the Husky). Washington's fiercest and most prominent rivalry is with Oregon, a game informally known as theCascade Clash. They also contest theApple Cup withWashington State.
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Although an informal game was played by a "University Eleven" as early as 1889,[8] organized team football came to the University of Washington in 1892.[9]
Ten different men served as Washington head coaches during the first 15 seasons. While still an independent, the team progressed from playing 1 to 2 games per season to 10 matches per season as the sport grew in popularity. The school initially used a variety of locations for its home field. Home attendance grew from a few hundred to a few thousand per home game, with on-campusDenny Field becoming home from 1895 onward. The1900 team played in-state rivalWashington State College to a 5–5 tie, in the first game in the annual contest later known as theApple Cup.
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Gil Dobie leftNorth Dakota Agricultural and became Washington's head coach in 1908. Dobie coached for nine remarkable seasons at Washington, posting a 58–0–3 record.[10] Dobie's career comprised virtually all of Washington's NCAA all-time longest 64-game unbeaten streak[10] (outscoring opponents 1930–118) and included a 40-game winning streak, second longest inNCAA Division I-A/FBS history.[4] In 1916, Washington and three other schools formed thePacific Coast Conference, predecessor to the modernPac-12 Conference. In Dobie's final season at Washington, his1916 team won the PCC's inaugural conference championship. Dobie was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 1951 as a charter member.
Following Dobie's tenure, Washington turned to a succession of coaches with mixed results.Claude J. Hunt (1917,1919) went a cumulative 6–3–1 highlighted by the school's secondPCC championship in 1919,[11]Tony Savage (1918) 1–1, andStub Allison (1920) 1–5.
This era concluded with the team's move fromDenny Field to its permanent home field ofHusky Stadium in 1920. Washington athletics adopted the nickname of "Sun Dodgers" in 1920 and used it until1921, before becoming the "Huskies" from1922 onward.[12]
Enoch Bagshaw graduated from Washington in 1907 as the school's first five-year letterman in football history. After leadingEverett High School from 1909 to 1920, including consecutive national championships in 1919 and 1920, Bagshaw returned to Washington as the first former player turned head coach in 1921,[13] ultimately overseeing the program's second period of sustained success.
Bagshaw's tenure was marked by 63–22–6 record and the school's first twoRose Bowl berths, resulting in a 14–14 tie againstNavy in the1924 Rose Bowl and a 19–20 loss toAlabama in the1926 Rose Bowl. His1925 team won the school's third PCC championship. Bagshaw left the program after his1929 team had a losing season, only the second such season in his tenure. Bagshaw died the following year at the age of 46.[14]
James Phelan succeeded Bagshaw for the1930 season. TheNotre Dame graduate guided the Huskies to a 65–37–8 record over 12 seasons. His1936 team won the school's fourth PCC championship, but lost in the1937 Rose Bowl toPittsburgh 21-0. Phelan guided the Huskies to their first bowl game victory, beatingHawaii 53–13 in the1938 Poi Bowl. In later years, he became the first former Husky head coach to take the same role in professional football. Phelan was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.[15]
Following Phelan, Washington fielded a succession of teams under four coaches without either great success, or failure. Washington participated in one bowl game and tallied no conference championships during this period with an overall record of 65–68–7.
Ralph Welch played atPurdue under head coachJames Phelan, whom he followed to Washington to become an assistant coach in 1930. In 1942, Welch was promoted to succeed Phelan as Washington's head coach and served until 1947, compiling a record of 27–20–3.World War II limited both the 1943 and 1944 seasons of the PCC, reducing team participation from ten team down to just four. Welch's1943 team accepted the school's third Rose Bowl bid, but lost to PCC championUSC 29–0 in the1944 Rose Bowl. Welch's first five teams all fielded winning records, but final1947 team did not.
Howie Odell joined Washington in 1948 fromYale. In his five seasons from 1948 to 1952, he compiled a record of 23–25–2 with two winning seasons.
John Cherberg, a Washington player and then assistant from 1946 to 1952, became head coach in 1953. He compiled a 10–18–2 record from 1953 to 1955, before being removed due to a payoff scandal.[16] Cherberg went on to become Washington state's longest servingLieutenant Governor, from 1957 until his death in 1989.[17]
Darrell Royal was retained and led the1956 team to a 5–5 record, before leaving to coach atTexas where he won three national championships, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and had the school's football stadium renamed in his honor asDarrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.
In 1957,Jim Owens came to Washington after stints as an assistant withPaul "Bear" Bryant atKentucky andTexas A&M.[18] According to legend, after the 1956 season, when the Huskies were looking for a head coach, Bryant indicated to reporters that Owens "will make a great coach for somebody some day."[19] Over 18 seasons, Owens compiled a 99–82–6 record.
After a pair of unremarkable initial seasons, Owens led his1959,1960, and1963 teams to three AAWU championships and associated Rose Bowl berths: a1960 Rose Bowl 44–8 win overWisconsin, a1961 Rose Bowl 17–7 win overMinnesota, and a 17–7 loss toIllinois in the1964 Rose Bowl. TheHelms Athletic Foundation named the 1960 team the national champions, the school's first such title in football.
Owens' later teams did not match this level of success, partly owing to a conference prevention of a second bowl team representative until 1975. Owens concurrently served as theathletic director at Washington from 1960 to 1969. Owens resigned as head coach of the Huskies following the 1974 season, as the Pac-8's third winningest coach of all time.[3] He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1982.[20]
Don James came to Washington fromKent State. During his 18-year tenure, James' Huskies won four Rose Bowls and one Orange Bowl. His dominating1991 Washington Huskies finished a perfect 12–0 season and shared thenational championship withMiami.[21][22]
The Huskies won 22 consecutive games from 1990 to 1992. James' record with the Huskies was 153–57–2.[23] James won national coach of the year honors in 1977, 1984 and 1991 and was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Sports columnists and football experts have recognized the1991 Washington Huskies among the top 10 college football teams of all time.[24][25][26]
During the 1992 season, it was revealed that several of James' players received improper benefits from boosters. The Huskies received sanctions from both theNCAA and then Pacific-10 Conference. Although James and his staff were not personally implicated in any violation, James resigned on August 22, 1993 in protest of the harsh sanctions the Pac-10 imposed on top of the NCAA's sanctions against his team. Though then University PresidentWilliam Gerberding and then Athletic Director Barbara Hedges had presented James the final list of penalties that all Pac-10 parties had agreed best for the football program and athletics, Gerberding argued in favor of altering the penalties against the program from a two-year TV revenue ban and one-year bowl ban, to a one-year TV revenue ban and two-year bowl ban.[27][28][29][30]
In a 2006 interview with columnist Blaine Newnham ofThe Seattle Times, Don James said his resignation from head coaching "probably saved his life".[31] According to those who knew him, Don James was a great leader, a coach of character, a man of honor and integrity.[32][33][34]
Don James died on October 20, 2013, at the age of 80.[35] A week later, theHuskies honored James during the game againstCalifornia, which they won 41-17.[36] On October 27, 2017, when the University of Washington unveiled a bronze statue of the legendary coach in the northwest plaza ofHusky Stadium, "the Dawgfather" finally returned home.[37]
Jim Lambright was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach following the sudden resignation by Don James. Lambright led the Huskies to four bowl appearances in his six seasons. Despite these bowl appearances and a 44–25–1 overall record, Lambright was fired by athletic director Barbara Hedges following the 1998 season after going 6–6.[38]
Rick Neuheisel was hired away fromColorado to take over as the Huskies' head football coach. During his tenure, the Huskies went 33–16, highlighted by a victory in the2001 Rose Bowl overPurdue. Neuheisel also led the Huskies to two berths in the Holiday Bowl and to the Sun Bowl during his four-year tenure.
In 2002, Neuheisel inspired his underperforming Huskies to win the inaugural "Northwest Championship" by sweeping theirPacific Northwest rivals.[39]
Neuheisel was reprimanded by the NCAA for numerous recruiting violations. Neuheisel was fired in June 2003 after he admitted to taking part in acalcutta pool for the2003 Men's NCAA basketball tournament.[40] Neuheisel sued for wrongful termination, ultimately settling the case in March 2005 for $4.5 million, paid by the NCAA and Washington athletics department.[41]
Keith Gilbertson was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach following Neuheisel's termination. The 2003 season, Gilbertson's first, ended with a 6–6 record but no bowl appearance. A 1–10 record the next year resulted in his firing.[42] The 1–10 mark in 2004 was only Washington's second since the end ofWorld War II. In two seasons, Gilbertson's record was 7–16.
Former Stanford andNotre Dame head coachTyrone Willingham was hired as the next head football coach of the Washington Huskies in order to clean up the program's off-the-field reputation. The Huskies failed to post a winning record in any of Willingham's four seasons, the best being 5–7 in 2006. Willingham's record at Washington was a dismal 11–37 (.229).[23] Willingham was fired after a winless (0-12) 2008 season.[43]
USC offensive coordinatorSteve Sarkisian was named the 23rd head football coach at Washington following the firing of Willingham. Sarkisian, known as an offensive mind and quarterbacks coach, led the Huskies to a 34–29 record over five seasons, never winning more than eight games in a year but recording just one losing season.[44] Sarkisian departed after the 2013 regular season to return to USC as the head football coach, becoming the first head coach to voluntarily leave Washington for another program since Darrell Royal in 1956.[44]
Washington hiredChris Petersen as head football coach on December 6, 2013.[45][46] Petersen previously spent eight seasons as the head coach atBoise State.[47]
In his third year Petersen led Washington to a Pac-12 title and the program's firstCollege Football Playoff appearance, the2016 Peach Bowl. On April 11, 2017, the Washington Huskies Athletic Department extended Petersen's coaching contract through 2023, with a reported annual salary of $4.875 million,[48][49] paid entirely from Washington Athletic Department revenue, such as ticket sales and television rights or gifts.[50]
Washington finished the2017 season with an invitation to participate in the2017 Fiesta Bowl. In the2018 season, Petersen led the Huskies to their second Pac-12 title in three years and Washington's 15thRose Bowl appearance. On December 2, 2019, Petersen announced he would step down as head coach and move into an advisory role.
Defensive coordinatorJimmy Lake was named Petersen's successor following his departure.[51] He coached the team to a 3–1 record and a Pac-12 North division title during theCOVID-19 shortened2020 season. The team was unable to play in the2020 Pac-12 Football Championship Game due to numerous COVID-related absences.[52]
During the2021 season, Lake was suspended without pay for shoving a Washington player during a loss toOregon. Lake was later fired, finishing his tenure with a 7–6 record. Defensive coordinatorBob Gregory served as interim coach for the final three games of the season.[53]
Washington hiredKalen DeBoer as head football coach on November 29, 2021.[54] DeBoer spent the previous two seasons as head coach at Fresno State. DeBoer posted an 11–2 record in his first season at Washington, defeating Texas in the 2022 Alamo Bowl 27-20. In his second season with the team, DeBoer led the Huskies to a 14–1 record, winning the final Pac-12 conference championship againstOregon, and winning theSugar Bowl against theTexas Longhorns in the 2024College Football Playoff. The Huskies appeared in the 2024National Championship game, losing toMichigan 34-13. Days after the National Championship game, DeBoer announced his departure from Washington to become the next head coach of theAlabama Crimson Tide, succeeding retiring Alabama head coachNick Saban.[55]
Following DeBoer's departure, Washington announced the hiring of formerArizona head coachJedd Fisch on January 14, 2024.[56] Washington will also leave the Pac-12 Conference for theBig Ten Conference.
Washington played its first seasons of college football from1889 to1907 as anindependent. Washington was a founding member of theNorthwest Conference in 1908. In 1916, Washington became one of the four charter members of thePacific Coast Conference (PCC) while also retaining membership in the Northwest Conference. The PCC folded following the 1958 season, with Washington and other members immediately forming theAthletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) in 1959. The AAWU evolved into thePacific-8 (1968–1977),Pacific-10 (1978–2010), and finallyPac-12 (2011–2024) conferences.[3] The modern Pac-12 claimed the history of each of these preceding conferences back to the PCC as its own, with Washington andCalifornia as the only founding and continuous members.[3] On August 4, 2023, amidstwidespread conference realignment, theBig Ten Conference presidents and chancellor's unanimously voted to admit Washington and fellow Pac-12 rival Oregon as new members effective August 2, 2024.
Washington claims twonational championships in college football: 1960 and 1991.[57]
The1960 team was selected by theHelms Athletic Foundation following Washington's victory over AP and UPI national championMinnesota in the1961 Rose Bowl.[58][59] In that era, the final wire service polls were taken at the end of the regular season.[59]
The1991 team finished No. 1 in theCoaches Poll and earnedThe Coaches' Trophy as well as theNFF[60]MacArthur Bowl and theFWAA[61]Grantland Rice Trophy. The title was split, with theAP Poll selectingMiami (FL).
| Year | Coach | Selector | Record | Bowl | Opponent | Result | Final AP | Final Coaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Jim Owens | Helms Athletic Foundation[58][59] | 10–1 | Rose Bowl | Minnesota | W 17–7 | No. 6 | No. 5 |
| 1991 | Don James | B(QPRS),BR,[62] DeS, DuS, FN,FWAA,[61] MGR, NCF, R(FACT), SR,UPI/NFF,[60]USAT/CNN | 12–0 | Rose Bowl | Michigan | W 34–14 | No. 2 | No. 1 |
In addition to their claimed titles, NCAA-designated "major selectors" also selected Washington for 1984 and 1990.[63] SportswriterBill Libby selected the1910 team in his bookChampions of College Football.[64]
| Year | Coach | Selector[63] | Record | Bowl | Opponent | Result | Final AP | Final Coaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | Gil Dobie | Bill Libby[a] | 6–0 | N/A | – | – | ||
| 1984 | Don James | Berryman,Football News,National Championship Foundation (co-champion) | 11–1 | Orange Bowl | Oklahoma | W 28–17 | No. 2 | No. 2 |
| 1990 | Don James | R(FACT) (4 co-champions) | 10–2 | Rose Bowl | Iowa | W 46–34 | No. 5 | No. 5 |
The1960 team took an improbable road to the Rose Bowl and national championship. After suffering a 1-point setback to Navy in the third week of the season, the team reeled off eight straight wins capped by a triumph over No. 1Minnesota in the1961 Rose Bowl. Because the final Associated Press andUnited Press International polls were conducted after the final game of the regular season, their Rose Bowl opponent Minnesota had already been named the AP and UPI national champion for 1960 prior to the game. In its poll conducted following the bowl games, theFootball Writers Association of America recognizedOle Miss as its national champion. TheHelms Athletic Foundation recognized Washington as national champions following their Rose Bowl victory.[58][65]
The1984 team opened the1984 college football season with a 9–0 record which included a 20–11 win atNo. 4 Michigan inMichigan Stadium. While ranked No. 1 in theAP poll, the Huskies dropped a 16–7 game to eventualPac-10 championUSC, which cost Washington a chance at theRose Bowl. The Huskies instead were invited to play in theOrange Bowl against the No. 2Oklahoma Sooners. The game is famous for theSooner Schooner incident. After Oklahoma kicked a field goal to take a 17–14 lead in the fourth quarter, a penalty was called on the Sooners that nullified the play. The Sooner Schooner driver, who didn't see the flag, drove the wagon on the field and was immediately flagged forunsportsmanlike conduct. The ensuing field goal attempt was blocked and led a momentum shift that saw Washington score two touchdowns in less than a minute en route to a 28–17 victory. SeniorJacque Robinson rushed for 135 yards and was namedMVP, the first player in history to be named MVP of both the Orange and Rose Bowls.
In winning, the Huskies became the first team from the Pac-10 to play in and win theOrange Bowl. The Huskies finished the year ranked No. 2 in the polls, behind theWAC championBYU (13–0–0) who were 24–17 victors over the unrankedMichigan Wolverines (6–5–0) in theHoliday Bowl. BYU's title was notable for being the only time since the inception of the AP poll that a team was awarded the national title without beating an opponent ranked in the top 25 at the season's end. The Huskies were given the opportunity to play BYU in the Holiday Bowl but chose a larger bowl payout over playing a higher ranked opponent in BYU, who carried a 22-game win streak into the bowl season. TheBerryman System and theFootball News and NCF polls awarded Washington their national titles, which the school does not claim.
The1990 Huskies started out theseason with wins againstSan Jose State andPurdue, then beat No. 5 USC by a score of 31–0. The next week fell to eventual AP national championColorado. After the loss, Washington went on to finish the season averaging over 40 points a game while only giving up 14. During this run, Washington would end up beating two more ranked teams on their way to the Rose Bowl. However, in the second to last game Washington lost to UCLA. Washington subsequently entered the Rose Bowl with a record of 9–2 againstIowa. The Huskies won by a final score of 46–34 to secure their fifth Rose Bowl title, displaying its trademark NCAA-best run-defense which allowed 66.8 yards per game.[66]
The AP awarded the national championship to Colorado, while the UPI chose undefeated Georgia Tech. Washington was ranked No. 5 in the AP poll, receiving no first place votes.[citation needed] The Rothman/FACT math system, active from 1968 to 2006, gave the Washington Huskies itsco-national title for 1990, sharing the honor with Colorado,Georgia Tech, andMiami.[67] The school does not claim this championship.
The1991 Huskies opened the1991 season on the road, with a 42–7 victory over theStanford Cardinal. Following a bye week, Washington traveled toLincoln, Nebraska for a showdown withNo. 9 Nebraska. Trailing 21–9 late in the third quarter, Washington rallied to score 27 unanswered points and claim a 36–21 victory. The following week saw the return of QBMark Brunell, the 1991 Rose BowlMVP who had suffered a knee injury in the spring, as the Huskies beatKansas State 56–3 while holding the Wildcats to -17 yards on the ground. The Huskies followed with back-to-back shutouts ofArizona andToledo. The Huskies then traveled toBerkeley to face No. 7California. Washington won a wild game that was decided on the final play when Walter Bailey broke up a pass on the goal line to preserve a 24–17 win.Oregon andArizona State visited Husky Stadium next and each left with a loss. The Huskies went on their final road trip of the season, first toUSC, where they won in theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the first time since1980. Needing a win overOregon State to clinch a Rose Bowl berth, Washington rolled to a 58–6 victory.Washington State visited Seattle for theApple Cup but were no match for the Huskies, as Washington won 56–21, setting up a showdown withMichigan in theRose Bowl on January 1, 1992.
The Washington defense, led byLombardi Award andOutland Trophy winnerSteve Emtman, held Michigan to only 205 total yards and limited 1991Heisman Trophy winnerDesmond Howard to only one catch. The Husky offense, led by quarterbacks Mark Brunell and Billy Joe Hobert, racked up 404 yards of total offense in leading the Huskies to a 34–14 Rose Bowl victory. Hobert and Emtman sharedMVP honors.
The Huskies were voted national champions by theUSA Today/CNN coaches Poll, while theMiami Hurricanes topped the AP Poll. The 1991 team averaged over 41 points per game, only once scoring fewer than 20 points, and held opponents to an average of less than 10 points per game, including two shutouts.
Washington has 7 Rose Bowl championships and one tie. The program been continuously affiliated with the Pac-12 Conference and its predecessors, which historically agreed to send a representative (typically the conference champion) to participate in theRose Bowl. TheBig Ten Conference was similarly contracted following World War II. This pairing made the Rose Bowl the most prestigious Bowl Game available to Pac-12 teams prior to theBCS era.[68]
| Year | Coach | Game | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | Enoch Bagshaw | 1924 Rose Bowl | Navy | T 14–14 |
| 1959 | Jim Owens | 1960 Rose Bowl | Wisconsin | W 44–8 |
| 1960 | 1961 Rose Bowl | Minnesota | W 17–7 | |
| 1977 | Don James | 1978 Rose Bowl | Michigan | W 27–20 |
| 1981 | 1982 Rose Bowl | Iowa | W 28–0 | |
| 1990 | 1991 Rose Bowl | Iowa | W 46–34 | |
| 1991 | 1992 Rose Bowl | Michigan | W 34–14 | |
| 2000 | Rick Neuheisel | 2001 Rose Bowl | Purdue | W 34–24 |
Washington has won 18 conference championships, including the inaugural PCC championship in 1916. This total includes four PCC, three AAWU, one Pac-8, seven Pac-10, and three Pac-12 titles, and at least one in every decade except the 1940s.[69] Washington's 18 conference championships is second in league history, behindUSC's 38 as of 2018.[3]
| Season | Conference | Coach | Conference record | Overall record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916† | PCC | Gil Dobie | 3–0–1 | 6–0–1 |
| 1919† | Claude J. Hunt | 2–1–0 | 5–1–0 | |
| 1925 | Enoch Bagshaw | 5–0–0 | 11–0–1 | |
| 1936 | James Phelan | 7–0–1 | 7–2–1 | |
| 1959† | AAWU | Jim Owens | 3–1–0 | 10–1–0 |
| 1960 | 4–0–0 | 10–1–0 | ||
| 1963 | 4–1–0 | 6–5–0 | ||
| 1977 | Pacific-8 | Don James | 6–1–0 | 10–2–0 |
| 1980 | Pacific-10 | 6–1–0 | 9–3–0 | |
| 1981 | 6–2–0 | 10–2–0 | ||
| 1990 | 7–1–0 | 10–2–0 | ||
| 1991 | 8–0–0 | 12–0–0 | ||
| 1992† | 6–2–0 | 9–3–0 | ||
| 1995† | Jim Lambright | 6–1–1 | 7–4–1 | |
| 2000† | Rick Neuheisel | 7–1 | 11–1 | |
| 2016 | Pac-12 | Chris Petersen | 8–1 | 12–2 |
| 2018 | 7–2 | 10–4 | ||
| 2023 | Kalen DeBoer | 9–0 | 14–1 |
† Co-champions
Washington won fourPac-12 North Division titles.[3][70] Divisions were introduced in2011 and were eliminated following the2021 season.
| Season | Conference | Division | Coach | Opponent | CG result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Pac-12 | North | Chris Petersen | Colorado | W 41–10 |
| 2017† | Pac-12 | North | Chris Petersen | N/A: lost tiebreaker toStanford | |
| 2018† | Pac-12 | North | Chris Petersen | Utah | W 10–3 |
| 2020 | Pac-12 | North | Jimmy Lake | N/A: unable to participate due to having insufficient players available | |
† Co-champions
| Tenure | Season | Head coach | Record | Bowl record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1892–1893 | 2 | W. B. Goodwin | 2–4–1 | |
| 1894 | 1 | Charles Cobb | 1–1–1 | |
| 1895–1896, 1898 | 2, 1 | Ralph Nichols | 7–4–1 | |
| 1897 | 1 | Carl L. Clemans | 1–2 | |
| 1899 | 1 | A. S. Jeffs | 4–1–1 | |
| 1900 | 1 | J. S. Dodge | 1–2–2 | |
| 1901 | 1 | Jack Wright | 3–3 | |
| 1902–1904 | 3 | James Knight | 15–4–1 | |
| 1905 | 1 | Oliver Cutts | 4–2–2 | |
| 1906–1907 | 2 | Victor M. Place | 8–5–6 | |
| 1908–1916 | 9 | Gil Dobie† | 58–0–3 | |
| 1917, 1919 | 1, 1 | Claude J. Hunt | 6–3–1 | |
| 1918 | 1 | Tony Savage | 1–1 | |
| 1920 | 1 | Stub Allison | 1–5 | |
| 1921–1929 | 9 | Enoch Bagshaw | 63–22–6 | 0–1–1 |
| 1930–1941 | 12 | James Phelan† | 65–37–8 | 1–1 |
| 1942–1947 | 6 | Ralph Welch | 27–20–3 | 0–1 |
| 1948–1952 | 5 | Howie Odell | 23–25–2 | |
| 1953–1955 | 3 | John Cherberg | 10–18–2 | |
| 1956 | 1 | Darrell Royal† | 5–5 | |
| 1957–1974 | 18 | Jim Owens† | 99–82–6 | 2–1 |
| 1975–1992 | 18 | Don James† | 153–57–2 | 10–4 |
| 1993–1998 | 6 | Jim Lambright | 44–25–1 | 1–3 |
| 1999–2002 | 4 | Rick Neuheisel | 33–16 | 1–3 |
| 2003–2004 | 2 | Keith Gilbertson | 7–16 | |
| 2005–2008 | 4 | Tyrone Willingham | 11–37 | |
| 2009–2013 | 4.5 | Steve Sarkisian | 34–29 | 1–2 |
| 2013 (interim) | .5 | Marques Tuiasosopo | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| 2014–2019 | 6 | Chris Petersen | 55–26 | 2–4 |
| 2020–2021 | 1.5 | Jimmy Lake | 7–6 | |
| 2021 (interim) | .5 | Bob Gregory | 0–3* | |
| 2022–2023 | 2 | Kalen DeBoer | 25–3 | 2–1 |
| 2024–present | 2 | Jedd Fisch | 8–7 | 0–1 |
†College Football Hall of Fame inductee
* Includes loss to Arizona State during Head Coach Jimmy Lake's suspension.
Washington has a bowl game record of 20–20–1 through the 2022 season,[71] though thePoi Bowl game was not sanctioned by the NCAA.[72] The Huskies' 15Rose Bowl appearances are second only toUSC in the Pac-12 while their seven victories are tied for third-most. In addition, Washington is also in an elite group of only seven schools to make three consecutive appearances in the Rose Bowl, a feat they accomplished in 1990–1992. The Pacific-8 did not allow a second bowl team from the conference until1975.[73]
| No. | Season | Bowl | Location | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1923 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Navy | T 14–14 | 40,000 |
| 2 | 1925 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Alabama | L 19–20 | 45,000 |
| 3 | 1936 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Pittsburgh | L 0–21 | 87,196 |
| 4 | 1937 | Poi | Honolulu, Hawai'i | Hawaii | W 53–13 | 13,500 |
| 5 | 1943 | Rose | Pasadena, California | USC | L 0–29 | 68,000 |
| 6 | 1959 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Wisconsin | W 44–8 | 100,809 |
| 7 | 1960 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Minnesota | W 17–7 | 97,314 |
| 8 | 1963 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Illinois | L 7–17 | 96,957 |
| 9 | 1977 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Michigan | W 27–20 | 105,312 |
| 10 | 1979 | Sun | El Paso, Texas | Texas | W 14–7 | 33,412 |
| 11 | 1980 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Michigan | L 6–23 | 104,863 |
| 12 | 1981 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Iowa | W 28–0 | 105,611 |
| 13 | 1982 | Aloha | Honolulu, Hawai'i | Maryland | W 21–20 | 30,055 |
| 14 | 1983 | Aloha | Honolulu, Hawai'i | Penn State | L 10–13 | 37,212 |
| 15 | 1984 | Orange | Miami, Florida | Oklahoma | W 28–17 | 56,294 |
| 16 | 1985 | Freedom | Anaheim, California | Colorado | W 20–17 | 30,961 |
| 17 | 1986 | Sun | El Paso, Texas | Alabama | L 6–28 | 48,722 |
| 18 | 1987 | Independence | Shreveport, Louisiana | Tulane | W 24–12 | 41,683 |
| 19 | 1989 | Freedom | Anaheim, California | Florida | W 34–7 | 33,858 |
| 20 | 1990 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Iowa | W 46–34 | 101,273 |
| 21 | 1991 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Michigan | W 34–14 | 103,566 |
| 22 | 1992 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Michigan | L 31–38 | 94,236 |
| 23 | 1995 | Sun | El Paso, Texas | Iowa | L 18–38 | 49,116 |
| 24 | 1996 | Holiday | San Diego, California | Colorado | L 21–33 | 54,749 |
| 25 | 1997 | Aloha | Honolulu, Hawai'i | Michigan State | W 51–23 | 34,419 |
| 26 | 1998 | Oahu | Honolulu, Hawai'i | Air Force | L 25–45 | 46,451 |
| 27 | 1999 | Holiday | San Diego, California | Kansas State | L 20–24 | 57,118 |
| 28 | 2000 | Rose | Pasadena, California | Purdue | W 34–24 | 94,392 |
| 29 | 2001 | Holiday | San Diego, California | Texas | L 43–47 | 60,548 |
| 30 | 2002 | Sun | El Paso, Texas | Purdue | L 24–34 | 48,917 |
| 31 | 2010 | Holiday | San Diego, California | Nebraska | W 19–7 | 57,921 |
| 32 | 2011 | Alamo | San Antonio, Texas | Baylor | L 56–67 | 65,256 |
| 33 | 2012 | Las Vegas | Whitney, Nevada | Boise State | L 26–28 | 33,217 |
| 34 | 2013 | Fight Hunger | San Francisco, California | BYU | W 31–16 | 34,136 |
| 35 | 2014 | Cactus | Tempe, Arizona | Oklahoma State | L 22–30 | 35,409 |
| 36 | 2015 | Heart of Dallas | Dallas, Texas | Southern Miss | W 44–31 | 20,229 |
| 37 | 2016 | Peach (CFP Semifinal) † | Atlanta, Georgia | Alabama | L 7–24 | 75,996 |
| 38 | 2017 | Fiesta † | Glendale, Arizona | Penn State | L 28–35 | 61,842 |
| 39 | 2018 | Rose † | Pasadena, California | Ohio State | L 23–28 | 91,853 |
| 40 | 2019 | Las Vegas | Whitney, Nevada | Boise State | W 38–7 | 34,197 |
| 41 | 2022 | Alamo | San Antonio, Texas | Texas | W 27–20 | 62,730 |
| 42 | 2023 | Sugar (CFP Semifinal) † | New Orleans, Louisiana | Texas | W 37–31 | 68,791 |
| 43 | 2023 | 2024 CFP National Championship † | Houston, Texas | Michigan | L 13–34 | 72,808 |
| 44 | 2024 | Sun | El Paso, Texas | Louisville | L 34–35 | 40,826 |
†New Year's Six bowl game
Washington has made two appearances in theCollege Football Playoff.[5]
| Year | Seed | Opponent | Round | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 | No. 1Alabama | Semifinal –Peach Bowl | L7–24 |
| 2023 | 2 | No. 3Texas | Semifinal –Sugar Bowl | W37–31 |
| No. 1Michigan | Finals –CFP National Championship | L34–13 |
As of December 3, 2023, Washington's records against conference opponents were as follows.[74]
| Opponent | Won | Lost | Tied | Percentage | Streak | First meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 26 | 11 | 1 | .697 | Won 7 | 1978 |
| Arizona State | 18 | 22 | 0 | .450 | Won 1 | 1975 |
| California | 57 | 41 | 4 | .578 | Won 3 | 1904 |
| Colorado | 13 | 7 | 1 | .643 | Won 1 | 1915 |
| Oregon | 63 | 48 | 5 | .565 | Won 3 | 1900 |
| Oregon State | 69 | 35 | 4 | .657 | Won 2 | 1897 |
| USC | 31 | 52 | 4 | .379 | Won 2 | 1923 |
| Stanford | 46 | 44 | 4 | .511 | Won 3 | 1893 |
| UCLA | 33 | 41 | 2 | .447 | Lost 2 | 1932 |
| Utah | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | Won 2 | 1931 |
| Washington State | 76 | 33 | 6 | .687 | Won 2 | 1900 |
| Totals | 445 | 335 | 31 | .568 |
Washington andOregon first met in 1900. TheCascade Clash[75], as it is informally known to some, is an Americancollege footballrivalry between theOregon Ducks and Washington Huskies of theBig Ten Conference. The respective campuses inEugene andSeattle are 285 miles (460 km) apart, viaInterstate 5.
It is one of the top 25most played rivalries in NCAA Division I FBS history, and has been played regularlysince 1900.[76]
From 2004 until 2016, Oregon won 12 consecutive matchups against the Huskies, the longest streak by either team in the series.[77] However, Washington leads the series all time with a record of 63–49–5 as of 2024.[78]
Washington andWashington State first played each other in 1900.[79] Traditionally, theApple Cup is the final game of the regular season for both teams. The Apple Cup trophy has been presented to the winner of the game by the state's governor since 1963.[80] Washington leads the series 76–34–6 as of the 2024 season.[81]
Since thedeparture of Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA from the Pac-12, Washington State has become an out-of-conference opponent. This has led to Oregon replacing Washington State as the Huskies' final game of the year, and current scheduling has established that the Apple Cup will be played within the first 3 games of the year, before Washington begins their nine-game Big 10 conference schedule.[82]
Washington wins the Northwest Championship bysweepingOregon State,Oregon, andWashington State. The fourPacific Northwest rivals began playing in around-robin format in the1903 season.
Recentconference realignment has made this particular feat difficult for any of the Northwest schools to accomplish, given that Washington & Oregon and Washington State & Oregon State now reside in two separate conferences, theBig 10 andPac-12, respectively.
Husky Stadium has served as the home football stadium for Washington since 1920, with renovations in 1950, 1987 and 2012.[1] Located on campus and set next toLake Washington, it is the largest stadium in thePacific Northwest with aseating capacity of 70,183. The stadium is one of a few football stadiums in theUnited States accessible through water, and is known as the "Greatest Setting in College Football".[83] Washington has led the modern Pac-10 Conference in game attendance 13 times, including nine consecutive seasons from 1989 to 1997.[66]
With nearly 70 percent of the seats located between the end zones and grandstands covered by cantilevered metal roofs, Husky Stadium is one of the loudest stadiums in the country and is the loudest recorded stadium in college football. During the 1992 night game against theNebraska Cornhuskers,ESPN measured the noise level at about 135decibels, the loudest mark in NCAA history.[84]
In 1968 the Huskies became the first major collegiate team to install anAstroturf field, following the lead of theAstrodome.[85][86] Prior to the 2000 season, the school was among the leaders adoptingFieldTurf, trailing onlyMemorial Stadium's installation by one season.[87]
A $280 million renovation of Husky Stadium began on November 7, 2011. Home games were moved toCenturyLink Field for the 2012 season while construction took place. The newly renovated Husky Stadium reopened on August 31, 2013 in a game in which the Huskies defeatedBoise State by a score of 38–6.[88]
The Dempsey Indoor is an 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2) facility opened in September 2001. The building is used as an indoor practice facility for Washington's football, softball, baseball and men's and women's soccer teams.[89]
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Washington has worn variations of uniforms over the years but are most recognized for their traditional home uniform of gold helmets, purple jerseys, and gold pants.
SinceDon James' first year as head coach in1975, the Huskies have worn metallic gold helmets with a purple block "W" on both sides and white and purple center striping;[90] he patterned the new helmet and uniforms after theSan Francisco 49ers of theNFL. The exception was from1995 to1998 underJim Lambright, when Washington wore solid purple helmets with a gold "W."
During Jim Owens' tenure, an outstanding defensive player was awarded the honor of wearing a purple helmet.Rick Redman, anAll-American linebacker in the 1960s, wore one. It was rather intimidating for the opposing quarterback to stand behind his center and see this lone purple-helmeted player staring him down before each play. In1973 and1974, Owens' last two seasons, the entire team wore purple helmets.
For the2010 home finale againstUCLA, the Huskies unveiled a "blackout" theme. The end zones of Husky Stadium were painted black, while the team debuted black jerseys and pants and encouraged the home crowd to dress in black as well.[91] Two weeks later for theApple Cup inPullman, UW wore the black pants with the usual white road jersey. Black jerseys and pants were worn again the next month for the2010 Holiday Bowl. All three games were Washington victories.
In2013, the Huskies debuted chrome gold helmets, worn with purple tops and bottoms in a rain-soaked match againstArizona. Later that season againstOregon, Washington debuted matte black helmets featuring a purple "W" and two truncated purple stripes.
Prior to the2014 season, Washington revealed a new uniform set that featured three jersey, four pant, and three helmet color options to allow for a myriad of combinations on the field. The set included matte gold, matte black, and "frosted" white helmets; purple, white, and black jerseys; and gold, purple, white, and black pants.[92] The chrome gold helmets that had been introduced the previous season returned in the 2014 game againstArizona State.[93] In 2017, chrome purple helmets were added to the uniform set.
In April 2018, the school agreed to a new 10-year, $119 million apparel deal withAdidas set to begin in summer 2019, ending a 20-year partnership with Nike. The deal with Adidas will rank among the top-10 most valuable in college athletics.[94]
TheUniversity of Washington Husky Marching Band (HMB) is the marching band of the University of Washington, consisting of 240 members. The 2025 season is the 96th for the HMB.
Huskies games are broadcast statewide on the Washington Sports Network, with Tony Castricone as the play-by-play announcer and former UW tight endCam Cleeland on color commentary. The games air on flagship station93.3 KJR-FM in Seattle.Bob Rondeau, known as the "Voice of the Huskies," announced Washington football for over 30 years until his retirement in 2017.[95]
Lou Gellermann, a Husky Hall of Fame rower, served as the UW Football public address announcer from 1985 until 2007. Gellermann welcomed Husky Stadium fans with his signature greeting "Hello, Dawg fans!", to which the fans responded "Hello, Lou!".[96]
Players
| Paul Hornung Award Most Versatile Player | Maxwell Award Best All Around Player | Academic All-American of the Year Top Student-Athlete |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 –Shaq Thompson,LB | 2023 –Michael Penix Jr.,QB | 2023 –Rome Odunze,WR |
| Doak Walker Award Premier Running Back | John Mackey Award Most Outstanding Tight End | Joe Moore Award Best Offensive Line |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 –Greg Lewis,TB | 2013 –Austin Seferian-Jenkins,TE | 2023 |
| Lombardi Award Best Lineman/Linebacker | Outland Trophy Best Interior Lineman | Bill Willis Award Top Defensive Lineman |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 –Steve Emtman,DT | 1991 – Steve Emtman,DT | 1991 – Steve Emtman,DT |
Coaches
| Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Coach of the Year | Home Depot Coach of the Year | Sporting News Coach of the Year | AP Coach of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 –Don James | 2023 –Kalen DeBoer | 2023 – Kalen DeBoer | 2023 – Kalen DeBoer |
| Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year | UPI Pacific Coast Coach of the Year |
|---|---|
| 2023 – Kalen DeBoer | 1959,1960 –Jim Owens[97][98] |
Players
| Pac-12 Player of the Year Offensive | Pat Tillman Player of the Year Pac-12 Defensive | Morris Trophy Pac-12 Lineman of the Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1977† –Warren Moon,QB 1983 –Steve Pelluer,QB 1990 –Greg Lewis,RB 1991 –Mario Bailey,SE 2000 –Marques Tuiasosopo,QB 2016 –Jake Browning,QB | 1990–91 –Steve Emtman,DT 1992 –Dave Hoffmann,LB 1996 –Jason Chorak,DL 2017 –Vita Vea,DT 2018 –Ben Burr-Kirven,LB | 1981 –Fletcher Jenkins,DT 1984 –Ron Holmes,DT 1986 –Reggie Rogers,DT 1989 –Bern Brostek,C 1990–91 – Steve Emtman,DT 1991–92 –Lincoln Kennedy,OT 1993 –D'Marco Farr,DT 1996 –Bob Sapp,OT 1997 –Olin Kreutz,C 2000 –Chad Ward,OG 2017 – Vita Vea,DT 2018 –Kaleb McGary,OT 2018 –Greg Gaines,DT 2023 –Troy Fautanu,OT |
† Warren Moon shared Pac-8 Player of the Year withGuy Benjamin in 1977 before Offensive and Defensive Players awards were named in 1983[5]
Coaches
| Pac-10 Coach of the Year | Pac-12 Coach of the Year |
|---|---|
| 1980, 1990–91 –Don James | 2022-23 –Kalen DeBoer |
As of December 2023, eight Washington players have ranked among top finishers in theHeisman Trophy voting.[5]
| Year | Name | Position | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Hugh McElhenny† | HB | 8th |
| 1952 | Don Heinrich† | QB | 9th |
| 1990 | Greg Lewis | RB | 7th |
| 1991 | Steve Emtman† | DE | 4th |
| 1994 | Napoleon Kaufman | RB | 9th |
| 2000 | Marques Tuiasosopo | QB | 8th |
| 2016 | Jake Browning | QB | 6th |
| 2022 | Michael Penix Jr. | QB | 8th |
| 2023 | Michael Penix Jr. | QB | 2nd |
†College Football Hall of Fame inductee
23 different Washington players have been recognized on 24 occasions as consensusAll-Americans by theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), by virtue of recording a majority of votes at their respective positions by the selectors.[4]: 28
† Unanimous selection
Washington Football honors three jersey numbers. As of 2022 all three honored numbers are available for reissue, although each had been considered "retired" in previous years.[99] The three players and their numbers are honored on a prominent display situated on the lower concourse of Husky Stadium.[100]
| Washington Huskies honored numbers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Pos. | Tenure |
| 2 | Chuck Carroll † | HB | 1927–1928 |
| 33 | Wildcat Wilson † | HB | 1923–1925 |
| 44 | Roland Kirkby | HB | 1948–1950 |
†College Football Hall of Fame inductee
15 former Washington players and coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, located in Atlanta, Georgia.[101]
| Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gil Dobie | Coach | 1908–1916 | 1951 | [102] |
| George Wilson | HB | 1923–1925 | 1951 | [103] |
| Chuck Carroll | HB | 1926–1928 | 1964 | [104] |
| Paul Schwegler | T | 1929–1931 | 1967 | [105] |
| James Phelan | Coach | 1930–1941 | 1973 | [106] |
| Vic Markov | T | 1935–1937 | 1976 | [107] |
| Hugh McElhenny | HB | 1949–1951 | 1981 | [108] |
| Darrell Royal | Coach | 1956 | 1983 | [109] |
| Don Heinrich | QB | 1949–1950, 1952 | 1987 | [110] |
| Bob Schloredt | QB | 1958–1960 | 1989 | [111] |
| Max Starcevich | G | 1934–1936 | 1990 | [112] |
| Rick Redman | G /LB | 1962–1964 | 1995 | [113] |
| Don James | Coach | 1975–1992 | 1997 | [114] |
| Steve Emtman | DT | 1989–1991 | 2006 | [115] |
| Lincoln Kennedy | OT | 1989–1992 | 2015 | [116] |
Four former Washington players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, located in Canton, Ohio.[117]
| Name | Position | Career | Inducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh McElhenny | HB | 1949–1951 | 1970 |
| Arnie Weinmeister | DT | 1942, 1946–1947 | 1984 |
| Warren Moon | QB | 1975–1977 | 2006 |
| Don Coryell | Coach | 1949 | 2023 |
As of 2010,Warren Moon (Edmonton Eskimos 1978–83) is the only player to be a member of both the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (NFL).[118]
| Name | Position | Career | Inducted | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Scott | SB | 1969–1972 | 1998 | [119] |
| Warren Moon | QB | 1975–1977 | 2001 | [118] |
TheRose Bowl has inducted eight Washington coaches and players into theRose Bowl Game Hall of Fame.[120]
| Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Schloredt | QB | 1958–60 | 1991 |
| George Wilson | HB | 1923–25 | 1991 |
| Jim Owens | Head coach | 1957–74 | 1992 |
| Don James | Head coach | 1975–92 | 1994 |
| Warren Moon | QB | 1975–77 | 1997 |
| Steve Emtman | DT | 1988–91 | 2006 |
| George Fleming | HB | 1958–61 | 2011 |
| Mark Brunell | QB | 1988–92 | 2015 |
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| Name | Position | Tenure | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Nichols | Guard | 1892–94 | State Senator,Seattle City Council member |
| William J. Coyle | Quarterback | 1908–11 | Lieutenant Governor of Washington |
| Jim Ferrell | Outside linebacker | 1985–88 | Mayor ofFederal Way |
| Bruce Harrell | Linebacker | 1976–79 | Mayor of Seattle |
| Joel McHale | Tight end | 1992–93 | Actor/comedian |
| Nate Robinson | Cornerback | 2002 | NBA player |
In the 1975 Apple Cup, Washington State led 27–14 with three minutes left in the game. WSU attempted a 4th-and-1 conversion at the UW 14-yard line rather than try for a field goal. The resulting pass was intercepted byAl Burleson and returned 93 yards for a touchdown. After a WSU three-and-out,Warren Moon's tipped pass was caught bySpider Gaines for a 78-yard touchdown reception and sealed a dramatic 28–27 win for Washington. WSU Head CoachJim Sweeney resigned a week later, leaving with a 26–59–1 record.
When 14th-ranked Washington State and 17th-ranked Washington met in the 1981 Apple Cup, it was billed as the biggest meeting in the series since the 1936 game when the winner was invited to the Rose Bowl. Washington's defense was the best in the conference, while the Cougars ranked high in offensive categories. Along with a win over WSU, the Huskies needed USC to upset UCLA, in a game that kicked off 40 minutes before the Apple Cup, to clear the way for a Rose Bowl bid.
With his team trailing 7–3 late in the second quarter, Husky quarterbackSteve Pelluer fired a low pass towards wideoutPaul Skansi. Washington State cornerback Nate Brady looked as if he would smother the ball when Skansi dove over the defender for a catch in the endzone.
Washington State drove the ball 69 yards to open the second half and tie the score at 10. From that point Washington, behind the fine play of their offensive line, took control. Ron "Cookie" Jackson capped an 80-yard drive by running 23 yards to put the Huskies ahead 17–10. Following a Cougar turnover, All-American kickerChuck Nelson kicked his second field goal of the game to increase the Huskies' lead to 10 points.
The fate of the Cougars was sealed when the score of the USC-UCLA game was announced- the Trojans had engineered the upset. Nelson added a field goal with less than three minutes to play, and the Huskies were off to the Rose Bowl.
The1984 Huskies were ranked No. 1 in October, but lost on November 10 toUSC at theColiseum.[121] Although the Trojans would finish the regular season 8–3 and ranked No. 18, this head-to-head result won them the Pac-10 championship and knocked the 10–1 Huskies out of theRose Bowl.
At the end of the regular season, the No. 4 Huskies were invited to play No. 1BYU in theHoliday Bowl.[121] They declined the invitation and instead accepted an offer to play No. 2Oklahoma in theOrange Bowl, the first Pac-10 team to do so.[121] The game in Miami versus theBig Eight champions was a more prestigious bowl and offered a more lucrative payout.[121] Oklahoma, if they won their bowl game, was also expected to jump to No. 1 in the final rankings.[121]
Don James was carried off the field on his players' shoulders with his finger held up indicating "No. 1", believing that this win would propel them to the national championship.[121] Unfortunately for the Huskies, unbeaten BYU retained their first position in the finalAP andCoaches polls despite playing a much weaker schedule.[121]
Heading into the 1990 season, the winner of the USC-Washington game had gone to theRose Bowl in 10 of the previous 13 seasons. The 1990 match would continue that trend. Washington's All-Centennial team was introduced at halftime of the game, while two members of the historic team,Hugh McElhenny andNesby Glasgow, delivered inspirational talks to the current players. On a bright, sunny day with the temperature reaching 92 degrees Fahrenheit, the crowd of 72,617 witnessed one of the most memorable games in program history.
Washington shut out USC for just the third time in 23 seasons, handing the Trojans their worst conference defeat in 30 years. "Student Body Right" was held to only 28 rushing yards as the Husky defense dominated the line of scrimmage.Greg Lewis, theDoak Walker Award winner as the nation's top running back, gained 126 rushing yards as sophomore quarterback Mark Brunell threw for 197 yards for the Huskies, as they rolled to a 24–0 halftime lead.
The Husky defense, led by All-American linemanSteve Emtman, stopped everything the Trojans attempted. The defense would hold USC to 163 total yards and seven first downs for the game. They would record three sacks and put so much pressure onTodd Marinovich that after the game, weary and beaten, he famously said: "I just saw purple. That's all. No numbers, just purple."
Playing in the first night in stadium history, No. 2 Washington posted a victory against No. 12Nebraska that provided the loudest recorded moment in the history ofHusky Stadium and would be dubbed "A Night To Remember."[122][123]
Late in the first quarter, Husky punter John Werdel pinned Nebraska on its three yard-line. Crowd noise caused the Husker linemen to false start on consecutive plays, only adding to the frenzy of the crowd.
When Nebraska quarterback Mike Grant dropped back to his own end zone to attempt a pass, Husky roverback Tommie Smith blitzed Grant from his blind side and tackled him for a safety. The deafening roar following the play reverberated off the twin roofs of the stadium.ESPN measured the noise level at over 130decibels, well above thethreshold of pain. The peak recorded level of 133.6 decibels has been the highest ever recorded at a college football stadium.[124][125][126][127]
Holding a 9–7 lead, the Husky offense went into quick-strike mode at the close of the second quarter. Speedy running backNapoleon Kaufman ended an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run. Walter Bailey intercepted Grant to start the second half, and the Huskies extended their lead when quarterback Billy Joe Hobert threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to a diving Joe Kralik to boost the lead to 23–7. Kicker Travis Hanson later made a pair of field goals second half to cinch a 29–14 win. The victory propelled Washington to the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll the following week.
The "Whammy in Miami" was acollege football game played between the Huskies and theMiami Hurricanes on September 24, 1994 in Miami'sOrange Bowl. The game was the first football contest between the two schools. During the 1991 season, both teams finished the year with identical 12–0 records and both teams were crowned National Champions by different polls. The teams were unable to settle the championship on the field, as both teams were locked into their respective bowl games (Washington in theRose and Miami in theOrange). As a result, both schools agreed to schedule the other for a series of games.
Entering the game, Miami had anNCAA record home winning streak of 58 games and was ranked 5th in the nation with a 2–0 record. The Hurricanes had not lost at the Orange Bowl since 1985 and not to a team from outside ofFlorida since 1984.[128] The Huskies were 1–1, having lost toUSC and beatenOhio State. Odds makers placed the Huskies as a 14-point underdog.
The Hurricanes appeared to be on their way to a 59th consecutive home victory in the first half, leading the Huskies 14–3 athalftime. After the half, the Huskies came out firing by scoring 22 points in five minutes. Key plays included a 75-yard touchdown pass, 34-yard interception return, and a fumble recovery. The Huskies dominated the second half on the way to a 38–20 victory. According to the Seattle Times, it was believed by Husky players that Miami Coach Dennis Erickson had joked that the losers of the game should relinquish their national championship rings from 1991. This gave rise to safety Lawyer Milloy reportedly shouting "Take the rings back," as he walked off the field.[129]
With the game in Pullman, No. 3 Washington State entered the game poised for BCS National Championship game consideration. Unranked Washington was playing to win the so-calledNorthwest Championship by sweeping theirPacific Northwest rivals, having beatOregon State andOregon in their previous two games.[130]
WSU star quarterbackJason Gesser was injured by DTTerry "Tank" Johnson late in the game. The Cougars led 20–10 with less than 4 minutes left in the game, with Matt Kegel having replacing Gesser. UW used a timely interception from freshman cornerbackNate Robinson to force overtime. The teams traded field goals in the first two overtime periods, and John Anderson converted another kick to start the third overtime. During the Cougars' possession, umpire Gordon Riese controversially ruled that Kegel threw a backward pass, which was knocked down and recovered by defensive endKai Ellis.
The fumble recovery ended the game as a Washington victory. TheMartin Stadium crowd erupted angrily in response, and some individuals threw bottles on the field as Washington players and fans celebrated. Then UW athletic director Barbara Hedges said at the time that she "feared for her life."[130]
Entering the game, the No. 3 Trojans had the national spotlight after their defeat ofOhio State in Columbus the week before. Washington, meanwhile, had just won its first game in 16 contests with a victory over Idaho.
Southern California opened the game with 10 unanswered points, marching down the field with ease. USC was playing without starting quarterbackMatt Barkley, who had injured his shoulder the week before at Ohio State, but despite playing with backup QBAaron Corp, the Trojans were able to lean on an experienced running game and veteran offensive line.
Washington worked its way back into the game with a 4-yard touchdown run by quarterbackJake Locker, trimming the score to 10–7. Late in the second quarter, placekickerErik Folk kicked a 46-yard field goal to tie the score at 10.
The scored remained tied as the game entered the fourth quarter. After swapping field goals, the Huskies took possession with four minutes left in the game. Locker maneuvered the Huskies down the field, converting on two key third downs, including a 3rd-and-15 from his team's own 28 where Locker threw across the sideline toJermaine Kearse for 21 yards. The Huskies would eventually drive to the USC 4-yard line before Folk kicked the game-winning field goal for the 16–13 victory, Washington's first conference win since 2007.
On October 2, 2010 the Huskies went on the road to face No. 18USC atLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a place where they had not won since 1996. They hadn't won on the road period since November 3, 2007 against Stanford, a streak of 13 consecutive games. The Huskies led for parts of all four quarters but never put the game away, including a play in whichJake Locker had the ball stripped out of the end-zone on what was a sure touchdown run.
Locker left the game for one play after taking a knee to helmet on a quarterback sneak.Keith Price, a redshirt freshman from Compton, California, came in to make his Washington debut and completed a touchdown pass on his only play of the game, putting the Huskies ahead 29–28. The Trojans made a field goal on the following possession to retake the lead, 31–29. The Huskies' final drive started with two incomplete passes and a near fumble, but on a 4th-and-11 Jake Locker completed a pass to a leaping DeAndre Goodwin. The Huskies continued to push the ball into field goal range in a similar situation to the previous year when playing USC. With 3 seconds left,Erik Folk kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired, giving the Huskies their first road win in three years.
Prior to this game, Oregon had beaten Washington 12 straight times, ten of which were by a margin of 20 points or more. This was the longest winning streak by either team in the Oregon-Washington football rivalry. The Huskies, ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll after a 44–6 win against No. 7 Stanford at Husky Stadium the previous week, traveled to Autzen Stadium to face a 2–3 Oregon team.
The Oregon winning streak was finally snapped after a 70–21 Washington rout.[131] On the first play from scrimmage, Washington safety Budda Baker, a one-time commit to Oregon, intercepted a pass from Oregon true freshman quarterbackJustin Herbert. The Huskies took the lead on a Jake Browning touchdown run with 13:23 left in the first quarter and never relinquished it. The Huskies led 35–7 by halftime, 42–7 after the first possession of the third quarter, and 70–21 with 9:58 left in the fourth quarter.
The Washington offense racked up 682 yards of total offense, averaged 10.1 yards per play, amassed 6 passing touchdowns by quarterback Jake Browning, and scored 70 points, the most scored by either team in the rivalry. This was also the second-most an opponent has ever scored on Oregon in Eugene.[132]
Washington is moving to theBig Ten conference for the start of the 2024 season. On October 5, 2023 the Big Ten announced the 5 year conference schedule.[133]
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vsMichigan | vsIllinois | vsIndiana | vsMaryland | vsMichigan |
| vsNorthwestern | vsOhio State | vsIowa | vsMichigan State | vsNorthwestern |
| vsUCLA | vsOregon | vsMinnesota | vsNebraska | vsUCLA |
| vsUSC | vsPurdue | vsPenn State | vsOregon | vsWisconsin |
| atIndiana | vsRutgers | atMichigan State | vsUSC | atIllinois |
| atIowa | atMaryland | atNebraska | atMinnesota | atIndiana |
| atOregon | atMichigan | atOregon | atNorthwestern | atMaryland |
| atPenn State | atUCLA | atPurdue | atPenn State | atOhio State |
| atRutgers | atWisconsin | atUSC | atRutgers | atOregon |
Announced schedules as of October 2, 2025.[134][135]
| Year | Date | Opponent | Conference | Site | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Aug 30 | Colorado State | MW | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | |
| Sep 6 | UC Davis | Big Sky | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | FCS | |
| Sep 20 | Washington State | TBD | Martin Stadium •Pullman, WA | Apple Cup | |
| 2026 | Sep 5 | Washington State | TBD | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | Apple Cup |
| Sep 12 | Utah State | MW | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | ||
| Sep 19 | Eastern Washington | Big Sky | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | FCS | |
| 2027 | Sep 4 | Fresno State | MW | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | |
| Sep 18 | Washington State | TBD | Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA | Apple Cup | |
| 2028 | Sep 2 | Eastern Washington | Big Sky | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | FCS |
| Sep 16 | UNLV | MW | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | ||
| TBD | Washington State | TBD | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | Apple Cup | |
| 2029 | Sep 1 | Tennessee | SEC | Neyland Stadium,Knoxville, TN | 1st meeting |
| Sep 8 | Boise State | MW | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | ||
| 2030 | Sep 7 | Tennessee | SEC | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA | |
| Sep 14 | Hawaii | MW | Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA |
That completed what Neuheisel had dubbed the Northwest Championship, with the Huskies closing out the season with successive victories over Oregon State, Oregon and WSU (after losing to USC, Arizona State and UCLA the three weeks prior). Neuheisel even had T-shirts made up with blank boxes to check off after each win. [...] The Huskies wore those T-shirts as they marched back onto the Autzen Stadium turf for their postgame brouhaha.
The Helms Athletic Foundation yesterday selected the University of Washington's Huskies as the college football champions of the 1960 season.
The foundation always withholds its selections until after the New Year's bowl games.
Washington and Mississippi were the finalists in the Helms selection. The Huskies were selected by a narrow margin. They beat Minnesota in the Rose Bowl and finished the season with a 10-1-0 record.
University of Washington Huskies crushed the Minnesota Gophers, rated as the number one team in the nation in both major polls, by a score of 17–7. [...] Following the results of the post-season bowl games, the Huskies were given the Helms Athletic Foundation Award as the nation's outstanding team.
As national champion, Washington will receive the MacArthur Bowl, given by the National Football Foundation to its champion since 1959. The UPI NFF ratings panel consists of 104 National Football Foundation members
Washington edged Miami for theGrantland Rice Trophy by balloting by the five members of a nationwide committee. The Huskies received three first-place votes and the Hurricanes got two.
The director of Helms since its beginning, Bill Schroeder, did the work, and he now heads the committee that selects No. 1 after the bowl games. 'A committee of one – me,' he says.
The Poi Bowl was designed to invite football programs from the Pacific Coast Conference, with the exception being in 1937, to come a[sic] play against the University of Hawaii. This game was considered a College Division/Minor Bowl Game, and recognized as just a regular season contest by both the NCAA and USC.
Who will get the first bite? The Big Apple Trophy, a new award symbolizing rivalry and competition between Washington State University and the University of Washington football teams. The perpetual trophy will be presented for the first time Saturday after the Husky–Cougar Homecoming game by Sun Dodgers, men's spirit organization. TheWashington Apple Commission donated the trophy.
As UW's public-address announcer from 1985 until 2007, Gellermann welcomed fans with his signature greeting — "Hello, Dawg fans!" — accompanied by a siren before each football game. Fans would return the greeting with one of their own: "Hello, Lou!"
Those three "honored numbers" will be on public display for the first time in program history, giving reverence to the fact that each of them had been considered "retired" during some portion of the last century. [...] Those three players' numbers were retired after their college careers ended, though each has been worn from time to time over the years.
#2 Chuck Carroll — #33 George Wilson — #44 Roland Kirby
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| National | |
| Other | |
