Washington football slated for CFP bubble in grueling 2026 Big Ten projections originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Rebuilding a program in the 18-team Big Ten is never a seamless transition, especially when your schedule forces you to navigate some of the most hostile environments in college football.
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Head coach Jedd Fisch has the Washington Huskies trending in the right direction, but the latest national projections suggest the road is going to be incredibly unkind in 2026.
According to CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford’s win-loss predictions, Washington is projected to finish the regular season 9-3. It is a solid campaign, but one ultimately capped by the brutal reality of their away schedule.
When the Huskies are at home or facing manageable road environments, Patterson expects them to thrive. The model projects non-conference wins against Washington State, Utah State, and Eastern Washington. In conference play, Washington is expected to secure victories against Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue, Penn State, Michigan State, and Indiana.
“Washington has enough balance and experience to stack wins and stay inside the top 25 deep into November,” Crawford wrote.
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The problem for Fisch’s squad lies in their marquee away games. To reach the College Football Playoff, the Huskies have to steal a massive road victory against elite competition. The CBS Sports model predicts the Huskies will fail to do so, projecting devastating road losses to USC and Oregon, as well as a brutal home loss to Iowa.
“The road schedule is unforgiving, and losses at USC and Oregon will be the setbacks that keep the Huskies out of CFP contention against competition that’s built to punish mistakes at home,” Crawford noted.
While a 9-3 finish is highly respectable, the ceiling of this team ultimately rests on the shoulders of quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
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Crawford says that if Williams can elevate his game and “steal one against the Trojans or the Ducks,” Washington could suddenly find itself back in the playoff bracket for the first time under Fisch. But until they prove they can win those massive road games, the Huskies remain firmly outside the national championship picture.
