hastingstribune
SEATTLE — When Jedd Fisch took the helm at Washington, he brought with him a carefully crafted strategy rooted in high school recruiting and player development. That approach, which he honed during a turbulent tenure at Arizona, is now facing its ultimate test as the Huskies enter what many consider a pivotal third season.
Fisch's first head coaching stint was rocky, with a 1-11 record in 2021 at Arizona. However, his commitment to building through prep prospects eventually paid off, as the Wildcats improved to 5-7 in 2022 and then soared to 10-3 in 2023. That third-year surge caught the attention of Washington's athletic department, leading to his hiring in January 2024 as the successor to Kalen DeBoer.
Upon his arrival, Fisch made his philosophy clear: "What we really pride ourselves on is finding high school players and developing them. One of the issues that's happening in college football is that high school kids are being looked over because everybody (feels) the pressure to have to win this exact second."
Fisch has stuck to that blueprint, and the early returns are promising. After a 6-7 debut season, the Huskies improved to 9-4 in 2025, and a social media graphic from the program this week boldly declared, "You heard it here first," suggesting the growing pains are about to yield significant results.
The optimism is well-founded. Washington returns dynamic quarterback Demond Williams Jr., four starting offensive linemen, and much of a defense that showed improvement under coordinator Ryan Walters. Additionally, Fisch's 2026 recruiting class is ranked 13th nationally by 247Sports, and with a backloaded schedule, the Huskies could conceivably be undefeated when Penn State visits on Nov. 7.
Fisch exuded confidence at Big Ten media days in Chicago, saying, "I love our program, and I love where we're headed. I love our culture. I love our players. I love the physical, violent, disciplined football that we play."
Key Analysis
Yet, the transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten has been challenging. Washington has yet to produce a first- or second-team All-Big Ten performer, and the 2023 CFP runner-up team yielded 10 draft picks. Fisch's philosophy of developing high school players is admirable, but the Huskies need more elite talent to compete with the conference's top teams.
Williams, in particular, showed a stark split in performance. Against unranked opponents, he threw for 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions, but against ranked teams like Ohio State, Oregon, and Michigan, his numbers plummeted to two touchdowns and five interceptions. Questions about his loyalty and leadership also linger after a brief flirtation with the transfer portal.
The offense's efficiency also depended heavily on the opponent. Washington averaged 51.3 points per game in nonconference play, but that dropped to 26.4 in Big Ten games. In their four losses, all against top-tier defenses, they managed just 9.3 points per game and 4.3 yards per play.
With the departures of running backs Jonah Coleman and Adam Mohammed and wide receiver Denzel Boston, Washington must integrate new skill players. The defense also faces a rebuild along the interior. These are significant obstacles, but Fisch's blueprint suggests the depth developed over the past two years is ready to step up.
Fisch remains committed to his approach: "We haven't changed our philosophy. We recruit to our family. We recruit high school players. We have very few players from the transfer portal, and hopefully we will get to the number zero from the portal as we move forward."
The blueprint is intact, but the time for patience has passed. Year 3 is expected to be the breakout, and the bar has been set internally. Whether the Huskies can meet that expectation will define Fisch's tenure at Washington.
Originally reported by hastingstribune.