Quarterly Report: Huskies Have Disappointed At The Halfway Mark

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Just like that, Washington is already halfway through their 2026 campaign. After jumping out to a 3-0 start in non-conference play, the Huskies are currently riding a three-game skid since entering Big Ten play.

Here's everything we've learned about Jedd Fisch's program in the last month.

Slow Starts Turned into Sluggish Showings

First-quarter woes have been a constant theme for Fisch's offense since he arrived at UW. After scoring a combined 17 points in the opening period through the first three weeks of the season, the Huskies continue to sleepwalk through the beginning of games, averaging two points per first quarter and ranking No. 119 out of 138 FBS programs.

It's one thing to be a second-half team, but that hasn't been the case either. Since entering conference play, Fisch's offense has yet to eclipse 24 points in a game. The frustrating outings have been highlighted by a trip to Los Angeles, where Washington put up just 21 points against a USC defense that was allowing 38 points per game against conference opponents entering the contest. With the head coach now in his third year as the offensive play caller, the Huskies have yet to find an identity on that side of the ball.

What to Make of the Quarterback Room

Following an embarrassing 41-24 loss to Iowa, Fisch stated that Demond Williams Jr. will be Washington's starting quarterback moving forward, assuming he is healthy. With the amount of effort, energy, and resources that have been poured into the junior signal caller, it's no surprise that the head coach would want to continue to try and help get his second-year starter out of a slump. However, backup Elijah Brown showed flashes of something Husky fans haven't seen much of this season.

After Williams went down with a shoulder injury late in the second quarter, the third-year posted 251 yards and 3 touchdowns in the second half. With the Huskies playing catch-up the entire second half, Brown was dropping back to throw much more than usual, which helped his numbers in the box score. But it wasn't the stats that made viewers turn their heads; it was the patience and efficiency on display. Without receiving any real first-team reps throughout camp, the former Cardinal was poised in the pocket, pushed the ball downfield, and avoided negative plays.

While Williams is likely to return as the starter as soon as his shoulder allows him to, the showing from his replacement certainly raises some questions about why the Huskies offense has regressed significantly this season.

Defensive Physicality Has Been Exposed at Times

There's no debating that Ryan Walters' defense has been the strength of Washington this season. After ranking among the best units in the nation in forced turnovers and havoc rate to start the season, the group has seen some regression in recent weeks.

After a 27-24 loss to Minnesota to open up Big Ten play, the Huskies' defense got back on track by holding coach Lincoln Riley's offense to just 19 points in a losing effort. Right when things seemed to be trending back in the right direction, Walters' crew was punched in the mouth by No. 17 Iowa. Typically known for their low-scoring, methodical style of play, the Hawkeyes exploded for 465 yards of total offense and 41 points, while the Huskies had a staggering 23 missed tackles, their third consecutive game with at least 20.

Despite facing a backup quarterback making his first career start in junior Jeremy Hecklinski, the secondary gave up 202 yards and 3 touchdowns, while running back Kamari Moulton went off for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his own right. While the unit isn't lacking in talent or athleticism, the loss proved to be a wake-up call for what physical Big Ten football truly looks like.

What's Next

Washington heads to West Lafayette for a second straight Friday night game, where they will face a Purdue team coming off a 41-13 win over Minnesota. The Huskies will then head into a much-needed Bye Week in Week Eight.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Quarterly Report: Huskies Have Disappointed At The Halfway Mark

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