Washington Huskies Predicted to Make College Football Playoff in Recent Bowl Projection

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The preseason expectations keep coming for the Washington Huskies football team.

Entering the season, the Huskies already had internal standards from the players and the coaches. Players on the defense have reiterated time and time again that they believe they can be a top-five unit in the country this upcoming season.

Washington's offensive line, which features four-of-five returners from last year, believes it can be in legitimate contention for the Joe Moore award, which is annually awarded to the best offensive line in the country.

Externally, a lot of media members and analysts have the Huskies well-regarded, as well.

Washington was ranked 17th in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll and predicted to finish seventh in the Big Ten in the preseason media poll at Big Ten media days in July.

If the Huskies meet or slightly exceed these preseason expectations, it would place them right in thick of contention for a third College Football Playoff berth in program history and the first since the CFP switched its format from four to 12 teams.

The last time UW made the CFP, it made it all the way to the 2023-24 national championship game before falling to the Michigan Wolverines.

At least one writer predicts that Washington will return to the dance this season.

On3 Sports reporter Brett McMurphy recently released an article predicting every bowl game for the upcoming season, including the CFP.

In his predictions, McMurphy had the Huskies making it to the playoffs as the No. 11 seed, on the road against the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

In the same breath, McMurphy had Washington being one-and-done in the playoffs, falling in the first round to Miami, which would then go on to the Peach Bowl in the CFP quarterfinals to play the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs.

According to McMurphy, the Huskies would be one of four teams from the Big Ten to make it to the CFP. The other three would be the Ohio State Buckeyes (No. 1 seed), Oregon Ducks (No. 2 seed) and defending national champions, the Indiana Hoosiers (No. 7 seed).

McMurphy has the CFP national championship coming down to a Big Ten showdown between the top two seeds, Ohio State and Oregon, with the Ducks coming out the winner and claiming the first national title in program history.

Washington will have its first chance to prove McMurphy, and other analysts and writers, right in its season-opener against the Washington State Cougars at 1 p.m. PT on Sept. 6 at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

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