Washington Huskies 2024 College Football Preview
Posted July 13, 2024
2023 Recap
Record – 14-1
ATS – 7-7-1
That was one heck of a run.
The Huskies were one of most entertaining teams of the 2023 college football season, and unlike so many teams over the years that’ve been loaded with talent and underachieved, Washington kept finding ways to win. You can say they were fortunate to win so many close games but the resume speaks for itself. They took down Boise St, Arizona, Oregon (twice), USC, Utah, Oregon St, and Texas. The Huskies were no match for mighty Michigan in the National Championship Game (L 34-13) but it was definitely a season that fans will remember for a long time.
What should we expect this year as they transition to the Big Ten with new HC Jedd Fisch?
Washington Huskies 2024 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Huskies were an incredibly devastating passing machine LY behind the arm of all-Universe QB Michael Penix (4,903, 36-11 TD to INT), and whilst it’s impossible to replace that kind of talent, Washington did a great job in the transfer portal by snagging veteran QB Will Rogers from Mississippi St who’s smoked SEC (!) defenses for over 12,000 (!) yards during his career with the Bulldogs. The bad news is that the Huskies lose almost every living human body from the WR/TE group and need to completely reload. WR Jeremiah Hunter led the Cal Golden Bears in receiving yards in each of the last two season but beyond that, there are no proven specimens on the depth chart. The word on NARRATIVE STREET is that WR Denzel Boston is THE CHOSEN ONE, but it’s hard for us to project too much production from a guy that’s caught seven passes in two years. Then again, he’s got Will Rogers at QB and a spot in the starting lineup. The Huskies should be fine at RB with the addition of Arizona transfer Jonah Coleman but were not crazy about the depth in the room. The OL has been one of the most underrated units in college football over the L2Y (12, 7 sacks allowed!) but this season’s group looks like one of the worst in the Big Ten in terms of experience and talent.
DEFENSE
The Huskies are in better shape on this side of the football as they return three of the top-five tacklers from LY’s stop unit and add several transfers to the mix. The DL is a yuuuge question mark as they lose all four starters and the replacements don’t look overwhelming from a talent perspective. The LB group looks fine with the return of Carson Bruener (#3 tackles) and Alphonzo Tuputala whilst the secondary appears to be the clear strength of the defense. The CB tandem of Elijah Jackson and Ephesians Prysock (Arizona) is a great foundation and Kamren Fabiculanan is a promising specimen at the safety position. The stop unit looks like it’ll be down a significant notch but hopefully new DC Steve Belichick can work some magic.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Things are in decent shape. The kicking tandem of PK Grady Gross (18/22 FG LY) and punter Jack McCallister is more than acceptable whilst KR Daniyel Ngata did fine work in 2023 (23.4).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Sadly, it’s mostly bad news. Let’s start with the positive. The non-conference games shouldn’t scare them (Weber St, Eastern Michigan, Washington St) but we suppose the Cougars will have even more motivation than usual to beat ‘big brother’. As far as the Big Ten schedule goes, there’s a LOT of travel involved and the road trips are nasty (Iowa, Penn St, Oregon). They also have to face improving Indiana (A) and Rutgers (A) squads, as well as USC (H).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Rutgers (Sept 28)
Washington has to fly approximately 70,000 miles ** to face Rutgers the week before they have the epic revenge game with Michigan.
** Fact check: Just as believable as farmers and cow farts causing ‘climate change’.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 13
Over 6.5 -115
Under 6.5 -115
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
The Huskies will be fine long-term but we don’t think they win seven games this year.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The legendary Brad Powers reminds us that Washington lost SEVEN offensive players to the NFL Draft. FIVE of those doods were taken in the first two rounds.
The Huskies have had just one losing season (4-8 in 2021) since your boy Steve Sarkisian took over from the disaster that was Tyrone Willingham back in 2009 (!).
The GREAT STATE OF WASHINGTON is now under full communist control so if you are in that neck of the woods, just remember that the government loves you, and make sure to guard your spot in the bread line.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
The transition to the Big Ten is going to be extremely difficult this year given the massive turnover of the roster. The Huskies found a good trigger man in Will Rogers but we worry about the skill position players and the rebuilt offensive line. The defense doesn’t look horrible on paper but they’re gonna have to be at their best if Washington plans on making a bowl game this season. We’ll call for five or six wins and believe that a .500 record would be an impressive accomplishment.