Washington Football is rolling out the purple carpet for one of its most legendary teams, bringing back numerous members of the historic 2016 College Football Playoff squad to Montlake for Sunday’s Apple Cup. This isn’t just a walk down memory lane, it’s a huge nod to a team that redefined what Huskies football could be a decade ago.
That 2016 Squad Was Built Different
Ten years ago, that 2016 Washington team, under head coach Chris Petersen in his third season, didn’t just win a lot of games, they absolutely changed the game for this program. They snagged the first outright Pac-12 Championship since way back in 1992 and then punched their ticket to a College Football Playoff semifinal. A 12-2 record speaks for itself, even though they eventually fell to Alabama in the Peach Bowl CFP Semifinal. What a ride, right? It was their first ten-win season since 2000, when they went 11-1, and the program’s first ever playoff appearance. But for real, remember that 70-21 dismantling of Oregon? That broke a 13-year curse against the Ducks! Pure savagery.
Star Power From Top to Bottom
That squad was loaded, man. Jake Browning, the program’s all-time leading passer, was slinging it for 3,430 yards and 43 touchdowns, hooking up with Dante Pettis, John Ross, and Will Dissly. Then you had Myles Gaskin, the all-time leading rusher, just exploding for over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns. Offense was fire! And the defense? Forget about it. Up front, you had sophomore defensive tackles Greg Gaines and Vita Vea, who are still tearing it up in the NFL. The linebacking corps was a menace with Azeem Victor, Keishawn Bierria, and Ben Burr-Kirven. And that secondary? Absolute lockdown. Budda Baker, Sidney Jones, Kevin King, and Taylor Rapp. Four second-round NFL draft picks in one secondary! Unbelievable talent from top to bottom.
Fisch’s Team Has a Blueprint, Now They Gotta Execute
The 2016 season wasn’t just a great year, it was the moment the Huskies roared back into national prominence after years of struggles. They went on to hit a Fiesta Bowl, a Rose Bowl, and even another CFP trip in 2023. Fast forward to today, and coach Jedd Fisch is staring down a super similar situation to Petersen’s back then. He’s also in his third year, trying to get his team to finally turn the corner and become a national contender. With a roster packed with blue-chip youngsters and tons of returning talent, Fisch’s crew has to look at these returning legends and find that same fire. Can they follow in those footsteps from a decade ago?
So, when the Huskies take the field against their arch-rivals this Sunday for the Apple Cup, it’s not just another game. With all those legends from 2016 watching, Jedd Fisch’s team has a chance to show they’ve got that same championship DNA. The blueprint is there, can they deliver?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply