Washington football took another gut punch in the US LBM Coaches Poll, sliding five more spots to No. 24 this week. Yeah, you read that right: they are 2-0, but they are falling like a rock. This comes after a seriously messy 16-14 victory over Utah State in Week Two, a game that came down to the wire in the worst way possible. For a team that started the season ranked No. 17, receiving only 268 points now feels like a kick to the gut.
Ugly Wins and Dropped Opportunities
Look, we all know the Apple Cup is a big deal, but that 24-10 win over Washington State in Week One was not exactly a statement. The Huskies dropped two spots right out of the gate, and honestly, that should have been a red flag for Jedd Fisch’s team. Then Week Two rolls around, and his squad barely scrapes by Utah State, 16-14. You would think a 2-0 record would mean moving up, right? Instead, they tumble another five spots. This team has had two golden chances to assert itself in the chaotic early season and climb the rankings, but much like what happened against those Aggies, they just let those opportunities slip right through their fingers. It is frustrating to watch, especially when there is so much movement around the Big Ten.
Player Errors Fueling the Freefall
It is easy to point fingers, but some plays are just inexcusable. Remember that Utah State game? Running back Trey Cooley dropped a 30-plus-yard touchdown on fourth down in the first quarter! A score there changes the whole vibe. Then we get to the second half, and wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck, a Freshman All-American, started having some uncharacteristic struggles. In the third quarter, he turned his head upfield on what should have been a 5-yard touchdown and let the ball just slip away. And to top it off, on UW’s final offensive drive, he dropped *another* ball that would have put the game away. These are not just mistakes; these are momentum killers and game-changing errors.
Even with No. 4 Indiana, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 11 USC, No. 15 Penn State, No. 18 Oregon, No. 19 Michigan, and No. 20 Iowa all battling it out in the Big Ten, and both the Buckeyes and Ducks suffering their first loss, our Huskies are still only No. 8 in the conference. That is a brutal reality check when other teams are stumbling but not falling this far.
So, here we are. A 2-0 team sitting at No. 24 in the nation, with a No. 8 ranking in their own conference. The early season chaos should have been their chance to shine, but it feels like they are doing the opposite. Jedd Fisch and this team have got to figure out how to clean up these critical errors and capitalize on opportunities, or this tumble is going to turn into a full-blown slide. The stakes are already high, even this early in the season, and the Emerald City faithful are watching closely.
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.
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