The Washington Huskies kicked off their 2026-27 college football season with a 24-10 win over their rival, but let’s be real, Emerald City, that “W” didn’t exactly scream “domination.” While a win is a win, and we’ll take it, the performance felt a little… underwhelming, especially when you look at how some other Big Ten teams came out of the gate. This team’s got goals this year, and they’ll need more than just showing up to reach them.
Big Ten Powerhouses Are Already Flexing Hard
Around the Big Ten, it’s clear some squads are ready to roll. The Ohio State Buckeyes, coming in at number one in the rankings, looked like it was “business as usual” in Week 1. Julian Sayin came out hot, and their supporting cast looks just as good as last season. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes are screaming “title contender” already. Then there are the Indiana Hoosiers at number two; they slammed the door on any doubt about regression with a true statement win. Josh Hoover absolutely looked like a star quarterback in his debut, and with a ton of weapons plus a defense that always plays to its level, the Hoosiers are still right there in contention as the Big Ten’s best team. We also have to talk about the USC Trojans. This is the best squad Lincoln Riley has had since joining the Big Ten, and adding Gary Patterson means they’ll be equally good on both sides of the ball. In two weeks, they’ve been more impressive than Oregon, who came in sluggish against Boise State. That’s just inexcusable for a title contender. Dante Moore showed up in the second half, but their defense looks more gettable than folks thought.
Huskies Defense Steps Up as Demond Williams Shines
Back home, it was definitely not an “overly impressive victory” for our Huskies, even against a rival. However, one thing remains crystal clear: Demond Williams is still a special talent. This kid is going to be the driving force for Washington’s success this season, no doubt about it. The defense for the Huskies looked impressive, and frankly, they will have to be the bedrock for the Huskies to reach their goal this year. We also saw some solid starts from other teams like Penn State, who looked really good in their opener with Matt Campbell as the “right coach” to bring them back to glory days, and Rocco Becht looking like an elite Big Ten quarterback. UCLA could be the biggest surprise, showcasing a new identity with a big win where California had “no answer to stopping the run.” Even Iowa, with their offense not doing “anything too crazy,” had a defense that “suffocated the Niu Huskies,” even if the source somehow also called it the “most unimpressive component.” Hey, I just report what they say! But for Iowa, the offense still has to get things right if they want to overachieve.
For our Huskies, the next few weeks are critical. With Demond Williams’ special talent leading the charge and that defense stepping up, we need to see them put it all together. Their goal for the year depends on it. You know we’ll be watching every snap, ready to cheer them on!
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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