Did Washington Meet Expectations In 2025?
Jedd Fisch raised the floor in his second season with the Washington Huskies, but missed the peak—was 2025 a true success or just a stepping stone? Locked On Huskies hosts Roman Tomashoff and Lars Hanson debate Washington’s 8–4 surge, unpacking Fisch’s play-calling struggles, Demond Williams Jr’s development at quarterback, and the Huskies’ shifting place in the Big Ten. Can this young core, led by breakout performers like John Mills, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, and Dezmen Roebuck, and supported by a star-studded 2026 recruiting class, close the gap on powerhouses like Ohio State and Michigan?Key questions include the lack of a clear No. 1 wide receiver after Denzel Boston’s impending departure for the NFL draft, how offensive line upgrades with Paki Finau, Champ Taulealea, and John Mills are shaping the future, and whether defensive stars like Alex McLaughlin and emerging freshmen can fix edge-rush woes. Assessing offseason priorities in the transfer portal and needed fixes on special teams, the Huskies need to take another step towards the College Football Playoff in 2026.00:00 — Intro01:27 — Was 2025 a successful season for Washington? Assessing improvement and expectations04:17 — Offensive struggles in key games and analysis of Demond Williams’ season9:57 — Positives and reasons for optimism: Returning starters, recruiting, and team building 15:20 — Defensive promise moving forward 22:15 — Concerns and needs moving forward: Offensive play calling, WR1, edge pressure, and transfer portal targets32:04 — Special teams and final thoughtsBecome a Locked On Huskies Insider: joinsubtext.com/lockedonhuskiesLocked On Huskies is part of the Locked On Podcast NetworkSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Omaha SteaksSave big on unforgettable gifts with Omaha Steaks. Visit https://OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off site-wide and an extra 20% off select favorites during their Cyber Sale.And for an additional $35 off, use promo code COLLEGE at checkout. Aura FramesFor a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting https://AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames - named #1 by Wirecutter - by using promo code COLLEGE at checkout. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.