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 — Intro
01:27 — Was 2025 a successful season for Washington? Assessing improvement and expectations
04:17 — Offensive struggles in key games and analysis of Demond Williams’ season
9:57 — 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 targets
32:04 — Special teams and final thoughts

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