Washington Huskies football facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Washington Huskies football
2025 Washington Huskies football team
First season	1889; 136 years ago
Athletic director	Patrick Chun
Head coach	Jedd Fisch 2nd season, 6–7 (.462)
Stadium	Husky Stadium (capacity: 70,138)
Field	Alaska Airlines Field
Year built	1920
Field surface	AstroTurf
Location	Seattle, Washington
NCAA division	Division I FBS
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Past conferences	Pac-12 (1959–2024) Pacific Coast (1916–1958) Northwest (1908–1917, 1922–1925) NIAA (1902–1907) WWIAA (1891–1898)
All-time record	781–467–50 (.621)
Bowl record	21–21–1 (.500)
Playoff appearances	2 (2016, 2023)
Playoff record	1–2
Claimed national titles	2 (1960, 1991)
Unclaimed national titles	3 (1910, 1984, 1990)
National finalist	1 (2023)
Conference titles	18 (1916, 1919, 1925, 1936, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2016, 2018, 2023)
Division titles	4 (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020)
Rivalries	Oregon (rivalry) Washington State (rivalry) Northwest Championship
Consensus All-Americans	23
Current uniform
Colors	Purple and Gold
Fight song	Bow Down to Washington
Mascot	Dubs II Harry the Husky
Marching band	University of Washington Husky Marching Band
Outfitter	Adidas

The Washington Huskies football team represents the University of Washington in exciting college football games. The Huskies play in the top division of college football, the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). They are now part of the Big Ten Conference, after being a founding member of the Pac-12 Conference for over 100 years. Their home field since 1920 is Husky Stadium, located on campus in Seattle.

The Huskies have won 18 conference championships and seven Rose Bowls. They also claim two national championships, which are top honors in college football. The 1960 team beat the national champions, Minnesota, in the 1961 Rose Bowl. The 1991 team finished the season undefeated with a 12–0 record and was ranked No. 1 in the Coaches' Poll.

Washington's overall record ranks among the best in FBS schools. They hold the FBS record for the longest unbeaten streak at 64 games in a row. They also have the second-longest winning streak at 40 games. The school has had 13 seasons where they didn't lose any games, including eight perfect seasons.

Washington was one of the first four teams to form what became the Pac-12 Conference. They were one of only two schools that stayed in the conference without interruption until 2024. From 1977 to 2003, Washington had 27 seasons in a row where they didn't have a losing record. This was the longest streak in the Pac-12. The Huskies ended their time in the Pac-12 with a perfect 12–0 regular season. They then beat their rival Oregon in the last Pac-12 Championship Game and Texas in the Sugar Bowl. The team finished the 2023 season with a 14–1 record after losing to Michigan in the 2024 NCAA Championship Game.

Washington is often called a "Quarterback U" because many of its quarterbacks have gone on to play in the National Football League (NFL). Since Hall of Famer Warren Moon in 1976, 17 of the last 23 starting quarterbacks have played in the NFL.

Husky Stadium, Washington's home stadium, has been called the loudest college football stadium by ESPN.

Team History: How the Huskies Began

Early Days of Washington Football (1889–1907)

Organized football started at the University of Washington in 1892. In the first 15 seasons, ten different coaches led the team. The team grew from playing just a couple of games a season to ten games as the sport became more popular. Home games were played at different locations, with Denny Field becoming the main home field from 1895. The 1900 team played their in-state rival Washington State College to a 5–5 tie. This was the first game in what is now known as the Apple Cup.

The Gil Dobie Era: An Unbeaten Streak (1908–1916)

Gil Dobie became Washington's head coach in 1908. He coached for nine amazing seasons, with a record of 58 wins, 0 losses, and 3 ties. Dobie's teams were part of Washington's NCAA all-time longest 64-game unbeaten streak. During this time, they outscored opponents by a huge margin (1930 to 118 points). This streak also included a 40-game winning streak, which is the second-longest in NCAA Division I-A/FBS history. In 1916, Washington and three other schools formed the Pacific Coast Conference, which later became the Pac-12 Conference. In Dobie's last season, his 1916 team won the PCC's first conference championship. Dobie was honored in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

New Coaches and a New Home (1917–1920)

After Dobie, Washington had several coaches. Claude J. Hunt led the team to their second PCC championship in 1919. This period ended with the team moving from Denny Field to its permanent home, Husky Stadium, in 1920. The team was called the "Sun Dodgers" in 1920 and 1921, before becoming the "Huskies" from 1922 onwards.

Enoch Bagshaw: Rose Bowl Appearances (1921–1929)

Enoch Bagshaw was the first former player to become head coach in 1921. He led the team to a 63–22–6 record. His teams also played in the Rose Bowl twice. They tied Navy 14–14 in the 1924 Rose Bowl and lost to Alabama 19–20 in the 1926 Rose Bowl. His 1925 team won the school's third PCC championship.

James Phelan: More Success (1930–1941)

James Phelan coached the Huskies for 12 seasons, with a 65–37–8 record. His 1936 team won the school's fourth PCC championship. They also won their first bowl game, beating Hawaii 53–13 in the 1938 Poi Bowl. Phelan was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

The Jim Owens Era: National Champions! (1957–1974)

In 1957, Jim Owens became Washington's head coach. Over 18 seasons, he had a 99–82–6 record. Owens led his teams to three conference championships and three Rose Bowl appearances. His 1960 team won the 1961 Rose Bowl against Minnesota. The Helms Athletic Foundation named the 1960 team national champions, which was the school's first national title in football. Owens resigned after the 1974 season and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1982.

Don James: The "Dawgfather" (1975–1992)

Don James coached Washington for 18 years. His Huskies won four Rose Bowls and one Orange Bowl. His amazing 1991 Washington Huskies team finished with a perfect 12–0 record and shared the national championship with Miami.

The Huskies won 22 games in a row from 1990 to 1992. James's record with the Huskies was 153 wins, 57 losses, and 2 ties. He won national coach of the year awards multiple times and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Many experts consider the 1991 Washington Huskies one of the top 10 college football teams ever.

James resigned in 1993 due to penalties the conference placed on the team for rules violations. He said his resignation "probably saved his life." Don James passed away in 2013. In 2017, a bronze statue of him was placed at Husky Stadium, honoring him as "the Dawgfather."

Recent Coaches and New Beginnings (1993–Present)

After Don James, Jim Lambright coached the team, leading them to four bowl games. Then, Rick Neuheisel took over, winning the 2001 Rose Bowl. Neuheisel was later fired after admitting to taking part in a betting pool. Keith Gilbertson coached for two seasons, followed by Tyrone Willingham, who tried to improve the team's reputation.

Steve Sarkisian coached from 2009 to 2013, leading the Huskies to a winning record. Chris Petersen then became head coach in 2014. In his third year, Petersen led Washington to a Pac-12 title and their first College Football Playoff appearance in the 2016 Peach Bowl. He stepped down in 2019.

Jimmy Lake became coach in 2020, leading the team to a division title in the shortened 2020 season. He was later suspended and then fired. Kalen DeBoer took over in 2021. In his second season, DeBoer led the Huskies to a 14–1 record, winning the last Pac-12 championship and the Sugar Bowl. They played in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game, losing to Michigan. DeBoer left Washington after the 2023 season.

Following DeBoer's departure, Washington hired Jedd Fisch as head coach on January 14, 2024. Washington also moved from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten Conference for the 2024 season.

Conference History: Where the Huskies Played

Washington played its first football seasons as an independent team. They were a founding member of the Northwest Conference in 1908. In 1916, Washington also became one of the four original members of the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC). The PCC ended in 1958, and Washington, along with other teams, immediately formed the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) in 1959. This conference later became the Pacific-8, Pacific-10, and finally the Pac-12. Washington and California were the only two schools that were part of all these conferences from the beginning. On August 4, 2023, Washington and Oregon were invited to join the Big Ten Conference, starting August 2, 2024.

• Independent (1889–1907)
• Northwest Conference (1908–1917, 1922–1925)
• Pacific Coast Conference (1916–1958)
• Pac-12 Conference (1959–2024)
  • Athletic Association of Western Universities (1959–1967)
  • Pacific-8 Conference (1968–1977)
  • Pacific-10 Conference (1978–2010)
  • Pac-12 Conference (2011–2024)
• Big Ten Conference (2024–present)

Championship Wins

National Championships: Top Honors

Washington claims two national championships: 1960 and 1991.

The 1960 team was chosen by the Helms Athletic Foundation after they beat the national champion Minnesota in the 1961 Rose Bowl. Back then, the final polls were taken before the bowl games.

The 1991 team finished No. 1 in the Coaches Poll. They earned The Coaches' Trophy and other awards. This title was shared, as the AP Poll chose Miami (FL) as their champion.

Claimed National Titles

Year	Coach	Selector	Record	Bowl	Opponent	Result	Final AP	Final Coaches
1960	Jim Owens	Helms Athletic Foundation	10–1	Rose Bowl	Minnesota	W 17–7	No. 6	No. 5
1991	Don James	B(QPRS), BR, DeS, DuS, FN, FWAA, MGR, NCF, R(FACT), SR, UPI/NFF, USAT/CNN	12–0	Rose Bowl	Michigan	W 34–14	No. 2	No. 1

Other National Titles (Unclaimed)

Some groups also picked Washington as national champions in 1984 and 1990, but the school does not officially claim these titles.

Year	Coach	Selector	Record	Bowl	Opponent	Result	Final AP	Final Coaches
1910	Gil Dobie	Bill Libby	6–0	N/A			–	–
1984	Don James	Berryman, Football News, National Championship Foundation (co-champion)	11–1	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma	W 28–17	No. 2	No. 2
1990	Don James	R(FACT) (4 co-champions)	10–2	Rose Bowl	Iowa	W 46–34	No. 5	No. 5

Rose Bowl Championships: The Granddaddy of Them All

Washington has won 7 Rose Bowl championships and had one tie. The Rose Bowl was historically the most important bowl game for Pac-12 teams before the BCS era.

Year	Coach	Game	Opponent	Result
1923	Enoch Bagshaw	1924 Rose Bowl	Navy	T 14–14
1959	Jim Owens	1960 Rose Bowl	Wisconsin	W 44–8
1960		1961 Rose Bowl	1961 Rose Bowl	Minnesota	W 17–7
1977	Don James	1978 Rose Bowl	Michigan	W 27–20
1981		1982 Rose Bowl	Iowa	W 28–0
1990		1991 Rose Bowl	Iowa	W 46–34
1991		1992 Rose Bowl	Michigan	W 34–14
2000	Rick Neuheisel	2001 Rose Bowl	Purdue	W 34–24

Conference Championships: Dominating the League

Washington has won 18 conference championships. This includes titles in the PCC, AAWU, Pac-8, Pac-10, and Pac-12. They won at least one championship in every decade except the 1940s. Washington's 18 conference championships are the second-most in the league's history.

Season	Conference	Coach	Conference record	Overall record
1916†	PCC	Gil Dobie	3–0–1	6–0–1
1919†		Claude J. Hunt	2–1–0	5–1–0
1925		Enoch Bagshaw	5–0–0	11–0–1
1936		James Phelan	7–0–1	7–2–1
1959†	AAWU	Jim Owens	3–1–0	10–1–0
1960			4–0–0	10–1–0
1963			4–1–0	6–5–0
1977	Pacific-8	Don James	6–1–0	10–2–0
1980	Pacific-10		6–1–0	9–3–0
1981			6–2–0	10–2–0
1990			7–1–0	10–2–0
1991			8–0–0	12–0–0
1992†			6–2–0	9–3–0
1995†		Jim Lambright	6–1–1	7–4–1
2000†		Rick Neuheisel	7–1	11–1
2016	Pac-12	Chris Petersen	8–1	12–2
2018			7–2	10–4
2023		Kalen DeBoer	9–0	14–1

† Co-champions

Division Championships

Washington won four Pac-12 North Division titles. These divisions were used from 2011 to 2021.

Season	Conference	Division	Coach	Opponent	CG result
2016	Pac-12	North	Chris Petersen	Colorado	W 41–10
2017†	Pac-12	North	Chris Petersen	N/A: lost tiebreaker to Stanford
2018†	Pac-12	North	Chris Petersen	Utah	W 10–3
2020	Pac-12	North	Jimmy Lake	N/A: unable to play due to not enough players available

† Co-champions

Meet the Head Coaches

Tenure	Head coach	Record	Bowl record
1892–1893	W. B. Goodwin	2–4–1
1894	Charles Cobb	1–1–1
1895–1896, 1898	Ralph Nichols	7–4–1
1897	Carl L. Clemans	1–2
1899	A. S. Jeffs	4–1–1
1900	J. S. Dodge	1–2–2
1901	Jack Wright	3–3
1902–1904	James Knight	15–4–1
1905	Oliver Cutts	4–2–2
1906–1907	Victor M. Place	8–5–6
1908–1916	Gil Dobie†	58–0–3
1917, 1919	Claude J. Hunt	6–3–1
1918	Tony Savage	1–1
1920	Stub Allison	1–5
1921–1929	Enoch Bagshaw	63–22–6	0–1–1
1930–1941	James Phelan†	65–37–8	1–1
1942–1947	Ralph Welch	27–20–3	0–1
1948–1952	Howie Odell	23–25–2
1953–1955	John Cherberg	10–18–2
1956	Darrell Royal†	5–5
1957–1974	Jim Owens†	99–82–6	2–1
1975–1992	Don James†	153–57–2	10–4
1993–1998	Jim Lambright	44–25–1	1–3
1999–2002	Rick Neuheisel	33–16	1–3
2003–2004	Keith Gilbertson	7–16
2005–2008	Tyrone Willingham	11–37
2009–2013	Steve Sarkisian	34–29	1–2
2013 (interim)	Marques Tuiasosopo	1–0	1–0
2014–2019	Chris Petersen	55–26	2–4
2020–2021	Jimmy Lake	7–6
2021 (interim)	Bob Gregory	0–3*
2022–2023	Kalen DeBoer	25–3	2–1
2024–present	Jedd Fisch	2–1	0–0

† College Football Hall of Fame inductee
^* Includes loss to Arizona State during Head Coach Jimmy Lake's suspension.

Bowl Games: Post-Season Fun

Washington has played in many bowl games, with a record of 20 wins, 20 losses, and 1 tie. Their 15 Rose Bowl appearances are second only to USC in the Pac-12. They are also one of only seven schools to play in three Rose Bowls in a row (1990–1992).

No.	Season	Bowl	Location	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	1923	Rose	Pasadena, California	Navy	T 14–14	40,000
2	1925	Rose	Pasadena, California	Alabama	L 19–20	45,000
3	1936	Rose	Pasadena, California	Pittsburgh	L 0–21	87,196
4	1937	Poi	Honolulu, Hawai'i	Hawaii	W 53–13	13,500
5	1943	Rose	Pasadena, California	USC	L 0–29	68,000
6	1959	Rose	Pasadena, California	Wisconsin	W 44–8	100,809
7	1960	Rose	Pasadena, California	Minnesota	W 17–7	97,314
8	1963	Rose	Pasadena, California	Illinois	L 7–17	96,957
9	1977	Rose	Pasadena, California	Michigan	W 27–20	105,312
10	1979	Sun	El Paso, Texas	Texas	W 14–7	33,412
11	1980	Rose	Pasadena, California	Michigan	L 6–23	104,863
12	1981	Rose	Pasadena, California	Iowa	W 28–0	105,611
13	1982	Aloha	Honolulu, Hawai'i	Maryland	W 21–20	30,055
14	1983	Aloha	Honolulu, Hawai'i	Penn State	L 10–13	37,212
15	1984	Orange	Miami, Florida	Oklahoma	W 28–17	56,294
16	1985	Freedom	Anaheim, California	Colorado	W 20–17	30,961
17	1986	Sun	El Paso, Texas	Alabama	L 6–28	48,722
18	1987	Independence	Shreveport, Louisiana	Tulane	W 24–12	41,683
19	1989	Freedom	Anaheim, California	Florida	W 34–7	33,858
20	1990	Rose	Pasadena, California	Iowa	W 46–34	101,273
21	1991	Rose	Pasadena, California	Michigan	W 34–14	103,566
22	1992	Rose	Pasadena, California	Michigan	L 31–38	94,236
23	1995	Sun	El Paso, Texas	Iowa	L 18–38	49,116
24	1996	Holiday	San Diego, California	Colorado	L 21–33	54,749
25	1997	Aloha	Honolulu, Hawai'i	Michigan State	W 51–23	34,419
26	1998	Oahu	Honolulu, Hawai'i	Air Force	L 25–45	46,451
27	1999	Holiday	San Diego, California	Kansas State	L 20–24	57,118
28	2000	Rose	Pasadena, California	Purdue	W 34–24	94,392
29	2001	Holiday	San Diego, California	Texas	L 43–47	60,548
30	2002	Sun	El Paso, Texas	Purdue	L 24–34	48,917
31	2010	Holiday	San Diego, California	Nebraska	W 19–7	57,921
32	2011	Alamo	San Antonio, Texas	Baylor	L 56–67	65,256
33	2012	Las Vegas	Whitney, Nevada	Boise State	L 26–28	33,217
34	2013	Fight Hunger	San Francisco, California	BYU	W 31–16	34,136
35	2014	Cactus	Tempe, Arizona	Oklahoma State	L 22–30	35,409
36	2015	Heart of Dallas	Dallas, Texas	Southern Miss	W 44–31	20,229
37	2016	Peach (CFP Semifinal) †	Atlanta, Georgia	Alabama	L 7–24	75,996
38	2017	Fiesta †	Glendale, Arizona	Penn State	L 28–35	61,842
39	2018	Rose †	Pasadena, California	Ohio State	L 23–28	91,853
40	2019	Las Vegas	Whitney, Nevada	Boise State	W 38–7	34,197
41	2022	Alamo	San Antonio, Texas	Texas	W 27–20	62,730
42	2023	Sugar (CFP Semifinal) †	New Orleans, Louisiana	Texas	W 37–31	68,791
43	2023	2024 CFP National Championship †	Houston, Texas	Michigan	L 13–34	72,808
44	2024	Sun	El Paso, Texas	Louisville	L 34–35	40,826

† New Year's Six bowl game

Program Records: Top Achievements

College Football Playoff Appearances

Washington has played in the College Football Playoff twice.

Year	Seed	Opponent	Round	Result
2016	4	No. 1 Alabama	Semifinal – Peach Bowl	L 7–24
2023	2	No. 3 Texas	Semifinal – Sugar Bowl	W 37–31
		No. 1 Michigan	Finals – CFP National Championship	L 34–13

All-Time Records Against Pac-12 Teams

Here are Washington's records against their former Pac-12 conference opponents.

Opponent	Won	Lost	Tied	Percentage	Streak	First meeting
Arizona	26	11	1	.697	Won 7	1978
Arizona State	18	22	0	.450	Won 1	1975
California	57	41	4	.578	Won 3	1904
Colorado	13	7	1	.643	Won 1	1915
Oregon	63	48	5	.565	Won 3	1900
Oregon State	69	35	4	.657	Won 2	1897
USC	31	52	4	.379	Won 2	1923
Stanford	46	44	4	.511	Won 3	1893
UCLA	33	41	2	.447	Lost 2	1932
Utah	14	2	0	.875	Won 2	1931
Washington State	76	33	6	.687	Won 2	1900
Totals	445	335	31	.568

Rivalries: Big Games and Big Fun

Oregon: The Cascade Clash

Washington and Oregon first played in 1900. This rivalry is also known as the Cascade Clash. It's a big game between the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies. Their campuses are about 285 miles apart. This is one of the most played rivalries in college football history. Washington leads the series with 63 wins, 49 losses, and 5 ties.

Washington State: The Apple Cup

Washington and Washington State first played in 1900. The Apple Cup is usually the last game of the regular season for both teams. The winner gets the Apple Cup trophy from the state's governor. Washington leads the series with 76 wins, 34 losses, and 6 ties.

Northwest Championship: Who Rules the Region?

Washington wins the Northwest Championship by beating Oregon State, Oregon, and Washington State. These four teams from the Pacific Northwest started playing each other in a round-robin format in 1903.

Facilities: Where the Huskies Play and Practice

Husky Stadium: The Loudest Place to Play

Husky Stadium has been the Huskies' home field since 1920. It has been updated several times, including in 2012. Located on campus next to Lake Washington, it's the biggest stadium in the Pacific Northwest with seats for 70,183 fans. It's one of the few stadiums in the U.S. that you can reach by water. It's often called the "Greatest Setting in College Football."

Husky Stadium is known for being one of the loudest stadiums in the country. About 70 percent of the seats are covered by metal roofs, which helps trap the sound. In 1992, during a night game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, ESPN measured the noise level at about 135 decibels. This is the loudest recorded mark in NCAA history!

In 1968, the Huskies were the first major college team to use an Astroturf field. Before the 2000 season, they were also among the first to switch to FieldTurf. A big renovation of Husky Stadium started in 2011. Home games were played at CenturyLink Field in 2012 while the work was done. The new Husky Stadium reopened on August 31, 2013.

Dempsey Indoor: Practice Indoors

The Dempsey Indoor is a large indoor facility that opened in 2001. It's used for practice by Washington's football, softball, baseball, and soccer teams.

Traditions: Colors, Uniforms, and Sounds

Logos and Uniforms: Purple and Gold Pride

Washington's traditional home uniform includes gold helmets, purple jerseys, and gold pants. Since 1975, the helmets have featured a purple block "W" on both sides.

In the past, an outstanding defensive player would get to wear a special purple helmet. This was a way to show how important they were to the team.

For a home game in 2010, the Huskies had a "blackout" theme. The stadium's end zones were painted black, and the team wore black jerseys and pants. Fans were encouraged to wear black too.

In 2013, the Huskies started using chrome gold helmets. They also debuted matte black helmets with a purple "W." In 2014, they introduced new uniform options with different helmet, jersey, and pant colors. In 2017, chrome purple helmets were added.

In 2018, the school signed a new 10-year deal with Adidas for their uniforms and gear. This deal started in 2019.

Marching Band: The Sound of the Huskies

The University of Washington Husky Marching Band (HMB) is made up of 240 members. They perform at games and events.

Broadcasting: Hearing the Game

Huskies games are broadcast across Washington on the Washington Sports Network. Tony Castricone is the play-by-play announcer, and former UW tight end Cam Cleeland provides color commentary. The games air on 93.3 KJR-FM in Seattle. Bob Rondeau, known as the "Voice of the Huskies," announced Washington football for over 30 years until 2017.

Lou Gellermann, a Husky Hall of Fame rower, was the stadium's public address announcer from 1985 to 2007. He would greet fans with "Hello, Dawg fans!", and the crowd would shout back "Hello, Lou!".

Individual Awards and Accomplishments: Star Players and Coaches

Individual National Award Winners

Players

Paul Hornung Award Most Versatile Player	Maxwell Award Best All Around Player	Academic All-American of the Year Top Student-Athlete
2014 – Shaq Thompson, LB	2023 – Michael Penix Jr., QB	2023 – Rome Odunze, WR

Doak Walker Award Premier Running Back	John Mackey Award Most Outstanding Tight End	Joe Moore Award Best Offensive Line
1990 – Greg Lewis, TB	2013 – Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE	2023

Lombardi Award Best Lineman/Linebacker	Outland Trophy Best Interior Lineman	Bill Willis Award Top Defensive Lineman
1991 – Steve Emtman, DT	1991 – Steve Emtman, DT	1991 – Steve Emtman, DT

Coaches

Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Coach of the Year	Home Depot Coach of the Year	Sporting News Coach of the Year	AP Coach of the Year
1991 – Don James	2023 – Kalen DeBoer	2023 – Kalen DeBoer	2023 – Kalen DeBoer

Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year	UPI Pacific Coast Coach of the Year
2023 – Kalen DeBoer	1959, 1960 – Jim Owens

Individual Conference Award Winners

Players

Pac-12 Player of the Year Offensive	Pat Tillman Player of the Year Pac-12 Defensive	Morris Trophy Pac-12 Lineman of the Year
1977† – Warren Moon, QB 1983 – Steve Pelluer, QB 1990 – Greg Lewis, RB 1991 – Mario Bailey, SE 2000 – Marques Tuiasosopo, QB 2016 – Jake Browning, QB	1990–91 – Steve Emtman, DT 1992 – Dave Hoffmann, LB 1996 – Jason Chorak, DL 2017 – Vita Vea, DT 2018 – Ben Burr-Kirven, LB	1981 – Fletcher Jenkins, DT 1984 – Ron Holmes, DT 1986 – Reggie Rogers, DT 1989 – Bern Brostek, C 1990–91 – Steve Emtman, DT 1991–92 – Lincoln Kennedy, OT 1993 – D'Marco Farr, DT 1996 – Bob Sapp, OT 1997 – Olin Kreutz, C 2000 – Chad Ward, OG 2017 – Vita Vea, DT 2018 – Kaleb McGary, OT 2018 – Greg Gaines, DT 2023 – Troy Fautanu, OT

† Warren Moon shared Pac-8 Player of the Year with Guy Benjamin in 1977 before Offensive and Defensive Players awards were named in 1983

Coaches

Pac-10 Coach of the Year	Pac-12 Coach of the Year
1980, 1990–91 – Don James	2022-23 – Kalen DeBoer

Heisman Trophy Voting: Top Players Recognized

Eight Washington players have been among the top finishers for the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the most outstanding player in college football.

Year	Name	Position	Finish
1951	Hugh McElhenny†	HB	8th
1952	Don Heinrich†	QB	9th
1990	Greg Lewis	RB	7th
1991	Steve Emtman†	DE	4th
1994	Napoleon Kaufman	RB	9th
2000	Marques Tuiasosopo	QB	8th
2016	Jake Browning	QB	6th
2022	Michael Penix Jr.	QB	8th
2023	Michael Penix Jr.	QB	2nd

† College Football Hall of Fame inductee

Consensus All-Americans: The Best of the Best

23 different Washington players have been named consensus All-Americans. This means they received most of the votes for their positions from different selectors.

† Unanimous selection

Honored Numbers: Special Recognition

Washington Football honors three jersey numbers. These numbers are displayed at Husky Stadium to celebrate the players who wore them.

Washington Huskies honored numbers
No.	Player	Pos.	Tenure
2	Chuck Carroll †	HB	1927–1928
33	Wildcat Wilson †	HB	1923–1925
44	Roland Kirkby	HB	1948–1950

† College Football Hall of Fame inductee

College Football Hall of Fame: Legends of the Game

15 former Washington players and coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted	Ref.
Gil Dobie	Coach	1908–1916	1951
George Wilson	HB	1923–1925	1951
Chuck Carroll	HB	1926–1928	1964
Paul Schwegler	T	1929–1931	1967
James Phelan	Coach	1930–1941	1973
Vic Markov	T	1935–1937	1976
Hugh McElhenny	HB	1949–1951	1981
Darrell Royal	Coach	1956	1983
Don Heinrich	QB	1949–1950, 1952	1987
Bob Schloredt	QB	1958–1960	1989
Max Starcevich	G	1934–1936	1990
Rick Redman	G / LB	1962–1964	1995
Don James	Coach	1975–1992	1997
Steve Emtman	DT	1989–1991	2006
Lincoln Kennedy	OT	1989–1992	2015

Pro Football Hall of Fame: NFL Greats

Four former Washington players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Name	Position	Career	Inducted
Hugh McElhenny	HB	1949–1951	1970
Arnie Weinmeister	DT	1942, 1946–1947	1984
Warren Moon	QB	1975–1977	2006
Don Coryell	Coach	1949	2023

Canadian Football Hall of Fame

Warren Moon is the only player to be in both the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (NFL).

Name	Position	Career	Inducted	Ref.
Tom Scott	SB	1969–1972	1998
Warren Moon	QB	1975–1977	2001

Rose Bowl Hall of Fame

Eight Washington coaches and players have been inducted into the Rose Bowl Game Hall of Fame.

Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted
Bob Schloredt	QB	1958–60	1991
George Wilson	HB	1923–25	1991
Jim Owens	Head coach	1957–74	1992
Don James	Head coach	1975–92	1994
Warren Moon	QB	1975–77	1997
Steve Emtman	DT	1988–91	2006
George Fleming	HB	1958–61	2011
Mark Brunell	QB	1988–92	2015

Notable in Other Fields

Some former Washington players have gone on to achieve success in other areas, like politics or entertainment.

Name	Position	Tenure	Occupation
Ralph Nichols	Guard	1892–94	State Senator, Seattle City Council member
William J. Coyle	Quarterback	1908–11	Lieutenant Governor of Washington
Jim Ferrell	Outside linebacker	1985–88	Mayor of Federal Way
Bruce Harrell	Linebacker	1976–79	Mayor of Seattle
Joel McHale	Tight end	1992–93	Actor/comedian
Nate Robinson	Cornerback	2002	NBA player

Memorable Games: Exciting Moments in History

1975 Apple Cup: A Big Comeback

In the 1975 Apple Cup, Washington State was leading 27–14 with only three minutes left. WSU tried to get a first down instead of kicking a field goal. Washington's Al Burleson intercepted the pass and ran 93 yards for a touchdown! After WSU couldn't score, Warren Moon threw a tipped pass that Spider Gaines caught for a 78-yard touchdown. Washington won dramatically, 28–27.

1981 Apple Cup: Rose Bowl Bound!

The 1981 Apple Cup was a huge game, with both Washington State and Washington ranked in the top 20. Washington's defense was strong, while the Cougars had a great offense. Washington needed to win and for USC to beat UCLA to get a spot in the Rose Bowl.

Washington State tied the game at 10 in the second half. But then Washington's offense took over. They scored two touchdowns and two field goals to win the game. When the score of the USC-UCLA game was announced (USC won!), the Huskies knew they were going to the Rose Bowl!

1985 Orange Bowl: A Surprising Win

The 1984 Huskies were ranked No. 1 in October but lost a game that cost them a Rose Bowl spot. They were invited to play No. 1 BYU in the Holiday Bowl, but chose to play No. 2 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl instead. This was a bigger, more famous bowl game.

Washington won 28–17. Coach Don James was carried off the field, thinking they would be national champions. However, unbeaten BYU kept their No. 1 spot in the final polls.

1990: "All I Saw Was Purple"

The 1990 game against USC was very important. Washington's defense was incredible, holding USC to only 28 rushing yards. They put so much pressure on USC's quarterback that he famously said, "I just saw purple. That's all. No numbers, just purple." Washington won 31–0.

1992: "A Night To Remember" (The Loudest Game)

Playing their first night game at Husky Stadium, No. 2 Washington beat No. 12 Nebraska. This game created the loudest recorded moment in Husky Stadium history! The crowd noise was so intense that Nebraska's linemen made mistakes. When Nebraska's quarterback was tackled for a safety in his own end zone, the roar was deafening. ESPN measured the noise at over 130 decibels, which is incredibly loud! Washington won 29–14.

1994: The "Whammy in Miami"

The "Whammy in Miami" was a game against the Miami Hurricanes in 1994. Miami had a 58-game home winning streak and was ranked No. 5. Washington was a big underdog. Miami led at halftime, but the Huskies scored 22 points in five minutes in the second half! They dominated the rest of the game, winning 38–20. It was a huge upset!

2002 Apple Cup: Overtime Drama

In the 2002 Apple Cup, No. 3 Washington State was hoping to play for the national championship. Unranked Washington wanted to win the Northwest Championship. WSU led 20–10 late in the game. But Washington's Nate Robinson made a key interception, forcing overtime. In the third overtime, a controversial call on a backward pass ended the game with a Washington victory. The crowd was very upset!

2009: "Miracle on Montlake"

In 2009, Washington played No. 3 USC. Washington had just won its first game in 16 tries. USC started strong, but Washington fought back. The game was tied in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jake Locker led the Huskies down the field. With only 3 seconds left, Erik Folk kicked the game-winning field goal, giving Washington a 16–13 victory! Fans rushed the field to celebrate.

2010: "Deja Vu"

In 2010, the Huskies played No. 18 USC again. Washington had not won on the road against USC since 1996. The Huskies led for most of the game. In the final seconds, with the score close, Erik Folk kicked another game-winning field goal as time ran out. Washington won, ending their long road losing streak!

2016: "70 in Eugene"

Before this game, Oregon had beaten Washington 12 times in a row. The Huskies, ranked No. 5, traveled to Oregon. Washington ended Oregon's winning streak with a huge 70–21 victory! Washington's offense gained 682 yards and scored 70 points, the most ever by either team in the rivalry.

Future Opponents: What's Next for the Huskies?

Conference Opponents: Big Ten Schedule

Washington joined the Big Ten Conference for the 2024 season. Here's a look at their conference schedule for the next few years.

2024	2025	2026	2027	2028
vs Michigan	vs Illinois	vs Indiana	vs Maryland	vs Michigan
vs Northwestern	vs Ohio State	vs Iowa	vs Michigan State	vs Northwestern
vs UCLA	vs Oregon	vs Minnesota	vs Nebraska	vs UCLA
vs USC	vs Purdue	vs Penn State	vs Oregon	vs Wisconsin
at Indiana	vs Rutgers	at Michigan State	vs USC	at Illinois
at Iowa	at Maryland	at Nebraska	at Minnesota	at Indiana
at Oregon	at Michigan	at Oregon	at Northwestern	at Maryland
at Penn State	at UCLA	at Purdue	at Penn State	at Ohio State
at Rutgers	at Wisconsin	at USC	at Rutgers	at Oregon

Non-Conference Opponents: Games Outside the Big Ten

Here are some of Washington's future non-conference games.

Year	Date	Opponent	Conference	Site	Notes
2025	Aug 30	Colorado State	MW	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA
	Sep 6	UC Davis	Big Sky	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA	FCS
	Sep 20	Washington State	TBD	Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA	Apple Cup
2026	Sep 5	Washington State	TBD	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA	Apple Cup
	Sep 19	Eastern Washington	Big Sky	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA	FCS
2027	Sep 4	Fresno State	MW	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA
	Sep 18	Washington State	TBD	Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA	Apple Cup
2028	Sep 2	Eastern Washington	Big Sky	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA	FCS
	Sep 16	UNLV	MW	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA
	TBD	Washington State	TBD	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA	Apple Cup
2029	Sep 1	Tennessee	SEC	Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN	1st meeting
	Sep 8	Boise State	MW	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA
2030	Sep 7	Tennessee	SEC	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA
	Sep 14	Hawaii	MW	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA

Images for kids

• 

  Washington's traditional uniform.