Looking back on the draft and the 2025 season, UW and Judd really botched the chance to have a fake breakout season. 2026 looks tougher on paper for now and we will be relying on a lot of talent that looks legit, but is really young. I don't think getting to 10-2 as a realistic goal is crazy though. Here's how the schedule looks starting with games easiest to hardest to me.
Eastiest
1. Eastern Washington - Easy W - I used to be scared shitless of playing the Eags and hated scheduling them because you were playing a team that was a ton of local guys who dreamed of a UW offer but seems like they are dead.
2. Utah State - Easy W - Seems like this program has sucked for years now.
3. Coug - Easy W - They should be significantly shittier this year and we beat them by like 30 in Pullman last year.
4. Minnesota - W - I know very little about this team right now but they feel like the kind of team this kind of UW team beats in Seattle by 10+.
5. at Purdue - W - I could see this being a little trickier on the road and like a Maryland game if Purdue improves, but still 10+, no excuses.
6. Iowa - W - The first game I think should approach challenge territory. They lost a massive amount from last year and the last couple years though and are the type of team UW should beat in Seattle, no problems.
7. at Michigan State - W, but the first I'm worried about - This is a trap game like Wisconsin last year - November in East Lansing against a team that should improved and a historically tough program. It's surrounded by big games.
8. at Nebraska - W, but a challenge - I might be more worried about Sparty actually. There's nothing on paper to be scared about here other than name brand and being on the road. We also have a bye before it.
9. Penn State - W, another trap game though - Penn State coming all the way out here and getting a win with the projected team they have doesn't seem likely but Campbell brought a lot of experienced try hards with him so you have to be careful.
10. at USC - W, if we're any good - This is a good early litmus test. This isn't the USC of old. They're somewhat talented but soft and this isn't a big homefield advantage. Big show me game for Judd.
11. Indiana - Expected L, but murky - Indiana has a nice chunk of good players from last year returning with good portal additions and Cig. They're the kind of team UW hasn't been able to stay with yet under Judd, but they have question marks and are coming across the country in November.
12. at Oregon - Expected L, hard to predict otherwise - This is a tough one and makes Demond and Judd fucking the dawg against a beatable Oregon team at home last year even more frustrating.
Eastiest
1. Eastern Washington - Easy W - I used to be scared shitless of playing the Eags and hated scheduling them because you were playing a team that was a ton of local guys who dreamed of a UW offer but seems like they are dead.
2. Utah State - Easy W - Seems like this program has sucked for years now.
3. Coug - Easy W - They should be significantly shittier this year and we beat them by like 30 in Pullman last year.
4. Minnesota - W - I know very little about this team right now but they feel like the kind of team this kind of UW team beats in Seattle by 10+.
5. at Purdue - W - I could see this being a little trickier on the road and like a Maryland game if Purdue improves, but still 10+, no excuses.
6. Iowa - W - The first game I think should approach challenge territory. They lost a massive amount from last year and the last couple years though and are the type of team UW should beat in Seattle, no problems.
7. at Michigan State - W, but the first I'm worried about - This is a trap game like Wisconsin last year - November in East Lansing against a team that should improved and a historically tough program. It's surrounded by big games.
8. at Nebraska - W, but a challenge - I might be more worried about Sparty actually. There's nothing on paper to be scared about here other than name brand and being on the road. We also have a bye before it.
9. Penn State - W, another trap game though - Penn State coming all the way out here and getting a win with the projected team they have doesn't seem likely but Campbell brought a lot of experienced try hards with him so you have to be careful.
10. at USC - W, if we're any good - This is a good early litmus test. This isn't the USC of old. They're somewhat talented but soft and this isn't a big homefield advantage. Big show me game for Judd.
11. Indiana - Expected L, but murky - Indiana has a nice chunk of good players from last year returning with good portal additions and Cig. They're the kind of team UW hasn't been able to stay with yet under Judd, but they have question marks and are coming across the country in November.
12. at Oregon - Expected L, hard to predict otherwise - This is a tough one and makes Demond and Judd fucking the dawg against a beatable Oregon team at home last year even more frustrating.