Washington's 2026 Goals MUST Be The College Football Playoff

College Football Playoff ambitions are rising fast for the Washington Huskies—can Coach Jedd Fisch’s squad turn young stars into contenders in 2026? Demond Williams Jr., John Mills, Dezmen Roebuck, Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, and Rylon Dillard-Allen highlight UW's young stars, while veterans Alex McLaughlin and Jacob Manu give defensive coordinator Ryan Walters. With major roster turnover looming, including the departures of Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman, recruiting and the transfer portal become pivotal in addressing gaps at wide receiver, running back, and especially the defensive line.Key topics include the Huskies’ Big Ten schedule, improvements in run defense under Walters, and the offensive evolution despite coaching scrutiny following tough losses to top-ranked defenses. Locked On Huskies host Roman Tomashoff also spotlights linebacker depth, offensive line growth, and why experience will matter most as Washington aims for the College Football Playoff. Can the Huskies build on this momentum and overcome conference rivals like Oregon, USC, and Indiana to achieve their biggest goals yet?0:00 – Intro1:10 – Analyzing Washington’s Big Ten schedule and the importance of roster development4:14 – Key returning players and defensive strengths for 20266:51 – Freshman contributions and offensive progression under Jedd Fisch10:27 – Biggest challenges: big game coaching, playcalling challenges, and talent losses16:11 – Transfer portal needs, position group breakdowns, and addressing defensive line concerns23:39 – Linebacker strengths and offensive line outlook for 202630:08 – Team experience, coaching continuity, and final thoughts on Washington’s 2026 potentialBecome a Locked On Huskies Insider: joinsubtext.com/lockedonhuskiesLocked On Huskies is part of the Locked On Podcast NetworkEverydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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.RugietIf you’ve been thinking about taking the next step, now’s the time.Head to https://Rugiet.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGEto get 15% off your order for a limited time.Rugiet Ready. Feel present. Feel confident. Feel ready.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.