LOCATION: Seattle, Wash.
COACH: Chris Petersen — At Washington: 47-21, 5 years; overall: 139-33, 13 years
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bush Hamdan
DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS: Jimmy Lake, Pete Kwiatkowski
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 2018
LAST TIME DIDN’T GO BOWLING: 2009
RETURNING STARTERS: 11; 7 offense, 2 defense, kicker, punter
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Jacob Eason, RB Salvon Ahmed, TE Hunter Bryant, OT Trey Adams, DT Levi Onwuzurike, LB Brandon Wellington, DB Myles Bryant, DB Elijah Molden
PRIMARY STRENGTHS: Washington should again tout one of the premier defenses in the Pac-12, with a deep and talented secondary and an improved pass rush. The Huskies return nearly their entire offensive line and receiving corps. Eason has the biggest arm in the conference and Ahmed can be used in a variety of ways.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: While experienced, Washington’s wide receivers lack proven playmakers and downfield threats. Eason has to consistently produce. The Huskies are talented yet unproven defensively, particularly in the front seven. Beyond senior Brandon Wellington, Washington touts little game experience among its inside linebackers.
OVERVIEW
The names have changed, but the expectations haven’t. Despite losing eight players to the NFL Draft, Washington should be in contention for another Pac-12 title this fall. Quarterback Jacob Eason and tailback Salvon Ahmed are the new faces of the offense, while coordinator Jimmy Lake’s defense will look to leadthe conference in scoring defense for the fifth consecutive season. Overall, the Huskies’ ceiling may depend on the efficiency of Eason’s renowned right arm.
TOP NEWCOMER
QB Jacob Eason: A home state product from Lake Stevens, Wash., Eason will be the face of the Washington offense this fall — for better or worse. He completed 55.1 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,430 yards with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions, as a true freshman at Georgia in 2016. His task will be to lift an offense that underperformed at times in 2018.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 EASTERN WASHINGTON
Sept. 7 CALIFORNIA
Sept. 14 HAWAII
Sept. 21 at BYU
Sept. 28 USC
Oct. 5 at Stanford
Oct. 12 at Arizona
Oct. 19 OREGON
Nov. 2 UTAH
Nov. 8 at Oregon State
Nov. 23 at Colorado
Nov. 29 WASHINGTON STATE