Washington Football Score: Why That LA Bowl Win Actually Changed Everything

Washington Football Score: Why That LA Bowl Win Actually Changed Everything

The stadium lights at SoFi were still humming when the realization hit. People weren't just looking at the scoreboard; they were looking at the future. If you missed the final u of washington football score in their season finale, here it is: Washington 38, Boise State 10.

It wasn't just a win. It was a statement. Honestly, after a season of Big Ten travel grinds and some tough "welcome to the neighborhood" losses against Michigan and Ohio State, the Huskies needed to end on a high note. They did more than that. They dominated.

That Final Score in the LA Bowl Was a Major Turning Point

Let's be real for a second. Bowl games can sometimes feel like exhibitions, but the u of washington football score against Boise State felt like a bridge to 2026. Jedd Fisch’s squad didn't just squeak by. They put up 38 points and essentially locked the gates on defense, snagging five interceptions. Five!

Demond Williams Jr. was the story of the night. He threw for four touchdowns and looked like the elite dual-threat guy everyone hoped he’d be when he followed Fisch from Arizona. Seeing a freshman—now a rising star—handle that kind of pressure on a stage like the LA Bowl is exactly what the fans in Montlake needed.

But it wasn't all sunshine. The season had some brutal stretches.

  • The Ohio State Game: A 6-24 reality check.
  • The Michigan Trip: A 7-24 loss that showed the physicality gap.
  • The Wisconsin Heartbreak: Losing 10-13 in a snowy Madison.

That Wisconsin game specifically? That one stung. Losing by three points when you feel like the better team is a tough pill to swallow. It makes that final 38-10 victory over Boise State even more vital for the program's psyche.

A Quick Look Back at the 2025 Scoreboard

If you're tracking the trajectory, you have to look at the full 9-4 record. They started hot, beating Colorado State 38-21 and absolutely annihilating UC Davis 70-10. Then the Big Ten schedule arrived like a ton of bricks.

The Apple Cup remained in Husky hands with a 59-24 win over Wazzu, which is basically the bare minimum requirement for a coach to keep his job in Seattle. But the conference play was a rollercoaster. Winning 42-25 against Illinois was great, but the 14-26 loss to Oregon on Senior Day? That one still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of anyone wearing purple and gold.

What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 Scores

There is this narrative that Washington "regressed" after their national championship run. Kinda true on paper, but context matters. You're moving into the most physical conference in the country with a brand-new coaching staff and a roster that was basically rebuilt from scratch via the transfer portal.

Getting to 9 wins in that environment? That’s actually a massive achievement.

The defense, led by coordinator Steve Belichick, finished the year looking terrifying. Holding a high-powered Boise State offense to just 10 points is no fluke. It’s a sign that the "bend but don't break" philosophy is finally evolving into a "break the other guy" mentality.

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The Transfer Portal Chaos of January 2026

If you think the action stopped after the final u of washington football score, you haven't been paying attention to the news this week. Just a few days ago, on January 14, 2026, Jedd Fisch had to address some serious "fence-mending" with Demond Williams Jr.

The kid briefly entered the transfer portal. The collective heart of Seattle stopped. Then, 48 hours later, he was back.

Fisch mentioned in his press conference that the pressures on these athletes are insane right now. To lose a guy who just put up 38 points in a bowl game would have been a disaster. Keeping him is arguably the biggest "win" of the offseason so far.

On the flip side, losing running back Adam Mohammed to Cal? That hurts. He was supposed to be the lead guy next year. Now, the Huskies are back in the portal looking for a replacement. It's basically a never-ending game of musical chairs.

Why the Numbers for 2026 Look Different

Washington just signed what many are calling the best recruiting class in the modern history of the program. 25 signees. They’ve got 6'8" offensive linemen like Dominic Harris coming in to make sure those scores stay high.

  1. Quarterback Stability: With Williams Jr. staying, the floor is much higher.
  2. Defensive Depth: Belichick is bringing in a lot of "size" to handle the Big Ten trenches.
  3. Schedule Shifts: No more "learning the travel." They know the airports now.

Actionable Insights for the Offseason

If you’re a fan or just tracking the team, don’t just look at the u of washington football score from last year and assume 2026 will be a carbon copy.

Keep an eye on the Spring Game. That’s where we’ll see if the "mended fences" with Williams Jr. actually result in better chemistry with the new wideout corps.

Watch the trenches. The Huskies struggled in games where they scored fewer than 14 points (Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State). If the new recruits can't block the Big Ten defensive ends, the scores won't matter because they'll all be low.

Don't ignore the Hall of Fame news. Seeing Olin Kreutz and Chris Petersen named to the 2026 Hall of Fame class this week is a reminder of the standard this program is trying to return to.

Basically, the 38-10 win over Boise State wasn't the end of a season. It was the prologue for whatever happens next September.

To stay ahead of the next set of results, you should track the "post-portal" roster depth chart usually released in late March. That will tell you more about the 2026 win-loss column than any early-season power ranking ever could. Look for consistency in the offensive line rotations; that was the silent killer in their 2025 losses. If they've solved the protection issues for Williams Jr., expect those high-scoring games to become the norm again rather than the exception.