If you’re asking who did Washington play last week, you’re probably getting two very different answers depending on which "Washington" you’re actually looking for. It’s that weird time of year. January 2026 has been a bit of a whirlwind for sports fans in the PNW and the DMV alike. One Washington team just put their pads away for the winter, while the other is smack in the middle of a brutal Big Ten gauntlet.
Let’s be real: the schedule makers didn't do anyone any favors this week.
Honestly, the most common search right now is for the Washington Commanders, but since the NFL regular season wrapped up on January 4th, they didn't actually have a game last week. They finished their 2025-2026 campaign with a surprisingly gritty 24-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. If you were looking for them on your TV this past weekend, you likely saw a lot of playoff football, but none of it featured the Burgundy and Gold. They're officially in "offseason mode," which basically means scouting the next franchise-altering talent and hoping the 5-12 record looks better in the rearview mirror.
The Huskies Just Had a Rough Run
On the college side of things, the Washington Huskies men’s basketball team has been incredibly busy. If you were looking for a game from the last seven days, they actually played twice.
First, they hosted the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. It was "Dawgs After Dark" at Alaska Airlines Arena. The energy was there—first sellout of the Danny Sprinkle era—but the result wasn't. They kept it close early on, even holding Michigan to some of their lowest shooting percentages of the year in the first half. But eventually, the talent gap showed. They lost that one 82-72.
Then came the weekend. On Saturday, January 17, they took on No. 12 Michigan State.
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It was another tough pill to swallow. Jeremy Fears Jr. basically took over for the Spartans, and the Huskies struggled to find any rhythm without guard Desmond Claude, who recently stepped away from the team for health reasons. The final score was 80-63 in favor of Michigan State. If you're counting, that’s three losses in their last four games, mostly against top-tier ranked opponents.
Who Did Washington Play Last Week: The Professional Breakdown
Since the NFL season is technically over for DC, the conversation has shifted entirely to the draft. But let's look at that final game against Philly again, because it explains why people are still searching for the schedule.
The Commanders ended on a high note, which is sort of rare for this franchise lately. Josh Johnson—the 39-year-old journeyman who has played for basically every team in the league—started under center because Jayden Daniels was shut down and Marcus Mariota was dealing with a leg issue.
Johnson was efficient. He wasn't flashy, but he went 14-of-22 for 131 yards and a touchdown. Most importantly, he ran in the game-winning score himself with about two and a half minutes left on the clock. It was his first win as a starter since 2018. You could see what it meant to him in the post-game interviews; the guy has been everywhere, and winning at Lincoln Financial Field is never easy, even when the Eagles are resting some starters for the playoffs.
Bobby Wagner’s Historic Milestone
The biggest news from that final game, which people are still buzzing about this week, was Bobby Wagner hitting the 2,000-tackle mark.
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Think about that number for a second. 2,000.
Only two other guys in the history of the NFL have ever done that: Ray Lewis and London Fletcher. Wagner got his fifth tackle of the day and etched his name into the history books. It’s one of those "I was there" moments for the few Commanders fans who made the trip up to Philly. Even Dan Quinn, who has seen a lot of football, called him the best tackler he's ever coached.
The College Scene: A Transition Year for the Huskies
Switching back to the court, the answer to who did Washington play last week reveals a team in transition. Danny Sprinkle has his work cut out for him.
The Huskies are currently 10-8 overall and 2-5 in the Big Ten. Moving to the Big Ten was always going to be a "welcome to the big leagues" moment for the basketball program, and this past week proved it. Playing Michigan and Michigan State back-to-back is like running a marathon and then being told you have to climb a mountain immediately after.
Zoom Diallo has been a bright spot, putting up 18 points against the Spartans, but the team is clearly missing the veteran presence of Desmond Claude. Without him, the offense looks a little stagnant at times. They started the Michigan game 0-for-12 from three-point range. You just can't win like that in this conference.
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What’s Next for the Commanders?
Since there was no game last week, the front office is knee-deep in 2026 planning. We already know who they're playing next season, even if we don't know the exact dates yet.
Because they finished third in the NFC East, they have a "third-place" schedule. This means they’ll be hosting teams like the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals at Northwest Stadium. They also have a brutal road slate coming up, with trips to San Francisco and Minnesota on the books.
Upcoming 2026 Home Opponents:
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Rams
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Atlanta Falcons
Final Thoughts on the Washington Sports Week
Whether you were looking for the gridiron or the hardwood, the "Washington" sports landscape is a bit of a mixed bag right now. The Commanders are done until the preseason, leaving fans to argue over mock drafts and free agency targets. Meanwhile, the Huskies are fighting for their lives in a revamped Big Ten that hasn't been very welcoming so far.
If you're a Huskies fan, mark your calendar for Wednesday, January 21st. They’re heading to Lincoln to play Nebraska. It doesn't get any easier, but that's the reality of high-level college hoops in 2026.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- For Commanders Fans: Start tracking the Senior Bowl and Combine reports; with a 5-12 record, the draft position is high, and the team needs depth at defensive end and cornerback after losing several key players to injury last season.
- For Huskies Fans: Keep an eye on the injury report regarding Desmond Claude; his return is the "x-factor" for whether this team can claw back to a .500 record in conference play.
- Check the secondary market: With the Huskies struggling, ticket prices for upcoming home games against teams like Oregon (Jan 25) might actually become affordable for the casual fan.