The Husky Haul
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Why Washington football will win the Pac-12 in 2020

By Roman Tomashoff

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Nick Harris #56 of the Washington Huskies celebrates with the game trophy after defeating the Boise State Broncos 38-7 in the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Nick Harris #56 of the Washington Huskies celebrates with the game trophy after defeating the Boise State Broncos 38-7 in the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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Washington football has a great opportunity to be the top dog (pun intended) in the Pac-12 in 2020

It has been a crazy offseason for Washington football, but the season is finally upon us! Star defensive linemen Levi Onwuzurike and Joe Tryon have both decided to opt-out of the season and sign with agents to prepare for the NFL Draft, but the Huskies should still be considered the favorites in the Pac-12.

First, let’s stack them up against the competition. The biggest threat to the Huskies in the North should be the Oregon Ducks, but the Ducks are replacing too much talent to be a true threat. They’ll be replacing all five offensive linemen, their quarterback, and three members of their secondary. Currently the only team in the Pac-12 among the AP Top 25, that shouldn’t last very long.

While Washington is also replacing their quarterback, along with their offensive coordinator and two top pass rushers, they’re in a much better position to reign supreme in the North, and in the conference. The Huskies also have more to fight for on the recruiting front, as with a strong season on both sides of the ball, they should be in great position to land in-state five-star recruits J.T. Tuimoloau and Emeka Egbuka.

To go along with that, the Huskies are going to have one of the best wide receiver groups in the country. With this year not counting against eligiblity, expect the four-star duo of Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan to get a lot of opportunities to make plays. Adding that to the probable starters in Ty Jones, Puka Nacua, and Terrell Bynum, and pair of four-star talents in Austin Osborne and Marquis Spiker, whoever ends up as the starter will have tons of talented options to throw to.

Couple that with what has the potential to be the nation’s best secondary, the Huskies are going into 2020 reloaded. Bringing back seniors Elijah Molden and Keith Taylor, along with sophomores Asa Turner, Cam Williams, and Trent McDuffie would be enough on its own. But, head coach Jimmy Lake can add the talented trio of Julius Irvin, Kyler Gordon, and Dominique Hampton to the mix in dime and quarter packages.

With top-end talent all over the field, it’s going to be tough to stop the Huskies. Lake is also going to want to make a statement in his first year at the helm, and don’t expect the offense to let off the gas late in games like they seem to have done in previous years.

The Huskies might not have all the hype that they did a few years ago, but this team has the talent to be better than the 2016 team that made it to the College Football Playoffs.

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