Washington football’s remarkable ascent up the AP Top 25 poll
![Oct 14, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks in the late fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports Oct 14, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks in the late fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/94ef751be64331c11c132aa06fc8a1dde8fdb6791c93954c447a4501029fdff7.jpg)
Washington football continues its surge up the AP Top 25 College Football poll to become the No. 5 team in the nation.
This ascent in the rankings reflects the Washington football program’s outstanding performance so far in 2023. One of the pivotal moments in Washington’s rise was their Week 7 heavyweight clash against Oregon where they poured their heart and soul on the field to snag the victory in the final minutes.
Over the course of the season, the Huskies have steadily improved. They initially ranked tenth in the preseason, eighth in weeks 1-3, and then seventh from weeks 4-6. This week was the first week that they secured two first-place votes, signifying the faith some voters have in their abilities.
POLL ALERT: Washington jumps into top 5 for first time in 6 years after beating Oregon, Air Force moves into rankings.
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) October 15, 2023
Full poll: https://t.co/7dTTUiSC1j pic.twitter.com/IB1ILd5IJb
The Huskies are now in striking distance of the top four halfway through the season, trailing behind Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Florida State.
The credit for this upward trajectory largely belongs to Head Coach Kalen DeBoer and the culture he has instilled within this team. His record of 5-0 against ranked teams during his tenure (one-and-a-half seasons) with the Huskies demonstrates his ability to lead the team to victory in high-stakes matchups.
With such good teams like Georgia and Michigan crowding the top four, can the Huskies maintain their momentum and secure a coveted spot in the College Football Playoff? If they don’t earn a spot in the playoffs, it will really feel fraudulent after the kind of season they have put up. The Huskies should be just fine going forward in future seasons, but we likely won’t see a team, or offense, this good for a while.
light. More. Huskies edge out Ducks in thrilling showdown: Inside the 36-33 Victory