ESPN analytics gives Washington Huskies surprising shot to make playoffs this season

Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies linebacker Carson Bruener (42) returns an interception against USC Trojans wide receiver JaKobi Lane (8) during the third quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies linebacker Carson Bruener (42) returns an interception against USC Trojans wide receiver JaKobi Lane (8) during the third quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Jedd Fisch’s Washington Huskies may not have a great chance of making it all the way to the College Football Playoff this season, but somehow, some way, the Huskies do indeed have something that resembles a chance of making it into the first-ever 12 team College Football Playoff.

And you know what, I’ll take it. I’ll celebrate it. Let’s enjoy that. Why not? Why not enjoy the fact that Fisch and the Huskies, in the first season of their pairing, technically have a chance to get all the way to the College Football Playoff even though UW is sitting at 5-4 on the season. 

Just one win above .500 and the Huskies apparently can still make it all the way into contention for a national title. 

This sport is so weird these days. 

Washington Huskies technically still have something that resembles College Football Playoff chance

Look, the chances are slim, but they still technically exist. And I don’t know what to do other than just enjoy the chaos, even if I don’t particularly enjoy this brand of chaos. It’s weird! I don’t know what to do with the fact that Washington has a 0.2 percent chance of getting to the college football playoffs this season.

And it’s weird to think about how that percentage chance is just flat out way too large, folks. That’s not an indictment on Washington, but rather that the Huskies aren’t doing too hot when playing outside of Husky Stadium so far this season.

Still, there’s a theoretical chance of it happening.

The Huskies would need to win out down the stretch, beating the likes of a Penn State Nittany Lions team that has a smothering defense and a strong offense, a suring UCLA Bruins bunch that is finding ways to just flat out win games, and an Oregon Ducks team that truly does look the part of a national title contender.

That alone is difficult enough. But also, Washington would need help from others around the country. Other teams would need to lose in dumb and remarkable ways. And that’s plausible, but it’s hard to bank on.

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