Can Washington Crash the College Football Playoff Party?

The Huskies sudden transformation over the past year or so has the team primed for a run at the Pac-12 title, and possibly much, much more.

Not many would consider a 7-6 record in 2015 a real positive for their football team.

But the Washington Huskies aren’t just another team.

Guided by the steady hand of Chris Petersen, the Huskies – who are returning 16 starters – have undergone somewhat of an overnight transformation that has the purple and gold fanbase all abuzz as we approach the new season.

A young gunslinger, loaded defense, and favorable 2016 schedule have made the prospect of attaining the Pac-12 title a reality.

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And maybe more, if Petersen and the Huskies play their cards right.

Those lofty aspirations rely heavily on the shoulders of Jake Browning – that gunslinger we mentioned earlier – and the rest of the offense.

Browning won the starting gig as a true freshman last season and performed admirably under center despite the lack of much help from his receivers and offensive line. He’ll have versatile, speedy wideout John Ross III (missed all of 2015 with a knee injury) back at his disposal, further bolstering the receiving corps.

Behind Browning sat another true freshman in the backfield in the form of shifty speedster Myles Gaskin, who proceeded to gash opposing defenses for over 1,304 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. After Heisman Trophy candidates Christian McCaffrey and Royce Freeman, Gaskin might be the best back in the conference.

Outside of Browning and Gaskin, the entire offense must show improvement if Washington hopes to unseat the likes of Stanford and Oregon.

Defensively, the team has little to no apparent issues.

A stunningly youthful, talented unit will take the gridiron come fall, one that may field just a few seniors.

Regardless, the top defense in the Pac-12 welcomes back seven starters, including stud safety Budda Baker. The Huskies led the conference in total defense (351.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (18.8 points per game) thanks in part to Baker, cornerback Sidney Jones (team-leader in interceptions with four), and the rest of the secondary.

With the front seven really only suffering two significant losses in regards to Travis Feeney and Cory Littleton, the defense appears primed for an encore performance.

Still, Washington will be relatively overlooked by the masses who think that the Pac-12 will once again belong to either Stanford or Oregon.

Petersen, on the other hand, could care less. Heading into Year Three of his tenure, the Huskies head coach envisions big things from his team, via Percy Allen of The Seattle Times.

"“I think we’re pointed in the right direction, and now we need to go. You’re never there. It doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been somewhere. A lot of times you start from scratch and it’s two steps forward and one step back. We understand that. But we’re definitely pointed in the right direction and I think the kids are hungry and now it’s time to just build on everything we’ve done the last couple years.”"

While built to contend for a conference title, something Washington hasn’t won since 2000, an important area that also seems to keep getting glossed over is how incredibly favorable their schedule is.

Although Oregon and Utah will admittedly be tough road contests, the Huskies get to enjoy some major home cookin’. They’ll host Arizona State, USC, and, of course, Stanford.

The Pac-12, and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff, will essentially hinge on the Sept. 30 showdown in Huskie Stadium. Last season, a Browning-less Washington was beaten soundly 31-14 on Stanford’s turf.

In what is setting up to be one of the most anticipated rematches in program history, don’t expect the point differential gap to be so wide this time around.

Nevertheless, Petersen and his battletested bunch will be underdogs to take down the conference heavyweights, let alone make the playoff. Stanford and Oregon have long set the standard in the Pac-12 and Washington must prove that they’re ready to join such elite company.

If the Huskies can upend both, they’ll be firmly in control of their own destiny and would be primed for an unprecedented run to the CFP.

It’ll be exciting to see what heights the team will reach this coming season. Top to bottom, they’re a supremely talented group that have the ability to exceed any and all expectations set before them.

Can Washington shatter their own personal glass ceiling? Only time will tell.

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