Washington made a long-awaited breakthrough under third-year coach Chris Petersen in 2016.
The Huskies won the Pac-12 championship and advanced to the College Football Playoff before losing 24-7 to Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Washington still finished 12-2. Star quarterback Jake Browning returns. Despite some heavy losses to the NFL, the Huskies will once again compete for a Pac-12 championship.
MORE: Jake Browning shoulder injury update
The Huskies are ranked No. 9 in Sporting News' Way-Too-Early Top 25, and here's a preview of Washington’s 2017 schedule, roster and biggest questions entering the season.
When is Washington's spring game?
Washington’s spring game is Saturday, April 22, at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash.
Where will Washington's spring game be televised?
Washington’s spring game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
2017 Washington football schedule
Sept. 1: at Rutgers (Friday)
Sept. 9: vs. Montana
Sept. 16: vs. Fresno State
Sept. 23: at Colorado
Sept. 30: at Oregon State
Oct. 7: vs. California
Oct. 14: at Arizona State
Oct. 21: BYE
Oct. 28: vs. UCLA
Nov. 4: vs. Oregon
Nov. 10: at Stanford (Friday)
Nov. 18: vs. Utah
Nov. 25: vs. Washington State
Dec. 1-2: Pac-12 championship game
2017 Washington recruiting class
Washington didn’t have a Top 15 composite class. The Huskies ranked No. 22 on 247Sports.com’s 2017 team rankings. The top two recruits in this year’s class were in-state products in four-star athlete Salvon Ahmed and four-star tight end Hunter Bryant.
2017 Washington roster
Washington’s roster will be updated in the spring and fall here.
Three things to watch
1. Is Browning's shoulder a concern?
Browning finished with 3,430 yards, 43 TDs and just nine interceptions last season in a year that probably deserved more Heisman consideration. Browning underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason, but he could ready for spring football. Browning’s biggest loss is John Ross, a dynamic home-run hitter who scored 17 TDs last season. The good news is Dante Pettis, who averaged 15.5 yards per catch and scored 15 TDs, is back. Browning should be in line for another big season that the NFL scouts will be watching with great interest.
2. Can the run game dominate?
Myles Gaskin (1,373 yards, 10 TDs) and Lavon Coleman (852 yards, 7 TDs) formed a formidable tag-team in the run game, and Petersen will continue to lean on that during the season. The Huskies, however, rushed 29 times for 44 yards in the loss to the Crimson Tide and 17 times for 17 yards in the loss to USC. What adjustments — if any — will Petersen make knowing that happened in the Huskies’ two losses?
3. How will Huskies rebuild secondary?
Safety Budda Baker and cornerback Sidney Jones left early for the NFL Draft, and they’ll join Kevin King. The Huskies will have to re-tool their secondary as a result. The good news is Tyler Rapp, who led the Huskies with four interceptions last season, returns and has All-American potential.
