The Washington Huskies will need to show up on the road if they want to punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff in 2026. Can quarterback Demond Williams Jr. elevate his late-season performance and lead the charge away from Husky Stadium, especially with key matchups looming against USC, Nebraska, and Oregon? Locked On Huskies host Roman Tomashoff and Last Word On College Sports' Nick Lemkau dissect Williams’ big game stats, the offensive line’s evolving depth after transfer losses, and the need for improvement on the road under head coach Jedd Fisch.

The hosts spotlight must-improve position groups like the defensive line, special teams, and secondary, analyze the disruptions caused by roster moves, and highlight what defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' unit needs to do to keep improving in the Big Ten. Special teams’ field position challenges and the impact of new transfers also take center stage. With injuries, competition for starting jobs looming in fall practice, and schematic adjustments for Williams without Jonah Coleman and Denzel Boston in the picture, the Huskies’ postseason fate may hinge on depth and adaptability more than ever.

0:00 — Intro

1:15 — Washington must overcome its road struggles in 2026

4:16 — Early vs. late season performance; key stretch games and schedule difficulty

7:45 — Demond Williams’ growth, leadership, and offensive concerns after roster changes

12:29 — Defensive line depth, transfer portal additions, and need for increased pass rush

17:24 — Secondary/cornerback room performance and areas for improvement

22:00 — Special teams’ role in field position and close-game outcomes

24:25 — Offensive line depth after transfers; impact of recent personnel losses

Become a Locked On Huskies Insider: joinsubtext.com/lockedonhuskies

Locked On Huskies is part of the Locked On Podcast Network

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

Rocket Money
Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.

Wayfair
Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home.
Wayfair. Every style. Every home.

FanDuel
Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.