Joel Klatt: UW Huskies are the best Big Ten dark horse to make CFP

As the 2-0 UW Huskies are gearing up for the annual Apple Cup against the rival WSU Cougars, one college football insider’s belief in their potential is growing.

WSU holding competition to determine QB for Apple Cup this week

Even though the Dawgs have yet to receive a vote in the weekly Associated Press poll, let alone appear in the top 25, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt thinks there could be a postseason on the horizon for Washington’s second year under head coach Jedd Fisch.

“I’m bullish on them. I really am,” Klatt said during his weekly Wednesday conversation with Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. “… For my money, I think the best dark horse to make the playoff out of the Big Ten is actually Washington – maybe even more so than (No. 9) Illinois or (No. 19) Indiana.”

If Huskies are a secret contender, their cover may be blown in a matter of weeks. Following the Apple Cup on Saturday in Pullman, they’ll be back home at Husky Stadium the following week to play the defending champs and current No. 1-ranked team in the nation, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Klatt thinks the atmosphere on Montlake could be a surprise for an Ohio State team that has seen a lot of turnover since its title win.

“I think Ohio State is going to get to Husky Stadium and look around and be like, what in the world? Like, what is this? I know they’ve played at Penn State, but they’ve got young players.”

So what exactly is it about UW that has Klatt thinking it could be a surprise entrant in the 12-team CFP bracket? Klatt pointed to the Huskies’ schedule, the talent of sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr., balance on offense and an improving defense under new defensive coordinator Ryan Walters – who Klatt was college teammates with at Colorado.

“I think it’s a schedule that really helps Washington out. It’s the second-best home team in college football right now to Georgia as far as winning streak goes at home,” Klatt said. “They’ve got a quarterback that can play well. He’s continuing to grow. They can run the football, they can throw it on the outside.

“I worry at times about their defense, although I think that defense is going to continually get better. Part of the reason is I’ve got a self belief in your defensive coordinator there. Ryan Walters was actually my teammate at Colorado. I think he’s an excellent coach.”

Hear the full Brock and Salk conversation with FOX Sports football insider Joel Klatt in the podcast at this link or in the player near the top of this post. Catch Brock and Salk from 6-10 a.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.

More on the UW Huskies and college football

• Game time set for UW Huskies’ matchup vs No. 1 Ohio State
• Big Ten: UCLA defensive coordinator out after firing of head coach
• AP College Football Poll: An 0-2 team remains in Top 25
• Coleman’s five TDs help UW Huskies rout UC Davis 70-10
• Brock Huard: UW Huskies tandem has shades of dynamic NFL duo

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