Washington Huskies National Championships and CFP History The Heisman Winners

The storied history of Washington Huskies football began in 1889 and has since seen the program claim two college football national championships, an appearance in the College Football Playoffs, conference championships and major bowl wins.

Washington Huskies 1960 National Championship

Washington 1960 National Championship

The University of Washington football program has a rich history that has included tremendous success on the field. From a national perspective Washington’s National Championship in 1960 ushered Huskies football in the national spotlight. Under the direction of head coach Jim Owens, the Washington Huskies put together an impressive campaign that resulted in the programs first national championship.

The team was led by fourth-year head coach Jim Owens and had senior quarterback Bob Schloredt, an All-American the previous season, at the helm. The team started the season ranked third, and expectations could not have been higher.

Two setbacks dimmed Washington’s championship hopes. The first one was a week 3 home 14-15 loss to No. 17 Navy. Additional adversity struck during the fifth game of the season against UCLA when Schloredt broke his collarbone. However, this did not stop the team from achieving greatness.

Bob Hivner took over as quarterback and won the game and the next five. The team encountered a one-point loss against Navy two weeks earlier in Seattle, which turned out to be the season’s only loss.

The 1960 season culminated in a Rose Bowl victories, as Washington faced top-ranked Minnesota in Pasadena. Washington was a seven-point underdog, but that did not deter them. The Huskies upset Minnesota 17–7, with Schloredt returning as QB and earning the player of the game for a second straight year. The Helms Athletic Foundation, which considered bowl games in its ranking, awarded the Huskies the national championship title.

DIY About Huskies Legend Bob Schloredt.

Washington quarterback Bob Schloredt had an accomplished career while playing for the Huskies and later serving the University as an assistant football coach for 11 seasons. The Deadwood, South Dakota native played a primary role in the schools 1960 national championship and was the 1960 and 1961 Rose Bowl MVP. Amazingly, Schloredt did this with vision in just one eye after a childhood fireworks accident at age five.

Washington’s 1991 National Championship

The 1991 college football season was memorable for the Washington Huskies as they dominated their opponents to finish the season with an undefeated 12-0 record. Despite a controversial decision by the Associated Press naming Miami as the national champions, the coaches poll declared the Washington Huskies as the 1991 UPI national champion.

Led by Head Coach Don James, the Huskies were determined to win a national championship and started their season with a dominant 42-7 victory over Stanford. The team went on to win their next ten games, including a notable victory over No. 9 Nebraska in September, which set the tone for their championship run. They ended their regular season with a 56-21 victory over in-state rivals Washington State. The team headed to the Rose Bowl with tremendous momentum and excitement.

In the Rose Bowl, the Huskies faced a formidable opponent in No. 4 Michigan. However, the team was determined and well-prepared, led by Hobert’s two touchdown passes and Steve Emtman’s dominant defensive performance, leading to a resounding 34-14 victory. These performances earned Hobert and Emtman the Rose Bowl’s Offensive and Defensive MVP awards, respectively.

Notably, the Huskies were ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll, and yet the Associated Press named the Miami Hurricanes as the national champions at the end of the season. However, the Washington Huskies received the most votes in the coaches poll and were awarded the UPI national championship, capping off a historic season for the university.

The offense was led by quarterback Billy Joe Hobert, who threw for 2,271 yards and 22 touchdowns with a ratio of 10 interceptions. The rushing attack was equally potent, with Beno Bryant rushing for 943 yards and 8 touchdowns, and Joe Barry rushing for 718 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wide receiver Mario Bailey was a standout, hauling in 17 touchdowns on 62 receptions for 1,037 yards.

Huskies Dominate the 1992 NFL Draft

Following the Huskies 1991 season, the national champs were well represented in the 1992 NFL Draft. The Indianapolis Colts selected defensive tackle Steve Emtman with the first overall pick of the draft while San Francisco nabbed safety Dana Hall with the draft’s 18th selection.

Three more Washington players were drafted in the third round of the 1992 NFL Draft. C Ed Cunningham was picked by the Phoenix Cardinals with pick No. 61 while the Jets selected OT Slupell Malamaia and the Giants gained TE Aaron Pierce with picks No. 67 and 68.

Washington Huskies College Football Playoff Appearances

2016 CFP Season

Since the CFP kicked off in 2014, Washington has made two appearances.

For the Huskie fans, the 2016 season was one to remember. It was a year that saw Washington earn their first College Football Playoff invite.

The season began with a number of question marks surrounding the program. Despite some talented players, the Huskies were ranked 14th in the preseason polls. Some pundits were worried about their inexperience, especially at the quarterback position where they had a true freshman, Jake Browning, at the helm. But the team quickly dispelled any doubts as they cruised to a 48-13 win over Rutgers, followed by a string of convincing victories over Idaho, Portland State, and Arizona.

Their first real test came in the form of a highly anticipated clash with Stanford. The Cardinal had been the dominant force in the Pac-12 North for years. Washington played with a fierce determination, with dominant performances from both their offense and defense. They crushed Stanford 44-6 in front of a sold-out crowd. The game was broadcast on ESPN, and the national exposure was crucial in helping the Huskies establish themselves as a playoff contender.

The next challenge was a road game against Oregon, another perennial Pac-12 powerhouse. Washington generated another dominant performance and won convincingly, with a final score of 70-21, and the game would be remembered as a turning point in their season.

After defeating teams like Utah and Cal, the Huskies found themselves in the Pac-12 championship game against Colorado. The Buffaloes had been an impressive team all season, but the Huskies were simply too dominant, with Jake Browning throwing three touchdowns to lead his team to a commanding 41-10 victory. This win secured the Huskies their first conference title since 2000 and punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff as the No. 4 seed.

Unfortunately, the team’s remarkable season came to an end with a 24-7 loss to the eventual national champions, Alabama, in the Peach Bowl.

2023 CFP Season

The 2023 season was a standout year for the Washington football team as they fought through a gauntlet of tough Pac 12 teams to advance to the College Football Playoffs.

One of the season’s key highlights was undoubtedly the remarkable performance of Michael Penix Jr., who earned a second-place finish for the prestigious Heisman Trophy. With his exceptional leadership and unparalleled skills, Penix Jr. was instrumental in the Huskies’ triumphant season. His versatility on the field, combined with his ability to motivate the team, proved essential in securing some of the season’s most critical wins.

Washington began the season ranked 10th nationally and outscored Boise State, Tulsa and Michigan State by a combined 140-36 margin

Once the Huskies entered conference play, a slugfest ensued as Washington beat four nationally ranked opponents in the form of No. 8 Oregon (36-33), No. 20 USC (52-42), No. 18 Utah (35-28) and No. 11 Oregon State (22-20).

The 4th ranked Huskies entered the Apple Cup contest against the WSU Cougars and prevailed 24-21, to set up a rematch with No 5 Oregon in the conference championship game. Washington clipped the Ducks 34-31 to advance to the CFP as the No. 2 Seed.

Washington faced No. 3 seed Texas 37-31 in the CFP’s semifinal round to advance to the national championship game against Michigan.

Aside from Penix Jr., the Huskies had a star-studded lineup that was integral to their success. Running back Dillon Johnson showcased his speed and agility, leading the team in rushing yards and touchdowns. Wide receivers Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark while consistently making game-changing catches and securing crucial points for the team.