Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies are heading to Los Angeles to take on the Boise State Broncos in the LA Bowl. In his second year as head coach Fisch has the Huskies playing in the post season again.
The timeline is absolutely brutal. Fisch admitted they’re cramming everything into a compressed schedule that would make your head spin. Game planning started the moment Boise State wrapped up their season Friday night. Wednesday night flight to LA, a couple abbreviated practices, then straight into battle Saturday evening.
“This is not like a traditional bowl preparation where you have a few weeks,” Fisch explained. The Huskies are getting eight fewer practices than teams playing later bowls. But there’s a silver lining – being on the quarter system means if they played January 2nd, players would get exactly one day of rest before classes resume. That’s borderline cruel.
Boise State Brings Championship Pedigree
The Broncos aren’t some consolation prize opponent. They’re three-time Mountain West champions who made the College Football Playoff last year. Spencer Danielson has built a defense that blitzes 56-58% of the time and attacks with the kind of aggression that gives offensive coordinators nightmares.
“They run to the ball really well,” Fisch noted, clearly respecting what they’re facing. The Huskies will need to establish their ground game that’s been money lately – 150 yards rushing against Oregon, over 200 in wins against Purdue and UCLA.
The NFL Stadium Experience
Here’s where Fisch really sold the moment to his players. SoFi Stadium hosts the Eagles-Chargers Thursday night, then the Lions-Rams the following Sunday. Washington gets sandwiched right in the middle of that NFL action.
“Look up on that jumbotron, and hope one day to be a participant in the game,” Fisch told his team at the awards banquet.
That’s the kind of motivation money can’t buy. Playing where Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford compete, in front of NFL decision-makers who might be scouting your next contract.
The recruiting angle is genius too. Dead period rules prevent direct contact, but every Southern California kid with dreams can buy a ticket and watch. Fisch has already plucked some of the state’s best talent – this game is a 5 PM national showcase of what Washington football looks like.
What’s Next
Bowl games have become optional for some programs, but not under Fisch. He expects everyone suited up except for season-ending injuries. The coach made his philosophy crystal clear – if you can play college football, you should play college football.
After Saturday, the real chaos begins. Draft declarations, transfer portal decisions, and potential fifth-year eligibility rulings await. But first, nine wins beckon against a Boise State squad that knows how to play in big moments.
The line opened with Boise State favored by 3.5 points, but Washington’s late-season momentum and that 33-carry, 150-yard rushing attack against Oregon suggests this spread might be too generous to the Broncos.
