Why did Kalen DeBoer's old Washington team not make the 2024 preseason coaches poll? Top reasons explored
It seems that the loss of Kalen DeBoer was harder on the Washington Huskies than some thought. At least, it seems to have severely affected the trust of the coaches in the 2023 national championship finalists.
The Huskies have the dubious honor of being the first national championship finalist not to make the preseason coaches poll, per USA Today. After ending the previous season as the No. 2 team in the coaches poll, the Huskies were unceremoniously dropped ahead of the 2024 season.
It's not only the fact that the architect of their stellar 2023 season, Kalen DeBoer, is now at Alabama to replace the legendary Nick Saban. Many of the key contributors of last year, including the likes of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Rome Odunze, are now in the NFL.
Add to that the fact that the Huskies are moving into the Big Ten, and will have a more logistically complicated schedule, and it seems it's more than enough to raise fears among the coaches about the near future of the program.
The program did bring former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch and Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers to replace Kalen DeBoer and Michael Penix Jr. respectively. While both are solid choices, Fisch having achieved a turnaround at Arizona and Rogers having put very good numbers in the SEC, they are yet to be tested.
Preseason Coaches Poll: Washington and Virginia Tech left out
- Georgia (SEC)
- Ohio State (Big Ten)
- Oregon (Big Ten)
- Texas (SEC)
- Alabama (SEC)
- Ole Miss (SEC)
- Notre Dame (I)
- Michigan (Big Ten)
- Penn State (Big Ten)
- Florida State (ACC)
- Missouri (SEC)
- LSU (SEC)
- Utah (Big 12)
- Clemson (ACC)
- Tennessee (SEC)
- Oklahoma (SEC)
- Kansas State (Big 12)
- Oklahoma State (Big 12)
- Miami (ACC)
- Texas A&M (SEC)
- Arizona (Big 12)
- NC State (ACC)
- USC (Big Ten)
- Kansas (Big 12)
- Iowa (Big Ten)
When does Washington start its 2024 season?
The Huskies have a rather easy opening game in Week 1 against FCS school Weber State. The game will be played at Husky Stadium in Seattle on August 31. The match will start at 11 p.m. ET. Week 2 brings another easy game, this time against Eastern Michigan.
Their first serious clash is in Week 3 against former Pac-12 rivals, the Washington State Cougars. Their opening Big Ten encounter is on Week 4 but all things considered, it is an easy one against the Northwestern Wildcats at home.