Washington Huskies 2013 Football Schedule Announced

As everyone is preparing for the big game tomorrow, I’m playing a little catch up as the Huskies 2013 football schedule was announced. This upcoming season is a very important season in Huskies history as the Huskies will reopen Husky Stadium this season after a season away. This season is also a very important season for the Steve Sarkisian tenure following a 7-6 season that closed with an Apple Cup loss to WSU, and a loss to Boise State in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas. For the first time though is Sark’s tenure it appears that he will not have a non-conference ranked in the Top 10 in the nation. As we all dream that the Huskies will be back in Rose Bowl and potential national championship discussions in the coming years, this upcoming season is one of high expectations that will get them on the right track to get back to the glory days.

2013 Washington Huskies Schedule

8-31-2013 Boise State

9-14-2013 @ Illinois -played at Soldier Field

9-21-2013 Idaho State

9-28-2013 Arizona

10-5-2013 @ Stanford

10-12-2013 Oregon

10-19-2013 @ Arizona State

10-26-2013 California

11-9-2013 Colorado

11-15-2013 @ UCLA

11-23-2013 @ Oregon State

11-29-2013 Washington State

12-7-2013 Pac-12 Championship Game

We’ve known the non-conference schedule for a couple of years, but Thursday was the release of the full schedule and three things stuck out to me.

1. A fast start is needed

With four very winnable game before going to Stanford, the Huskies need to start fast this year. If you go to Stanford (who will more than likely be 4-0) with a record of 4-0 they will send a message early saying these aren’t the same Huskies from years past.

2. Home heavy schedule

The Huskies this year will have 7 home games 6 of which are very winnable (assuming a loss Oregon) the Huskies must take care of at the New Husky Stadium. I think the Huskies will play better on the road this season than in years past, but a lot will be on the shoulders of Keith Price.

3. Two Friday games in November

Last year the Huskies went 1-1 in Friday games, both of which were in November (Win @ Cal, Loss @ WSU). This year it’s the same, two crucial games in November that the Huskies may need to win. The first is at UCLA, in the Rose Bowl, on November 15th. The last time the Huskies won in the Rose Bowl vs. UCLA was 1995, this is a streak they’ll need to break if they have a chance to win the Pac-12 north division this late in the season. The next is the Apple Cup at home vs. WSU. This is a game that just slipped away from the Huskies last season, and will need to amend if they are a factor down the stretch.

All in all I see the Huskies going 8-4 or 7-5 this year (but I’m hoping for better). With a handful of games that could be close this year the Huskies will need to show toughness in these games. All of that will start with Keith Price.