When you beat a team ranked in the national Top 25 but still find yourself on the outside looking in, it stings a little. That's exactly the situation the Washington Huskies find themselves in after USA TODAY released its post-spring Top 25 poll.

Despite dismantling Boise State—who landed at No. 25 in the same rankings—in the Bucked Up LA Bowl this past December, Washington was left unranked at No. 27. It's a tough break for a program that's clearly on the rise under head coach Jedd Fisch, now entering his third season in charge.

Let's put this in perspective. The Huskies won nine games in 2025, which was more than several ranked programs, including Penn State (No. 16), LSU (No. 17), Tennessee (No. 20), and Florida State (No. 22). That's not just a footnote—it's a statement. Washington finished with more wins than those four schools combined in their respective seasons, and they did it with sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. leading the charge.

Now, context matters. Penn State and LSU both brought in new head coaches—Matt Campbell from Iowa State and Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss, respectively—which often comes with a preseason ranking boost. Tennessee reportedly tried to poach Washington's defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, which says a lot about the respect the Huskies' coaching staff commands. And Florida State? The Seminoles went 5-7 under Mike Norvell, marking their second straight losing season after a 2-10 campaign in 2024.

Meanwhile, Fisch has quietly built something special in Seattle. He took a six-win team in 2024 and turned it into a nine-win squad in 2025, with the arrow pointing firmly upward. Yes, the Huskies lost some key pieces to the 2026 NFL Draft—leading receiver Denzel Boston, starting running back Jonah Coleman, edge rusher Zach Durfee, and both starting cornerbacks in Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock. But Fisch and his staff return 61 players from last year's roster, providing a strong foundation to build on.

In both 2024 and 2025, Washington climbed as high as No. 10 and No. 7 in the AP Top 25 at different points, only to finish unranked each year. The theme is clear: this is a team that starts strong but needs to finish stronger. The good news? With a proven quarterback, a deep returning roster, and a head coach who's already shown he can win, the Huskies have every chance to prove the doubters wrong when the 2026 season kicks off.

For now, they'll wear the "unranked" label as motivation. If the post-spring polls are any indication, Washington is poised for another prove-it season—and that's exactly the kind of chip on the shoulder that fuels championship runs.