The 2008 Husky Schedule: Daunting

The Huskies had perhaps the most difficult schedule in the nation last year. This year is no different. The Dawgs are boasting the toughest schedule in the Pac-10 and in the whole nation this year. Their first game is will be a little odd because it opens up against a Pac-10 rival, at Oregon, instead of your typical easy non-conference opener.

After the Oregon game, the Huskies will face off against BYU, ranked #17 in the first coaches poll. The next week, the Dawgs will have to face #4 Oklahoma at home. Although both of these games are against high quality teams with loads of experience and talent, there are some positives.

Starting the season off against good competition is a double-edged sword. It may hand you a few losses, but with those losses come invaluable experience to take with you throughout the rest of the season. If those games are won then they will greatly increase the team's chances of making something out of the season.

It is unlikely that the Huskies will win their first three games, but two out of three isn't out of question. I'm confident Ty Willingham will have his staff ready and he'll out coach the #20 Oregon staff to win the first game. Next, even if BYU is ranked #17, the Huskies are perfectly capable of beating them, especially because the game is at Husky stadium. Last year, a similarly ranked Boise State lost at Husky Stadium.

Theoretically, if the first two games are won, then the Huskies will have something they haven't had in a long time, momentum. They would peaking at an opprotune moment against Oklahoma. With Oklahoma playing at Husky Stadium, the Huskies will surely be in the game until the 4th quarter.

After the first three tough games, the Huskies will have three winnable games against the likes of Stanford, Arizona, and Oregon State. But then on October 25th, the Huskies will face off at home against Notre Dame. Notre Dame wasn't that good last year, however they will be vastly improved with more stability this year. 

The next game after Notre Dame, will be against USC at USC. The toughest team in the nation ranked at #2 in the latest coaches poll. The Trojans will hand UW an assured loss, however if Stanford can beat them, anyone can beat them so there is some hope.

After USC, comes Arizona State, who is ranked at #16. This will be another tough game, and could figure to be a blowout when considering the possible condition of the team by this time. With a team full of young players, they're mental and physical toughness will be put to the test against both USC and Arizona St. toward the end of the season. 

The last three games also prove tough for the Huskies with games against UCLA, a game at the rival cougars in Pullman, ending with the season finale against California, at California. This tough schedule is not good news for Ty Willingham, whose job is in jeopardy after being bowless in all his seasons as the head football coach at UW. 

Having the top competition will give fans a chance to see the Huskies on national television, with the Oklahoma and Notre Dame games both being televised on the ESPN family. Being on national television will also give Jake Locker to show the rest of the world how good he really is and what the hype is all about.

What's your take? Will the Huskies step up to the challenge or will they falter against their superior competition?