Matt Barrie and Stanford Steve are big fans of what Kalen DeBoer has done in Seattle.

Washington is 4 quarters away from winning a national title for the 1st time since the 1992 Rose Bowl. Ironically enough, that game was also against Michigan.

If DeBoer can win a national title in year 2 at Washington, the ripple effect could be huge in Barrie’s eyes. These are the kinds of things that set up a program for years to come.

“To do it so quickly at Washington, a place that’s kind of had to steadily build its way back up, it’d be huge,” said Barrie. “Now you’re going into the Big Ten, recruiting, he’s got the thing going. If you win a national championship, that’s something that could sustain a program now for the next 5, 6, 7 years.”

Stanford Steve noted how the fans have responded to Washington’s recent success in football. The fact that Washington is still without a loss after its schedule this season was enough for him to respect the program.

“To see it and see the belief. Like going back there for GameDay, felt like the old times. That fan base was completely bought in. The astronomical rise that he has taken in this short of time is what I think people can’t wrap their heads around,” Stanford Steve said. “I mean, this gauntlet of a schedule they’ve gone through and to still be undefeated, and in the national championship. I can’t see enough about that coaching job.”

The Huskies face Michigan for the 1st time since 2021 with a chance to win it all. Kickoff will be at 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.