What Is 2017 Washington Huskies football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 10–3 record under head coach Chris Petersen. They won the Holiday Bowl 38–31 against Wisconsin, marking their second consecutive 10-win season.

Key Facts

Finished with a 10–3 overall record and 7–2 in Pac-12 Conference play
Ranked as high as No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings
Defeated Wisconsin 38–31 in the 2017 Holiday Bowl on December 27
Started the season 7–0 before losing to Stanford and Washington State
Quarterback Jake Browning threw for 2,971 yards and 28 touchdowns

Overview

The 2017 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by head coach Chris Petersen in his fifth season, the team competed in the Pac-12 Conference's North Division and played their home games at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

The Huskies posted a 10–3 overall record and a 7–2 conference record, finishing second in the Pac-12 North. They earned a spot in the Holiday Bowl, where they defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 38–31 in a high-scoring showdown, marking their second straight 10-win season.

Season Record: The team finished with a 10–3 overall record, including a 7–2 mark in Pac-12 play, showcasing consistent performance despite key late-season losses.
Head Coach:Chris Petersen led the team in his fifth season, maintaining a strong program culture and developing talent for the NFL draft.
Home Stadium: The Huskies played at Husky Stadium, a 70,138-seat venue on the University of Washington campus, known for its loud fanbase and waterfront views.
Bowl Game: They participated in the 2017 Holiday Bowl on December 27, defeating Wisconsin 38–31 in one of the most-watched non-New Year’s Six bowl games.
Notable Losses: The team suffered defeats to Stanford (37–33) and Washington State (41–14), the latter ending their Pac-12 title hopes.

Key Players & Performance

The 2017 Huskies were powered by a balanced offense and a dominant defense that ranked among the national leaders in several statistical categories. Quarterback Jake Browning led the attack with precision passing, while the defensive unit continued its tradition of stifling opponents.

Quarterback:Jake Browning threw for 2,971 yards and 28 touchdowns with only 8 interceptions, maintaining efficiency and leadership throughout the season.
Running Back:Myles Gaskin rushed for 1,374 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming the first Washington player to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in multiple seasons.
Wide Receiver:Andre Patton and Chico McClatcher combined for over 800 receiving yards, providing reliable targets in crucial drives.
Defense: The defense ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 19.8 points per game and forcing 20 turnovers on the season.
Linebacker:Azeem Victor recorded 78 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss, anchoring the middle of the defensive unit.
Special Teams: Kicker Tristan Vizcaino made 17 of 22 field goals, including a long of 52 yards, contributing significantly in close games.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2017 season compared to the previous two years in key statistical categories:

Statistic	2015	2016	2017
Overall Record	7–6	12–2	10–3
Pac-12 Record	4–5	8–1	7–2
Bowl Result	Heart of Dallas Bowl (W)	CFP Semifinal (L)	Holiday Bowl (W)
Points Per Game (Offense)	31.5	38.2	34.6
Points Allowed Per Game	24.8	17.9	19.8

The 2017 season represented a slight step back from the historic 2016 campaign, which included a College Football Playoff appearance, but still demonstrated program stability. The team maintained a top-tier defense and continued developing NFL-caliber talent, with eight players from the 2017 roster eventually signing NFL contracts.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season reinforced Washington’s status as a consistent Pac-12 contender and a model of program building under Chris Petersen. Despite falling short of a playoff berth, the team’s performance had lasting implications for recruiting, player development, and national perception.

NFL Pipeline: The season helped launch the careers of players like Myles Gaskin and Taylor Rapp, both of whom were later drafted or signed as free agents.
Recruiting Boost: Consistent winning improved the Huskies’ 2018 recruiting class ranking, placing them in the national top 25 according to 247Sports.
Defensive Legacy: The defense continued its reputation as a national powerhouse, building on the foundation set during the 2016 season.
Bowl Prestige: Winning the Holiday Bowl kept Washington among the most successful teams in non-Playoff bowls over the past decade.
Conference Impact: Their performance kept the Pac-12 in the national conversation during a period of declining conference-wide rankings.
Program Stability: The 10-win season proved the program could remain elite even after losing key players to the NFL and graduation.

Overall, the 2017 Washington Huskies season was a testament to sustained excellence in college football. While not reaching the heights of 2016, the team maintained a high standard, contributing to the long-term growth of Washington football on a national stage.