Huskies, Jedd Fisch prepare to host spring game, bucking national trend

A new trend has swept through college football during the past several months. 

Football programs across the country are declining to host a spring football game. Texas and Ohio State cited their increased playing schedules during recent seasons. Missouri and Florida State announced construction at their home stadiums will prevent them from welcoming fans for a spring game in 2025. 

BYU, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, NC State, North Carolina and USC passed on spring games this year, too, while Nebraska coach Matt Rhule stated the Cornhuskers — who hosted one of the first spring games in 1906 by playing an exhibition against Doane University — didn’t play one in 2025 because he doesn’t want to encourage other teams to poach his players. 

Washington and coach Jedd Fisch, however, won’t be adding their names to that list.

“I kind of love it,” Fisch said Feb. 26. “I’m a fan at heart. I still love my days in college, and I loved when I used to go to the spring game as a college student or then when I had the chance to be a student assistant for coach (Steve) Spurrier and he used to let people call plays. And he used to let the younger guys have an opportunity on that day. 

“It was just such a fun day.”

Fisch’s Huskies will play their 2025 spring football game Friday night at Husky Stadium, officially concluding their spring practice period. The game will feature Team Gold, captained by former Husky linebacker Donald Butler, playing against Team Purple, led by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and is free to attend. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

“We’d love to see a great atmosphere on a beautiful Friday night,” Fisch said Wednesday. 

This is the second iteration of a spring game during Fisch’s tenure, and the UW coach said he’s excited to see how the team competes in a game environment. Fisch, who said he briefly stepped into a “commissioner” role, tried to split the roster evenly so both teams are competitive, and noted every player who isn’t currently injured is expected to play.

The UW coach noted he also split up his coaching staff, with newly promoted offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty leading one team, and newly arrived defensive coordinator Ryan Walters coaching the other. Fisch announced wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings will call the offense for Walters’ team, while secondary coach John Richardson will coordinate the defense for Dougherty. 

Competitive pride, however, won’t be the lone item on the line Friday night. Fisch said he promised the winning team a massive banquet dinner in Club Husky featuring steak, shrimp, salmon and an “amazing” dessert bar featuring ice-cream sundaes and hot fudge sauce. The losing team, the UW coach said, will have a significantly less fancy meal waiting for them. 

“Rice and beans,” he said. “They’re arguing for poultry. I said no.”

Junior edge rusher Jacob Lane, preparing for his third season at UW, said he’s looking forward to the event. The Puyallup native and Emerald Ridge High standout didn’t grow up going to UW spring games in the past, but said he prefers the excitement of a real game in comparison to past iterations of the event. 

UW held a spring preview during Lane’s freshman season in 2023, a more low-profile public scrimmage organized by former coach Kalen DeBoer. Lane said the game atmosphere feels like a good reward for the players after the hard work they put in during the monthlong spring practices, and he appreciates getting a chance to interact with UW fans for a final time before the offseason begins.

“I think it’s necessary,” Lane said Saturday.

Fisch said he expects this spring game to be a far cry from the event the Huskies hosted a year ago, when UW had only seven healthy linemen and weren’t able to simulate rushing the quarterback. Fisch also said he isn’t worried about his players being poached by opposing teams, especially since the spring transfer window closed on April 25 and will not open again until December.  

Off the gridiron, Fisch said a majority of the athletic department will be involved including the men’s and women’s soccer teams, the gymnastics team and the men’s basketball team. The Husky Marching Band, spirit team and dance team will be present, too. It continues a trend Fisch established during the 2024 spring game, when he invited men’s soccer coach Jaime Clark and women’s coach Nicole Van Dyke to kick field goals for points. 

“We’re going to just do everything we can to make this an amazing environment,” he said. “We want to really make football fun, and to do that we think we can have a fantastic spring game.”

This year’s spring game will also include a halftime corgi race, a school-supply drive benefiting Treehouse, Jane Addams Middle and James Baldwin Elementary. Current UW students will have access to a variety of activities and giveaways, and can win a chance to participate in an on-field kicking competition and a Punt, Pass and Kick contest.

“I want all our students to see football,” Fisch said Feb. 26. “I want them to come to the stadium. Have fun. Make it a party. Make it a great event.”