Washington handled Weber State. Did we learn anything?

'We’re going to make this our worst game.'

SEATTLE — True or false: Washington just played its worst game of the season?

It’s what the Huskies believe as a matter of course: each new day installs the floor from which to build toward tomorrow’s ceiling, in perpetuity. Will Rogers said it after a so-so scrimmage last month. Jonah Coleman repeated it behind a microphone on Saturday night, not long after the Huskies had dispensed of overmatched Weber State, 35-3, to open both the 2024 season and the Jedd Fisch era.

“A lot to learn,” Coleman said. “We’re going to make this our worst game.”

It’d be something if that wound up true of UW’s junior tailback, who took 16 carries for 127 yards and three touchdowns, cutting and darting and breaking tackles in a way that suggests he could be this team’s offensive MVP.

Coleman arrived at UW from Arizona having rushed for 6.8 yards per carry as a sophomore on a 10-win team in 2023. On Saturday night before an announced crowd of 66,984 at Husky Stadium, he lined up as one of eight offensive starters who did not play a snap for UW last season. 

Nobody really knew how it was going to look, and after four quarters … well, I’d like to see another four quarters before concluding much, and maybe another four quarters after that. Coleman is a dude. You probably knew that. Will Rogers completed 20 of 26 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers. Giles Jackson caught a career-best 10 passes for 98 yards. Denzel Boston caught his first career touchdown pass. New defensive coordinator Steve Belichick has yet to call a play that resulted in an opponent scoring a touchdown. 

All good things, though Weber State will not submit any Heisman Trophy candidates this season.