The Day After: Final thoughts on Washington's 2023 season

What I'm thinking about after the Huskies' title-game loss to Michigan.

HOUSTON — Already, the apparel piled high here at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, shirts and sweatshirts touting Michigan’s perfect season set out for display.

That’s how close Washington came to achieving what it dreamed of: the memorabilia must have already been produced.

As it was, the Huskies left NRG Stadium as losers for the first time this season, and for the first time since Oct. 8, 2022, that 45-38 defeat to Arizona State that seemed to suggest you recalibrate expectations for the early days of Kalen DeBoer’s tenure.

All UW did after that was win 21 consecutive games, a Pac-12 championship and a College Football Playoff semifinal.

My guess: it won’t take long for Washington fans to settle into maximum appreciation of what they witnessed this season. The Huskies were outplayed on Monday. Michigan’s defense made Washington’s offense look mortal in a way I wasn’t anticipating, and the Huskies’ defense took too long to adjust to the Wolverines’ rushing attack. But UW still won 14 games and came closer than any team in its history to winning an outright national championship, and there was something about the way they did it — thrilling finishes, hard-fought battles against ranked opponents — that I suspect will foster fonder memories than if they’d merely flattened a slate of overmatched foes. The past few days in Houston essentially functioned as a series of class reunions for many UW fans and former players. They left NRG Stadium disappointed, but I’m guessing those folks will remember this week for a long time.

The Huskies were really good this season. The Wolverines were better. As Washington transitions to the Big Ten, it’s on DeBoer and his staff to figure a way toward leveling the playing field. They’re going to be seeing Michigan — and similar peers — a lot in the coming years.

Here’s what else I’m thinking about after Washington’s season finally ended.