In recent years, Washington has always been a team defined by its explosive offense, with the defense seeming more like an added luxury when it was on. Even in the team's national championship run during the 2023 season, Washington had a good, but not great, defense.
Last season in Jedd Fisch's first year as UW head coach, he brought on Bill Belichick's son Stephen to lead the group as defensive coordinator. It was another year of inconsistency. The defense showed glimpses of greatness, notably being second in the entire nation in allowing the fewest passing yards per game, but also couldn't get pressure on the quarterback or stop the run, allowing 161.