The Day After: Thoughts and observations after Washington's win at USC

Did the Huskies turn a corner?

Photo by Christian Caple/On Montlake.

LOS ANGELES — The Oregon game was the first big challenge, a midseason checkpoint that would determine the validity of Washington’s unbeaten dreams — and, to be sure, the Ducks are the best team the Huskies have faced (and may face again).

But UW’s 52-42 victory at USC on Saturday felt like a different kind of milestone, even if the Trojans are deeply flawed and perhaps still trying to chase and tackle Dillon Johnson.

Whether it was due to illness or injury or mere underperformance, the Huskies stumbled through close victories over Arizona State and Stanford, inspiring reasonable doubt that their 8-0 record was as legit as it appeared, and making it easier for the College Football Playoff committee to install them as the “worst” undefeated Power 5 team.

Beating USC doesn’t necessarily erase any of that — particularly because the Trojans scored 42 points — but it does get UW to 9-0, add a top-25 road win to its resume and put to bed the idea of the Huskies as a house of cards, sure to topple when next confronted with elite skill of any kind.