In 2023, the Washington football team achieved something that USC football fans have been longing for over the past decade. Washington not only made it to the College Football Playoff but also won a semifinal game and played in the national championship game. This was a significant accomplishment that eluded USC during their 10-year playoff drought. Despite winning the Rose Bowl in the 2016 season, the Trojans were never truly in contention for the playoffs due to early-season losses. In 2017, they won the Pac-12 championship but faltered after a blowout loss to Notre Dame, which took them out of playoff contention. The closest USC came to making the playoff was in 2022 when they fell one win short in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Utah in Las Vegas.
On the other hand, these challenging times for USC are put into perspective when compared to what Washington Huskies fans endured in 2008. That season, the team went 0-12 under Ty Willingham, hitting rock bottom. Roman Tomashoff, who grew up in Los Angeles and is now an editor at UW Huskies Wire, vividly remembers that terrible experience when USC defeated Washington 56-0 at the Coliseum. With nine minutes left in the first half and a commanding 35-0 lead, it seemed like all hope was lost for Washington fans. However, as we know now, this recent success by Washington is even sweeter considering that tough history with their rival Trojans.
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