Jedd Fisch embarrasses himself over Top 12 list, gets roasted

College football show host Josh Pate released his list of the current Top 12 programs in college football Tuesday, and UW head man Jedd "Dedd" Fisch had a weird reaction.

Pate's list was an attempt to identify the strongest programs in the game based on recruiting, coaching, organization, facilities and results. Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana and Michigan have won recent national championships. Oregon and Texas have made the playoffs in each of the last two years, both reaching a semifinal.

Washington made it to the National Championship Game in 2023 with Alabama's Kalen DeBoer running the show, but in two seasons under Fisch, they're 9-9 in the Big Ten, having won exactly two conference road games, at Maryland and UCLA.

They might be considered a team on the rise, however, having achieved a 9-4 season last year, good for a three-way tie for seventh in the Big Ten. They capped that off with a 38-10 win in the prestigious LA Bowl over Boise State, followed by an embarrassing legal battle to retain quarterback Demond Williams, who wanted to enter the Transfer Portal after signing an NIL agreement.

Fisch makes an awkward attempt at outrage over Pate poll

Just when you think things can't get any more awkward in Montlake, The Fisch flops out of the boat with fake outrage over his program not making a college football pundit's list of Top 12 programs. It's odd. It's the sort of outside noise an established high-profile coach would ignore completely.

Despite their swift action to retain Williams, the Huskies lost running back Adam Mohammed, offensive lineman Paki Finau, receiver Raiden Vines-Bright and three defensive linemen to the portal. They picked up Seattle native Jayden Limar from the Ducks.

In On3's way-too-early Top 25 composite rankings, the Huskies are tied 18th with Utah and Louisville, behind five other teams in the conference. The 2026 schedule finds them at USC, at Purdue, at Nebraska and at Michigan State, but they end with a home game versus defending champion Indiana followed by a road trip to Autzen.

Reactions to Fisch's outrage and willingness to be distracted by a pundit's offseason poll were swift and unmuted, ranging from bemused memes to "
B1Gadier General Daniel A. Lanning" admonishing him, "Don't pretend to be upset by this."

Vinny said, "Jedd, you went 1-3 vs teams with a winning record in the regular season. Maybe just sit this one out."

Shoug Duck told him, "Is this a surprise? Your QB is only there because he’s being legally forced to be, he fades in big games, and you’re rumored for every job opening because everyone thinks your family hates Seattle."

It went on like that for four dozen replies. While it's understandable for a coach to believe in his team, promoting them in indefensible ways over an insignificant perceived slight just makes the embattled and decidedly mediocre Fisch (31-32 record at Arizona and UW) look weak.

The man simply has no swag, and his offensive line gave up 34 sacks last season, 14 in the last two seasons to the Ducks while being outscored 75-35. Absent DeBoer, the Huskies remain second-tier.