Fisch Named To 2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List
July 09, 2026 | Football
SEATTLE – Jedd Fisch is one of 20 head coaches on the Dodd Trophy preaseason watch list, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. announced today.
The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy. The award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
This year's watch list was created through a selection process taking into consideration each program's Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, as well as projected success for the 2026 season.
Fisch enters his third season as Washington's head coach. Last season, the Husky offense went from 104th in the nation in scoring offense to 17th. Washington's red-zone offense improved from No. 104 to No. 7, and from 101st to 10th in third-down conversions. Additionally, Washington's defense also made great strides, finishing the season in the Top 15 in the FBS in both rushing and scoring defense, never allowing more than 26 points in any one game.
Academically, Washington has produced back-to-back quarters of a program-best 3.31 GPA. In addition, a total of 43 Huskies earned a place on the Big Ten All-Academic Team, four Huskies were named Academic All-District and Johan Coleman (who was also a finalist for both the William V. Campbell Trophy and the Paul Horunung Award) earned first-team Academic All-America honors.
A midseason watch list – adding to or narrowing the field – will be released in the fall. A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The winner of the 2026 Dodd Trophy will then be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
For news, scores, highlights and more, download the Go Huskies app on your mobile device. Follow @UW_Football on Instagram, X and Facebook and subscribe to UW Athletics on YouTube for the latest on the Dawgs.
The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy. The award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
This year's watch list was created through a selection process taking into consideration each program's Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, as well as projected success for the 2026 season.
Fisch enters his third season as Washington's head coach. Last season, the Husky offense went from 104th in the nation in scoring offense to 17th. Washington's red-zone offense improved from No. 104 to No. 7, and from 101st to 10th in third-down conversions. Additionally, Washington's defense also made great strides, finishing the season in the Top 15 in the FBS in both rushing and scoring defense, never allowing more than 26 points in any one game.
Academically, Washington has produced back-to-back quarters of a program-best 3.31 GPA. In addition, a total of 43 Huskies earned a place on the Big Ten All-Academic Team, four Huskies were named Academic All-District and Johan Coleman (who was also a finalist for both the William V. Campbell Trophy and the Paul Horunung Award) earned first-team Academic All-America honors.
A midseason watch list – adding to or narrowing the field – will be released in the fall. A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The winner of the 2026 Dodd Trophy will then be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
For news, scores, highlights and more, download the Go Huskies app on your mobile device. Follow @UW_Football on Instagram, X and Facebook and subscribe to UW Athletics on YouTube for the latest on the Dawgs.
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