Fansided

College football rankings 2018: FanSided preseason Top 25

By Connor Muldowney

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Jake Browning #3 of the Washington Huskies makes a pass against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Jake Browning #3 of the Washington Huskies makes a pass against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Washington struck gold when it hired Chris Petersen away from Boise State four years ago. The former head coach of the underdog Broncos is now leading the Huskies to national prominence which started with a Pac-12 title and College Football Playoff berth two years ago.

Petersen should feel good about his team heading into the 2018 season, including star quarterback Jake Browning who was once a top Heisman contender. The fourth-year starter has the ability to pass for 4,000 yards and 30-plus touchdowns, but he will look to produce again like he did as a sophomore when he was the conference’s offensive player of the year, tossing 43 touchdown passes.

Browning has a solid line in front of him, intriguing wide receivers and an all-conference running back in Myles Gaskin. This offense is balanced and should be a problem for the rest of the league.

As for the defense, Pac-12 opponents may not be as pass-happy against the Huskies as they are versus the rest of the league. Washington returns all four starters in the secondary and it could boast the top passing defense in the land. The front-seven should be a force to be reckoned with as well.

Washington will be the Pac-12 favorite again and one of the most balanced teams in the country.