Speaking at a press conference on Monday, University of Washington football coach Jedd Fisch said that the university administration hasn't approached him about a new contract and that he's just focused on leading the No. 24 Huskies against Wisconsin this upcoming Saturday.

The question likely comes in response to all the new openings in college football - and all the huge money associated with them.

The theory could be, I suppose, that if Washington doesn't show a greater financial commitment to Fisch, that he could want to jump ship to a place that will give him generational money. The Penn State job is available, as is the Florida job, as is the LSU job, as is the Auburn job.

Fisch is about to finish his second year in Seattle, but his deal is set for seven years. 

The following note came from the Seattle Times:

His total compensation without bonuses in 2025 will be $7,575,024. That ranked 22nd nationally, but ninth in the Big Ten according to USA Today’s college head coach salary list. 

Behind Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, Illinois’ Bret Bielema — who Fisch and Washington beat 42-25 on Oct. 25 — and Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell, UW’s opponent this week who is 15-19 during four seasons with the Badgers and hasn’t won a Big Ten game since Oct. 19, 2024. Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith, currently 0-6 in conference play, ranks 10th among Big Ten coaching salaries, right behind Fisch. 

On the money

Look, it's never fun to see that you are ranked just ahead of a coach that leads an 0-6 conference team, or that you are ninth in the league in earnings. That would hurt anyone's ego, but the fact is this: Washington went 6-7 under Fisch in his first year on campus, and while they are 6-2 this year, they have lost their two marquee tests against Ohio State and Michigan.

It doesn't mean that Fisch isn't a good coach and it doesn't mean that the program can't win with him, but his track record also doesn't scream "extension" or "raise," at least not yet.

The Huskies have four games left to make a push for the College Football Playoff, and if they can do that? Then the discussion becomes more understandable.

What about the fear?

If Washington extends Fisch early, they are likely doing so out of fear that he'll leave, and that's the wrong reason to extend him - at least in this case - considering the program hasn't won anything yet.

Sadly, the state of college athletics is one of disloyalty. The university could extend him and see him leave anyways, which is an unfortunate reality.

How should both sides feel?

Washington should feel like it's an elite job, and it should treat its football program as such. Washington has a beautiful facility and is in, arguably, the best conference in the country. It's time to treat the program like it's a premiere job, and if Fisch succeeds, they should treat him like he's running a premiere program.

That said, Fisch should also recognize the opportunity at Washington and he should recognize how special the job is and can be. While a handful of jobs will always be better, he shouldn't be eager to jump ship either.

The two sides need to finish out this season and then re-evaluate things, and for now, that means just focusing on Wisconsin.

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