We could be right back here again next year.
Earlier this week, after some clearly reckless decisions and a lot of noise, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. elected to return to the University of Washington for the 2026 season.
It's good news for the Huskies on the field, as Williams is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country, but it remains to be seen how his return will be received in the locker room.
But there's an unfortunate reality to all of this that we need to face as well: Just because Williams is back for 2026, it doesn't mean that he's not going to try and bolt again when he gets the chance.
As was noted by podcast personality Jason Puckett on social media:
What's going to be great in this saga is that a year from now when Demond Williams posts the same message that he's once again entering the portal...
Remember his deal is one year. Nothing stops him from playing this year out taking his "medicine" in moving on. He'll make more in college than the NFL
The question for Demond Williams Jr.
The biggest question for Williams at this point is this: Does he actually want to be at Washington, or is he just there to avoid lawsuits and the headaches that come with legal troubles?
If he wants to be there, then great, but if its about protecting himself from hassle and legality, then that's not good for anybody. And yes, Puckett is right, Williams could absolutely try to leave again when this deal is up, putting the university and the football program in a bind once more.
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How he moves forward
Williams has to work on fixing things with his teammates. Needless to say, if the locker room is fractured and split, then that's also not good for anybody. The team will suffer from a performance standpoint in 2026, and Williams will have less individual options available to him for 2027. He's got two months until spring practice, so he's got to make them count.
Also on campus
--The Washington men's basketball team is back in action on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. PT. The Huskies are 9-6 after a tough loss against No. 5 Purdue earlier this week. The Big Ten schedule has been a gauntlet for the Huskies, and this feels like a must-have game. The Ohio State Buckeyes are 11-4 and 3-2 inside the league, so it won't be easy. Our own Teren Kowatsch will be there, so follow him @Teren_Kowatsch.
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