Phil Steele puts Washington’s secondary in CFB’s top 25 heading into 2026

What happened: College football analyst Phil Steele has placed the Washington Huskies’ secondary among the top 25 units in the country for the 2026 season. Steele’s projection comes with a major turnover point, because Washington is set to replace its two starting cornerbacks after both were selected in the NFL draft.

Why it matters: A secondary ranking is often a proxy for how reliably a defense can disrupt passing downs, limit explosive plays, and survive against teams that can stretch the field with speed and spacing. When a program can keep that evaluation high in the face of NFL departures, it usually suggests the coaching staff has depth, experience, or a clear path to reload at cornerback.

What Steele is saying about 2026: The premise of Steele’s list is that the Huskies’ defensive backfield will still rate as one of the better groups nationally in 2026, despite the draft losses. In the Yahoo Sports report, Steele’s assessment is framed as “even after” those two cornerbacks leave for the NFL, implying that the rest of the secondary has enough returning structure and/or recruiting and development to sustain production at a high level.

How to interpret “top 25” without over-reading it: A ranking like this is not a guarantee of end-of-season outcomes. Secondary performance can swing based on scheme matchups, quarterback play across the schedule, the health and form of safeties and cornerback depth, and how quickly new starters learn the timing and leverage responsibilities required in college pass coverage. Steele’s expectation is still forward-looking, built around what he views as Washington’s baseline strength and the program’s ability to retool.

The roster question Washington will face: Losing two starting cornerbacks means the Huskies will need to identify who will cover No. 1 and No. 2 receiver options, handle man coverage assignments when the front forces play-and-break, and maintain coverage integrity when offenses attack the edges with high-percentage throws. The key for Washington will be whether the incoming or elevated players can handle both the physical demands of cornerback play and the mental demands of reading routes and adjusting leverage post-snap.

What to watch next in the Huskies’ defensive-back build: The most important indicators will be offseason readiness and early-season coverage themes. Look for whether Washington can maintain tightness in phase coverage (closing routes quickly and limiting separation) and whether safeties can help carry any transition at corner by disguising coverages and supporting brackets or bracket-like concepts. If Steele’s projection holds, Washington should show fewer big-play breakdowns even while new cornerback starters settle into their roles.

The bottom line: Steele’s top-25 placement is a vote of confidence in Washington’s ability to reload in the secondary for 2026. The real test will be how the Huskies translate preseason expectations into consistent pass defense once the starters are in place and the game-speed demands of the new cornerback rotation fully arrive. Where Washington goes from “projected” to “proven” will hinge on the production of the replacements and the cohesion of the entire defensive back group.

teamsNotes:

leaguesNotes: