In its third season under head coach Rick Neuheisel, the team compiled an 8-4 record, finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Pacific-10 Conference, and was outscored 370 to 353.

[1] Running back Willie Hurst and linebacker Ben Mahdavi were selected as the team's most valuable players on offense and defense, respectively.

The season opened with tragedy when 16 UW alumni and fans were killed in a plane crash in the Yucatan Peninsula on September 12.

[2] The Chichen Itza sightseers were participants on a week-long Husky-themed Caribbean cruise with Don James, Sonny Sixkiller and other Husky coaches and players prior to the Washington-Miami game scheduled for Sept. 15 in the Orange Bowl.

[2] This game was cancelled following the September 11 attacks and rescheduled to November 24.