| Year: | 1997 |
| Team: | Washington Huskies |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Pacific-10 |
| Short Conf: | Pac-10 |
| Coachrank: | 18 |
| Aprank: | 18 |
| Record: | 8–4 |
| Conf Record: | 5–3 |
| Head Coach: | Jim Lambright |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Off Coach: | Scott Linehan |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Randy Hart |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Mvp: | Jerome Pathon |
| Captain: | Jerry Jensen |
| Captain2: | Rashaan Shehee |
| Captain3: | Jerome Pathon |
| Captain4: | Tony Parrish |
| Stadium: | Husky Stadium |
| Champion: | Aloha Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Aloha Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 51–23 vs. Michigan State |
The 1997 Washington Huskies football team was an American football team that represented the University of Washington during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its fifth season under head coach Jim Lambright, the team compiled an 8–4 record, finished fourth in the Pacific-10 Conference, and outscored its opponents 420 to 259.[1] Receiver Jerome Pathon was selected as the team's most valuable player. Seniors Pathon, Jerry Jensen, Rashaan Shehee, Tony Parrish were the team captains.
After a 27–0 shutout of USC on November 1,[2] the Huskies were 7–1 and ranked sixth in the nation. Saddled with injuries,[2] [3] they lost the final three conference games to unranked Oregon,[4] #9 UCLA, and #11 Washington State.[5] [6]
At the Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day against #25 Michigan State, Washington built a 31–10 lead at halftime and won 51–23;[3] [7] it was Lambright's sole bowl victory in his six seasons as head coach. The win moved UW up three spots in the final rankings, to #18 in both major polls.[8]
See also: 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.
Ten Huskies were selected in the 1998 NFL draft, which lasted seven rounds (241 selections).
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | Franchise | |
| WR | 2nd | 32 | Indianapolis Colts | ||
| S | 2nd | 35 | Chicago Bears | ||
| TE | 2nd | 40 | New Orleans Saints | ||
| C | 3rd | 64 | Chicago Bears | ||
| RB | 3rd | 88 | Kansas City Chiefs | ||
| TE | 5th | 127 | Oakland Raiders | ||
| LB | 5th | 136 | Carolina Panthers | ||
| G | 5th | 139 | Tennessee Oilers | ||
| WR | 6th | 160 | Buffalo Bills | ||
| LB | 7th | 236 | St. Louis Rams |