Call it a disaster.

Call the UW’s 43-19 loss to Oregon Saturday a complete disaster.

A disaster because Jake Locker threw an interception in the end zone in the first quarter on fourth-and-one. So close.

A disaster because the UW defense, which played surprisingly well in the first half, experienced complete destruction in the second half and allowed 21 unanswered points to the Ducks in the third quarter. So inconsistent.

A disaster because the Huskies couldn’t seem to jive on offense, moving down the field with ease but failing to score in the red zone. So discouraging.

A disaster because Washington had all kinds of problems on special teams, getting a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown and allowing Oregon success on a fake field goal. So troubling.

A disaster because now the Huskies sit at 3-5 after a 43-19 loss at home, making it near impossible to make a bowl game. So sad.

If the Huskies were hoping to prove that they improved since their win over USC or if they were hoping to show the doubters that they were for real, they failed.

The only thing they managed to prove is that they have a ways to go before they join the elite of the Pac-10.

“Obviously a very disappointing loss,” UW head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I thought we really had some opportunities, especially early in the ball game and coming out of halftime, to change the complexion of the game, maybe get the game going in our favor more. And we weren’t able to capitalize.”

And that’s been the theme for much of the season for these Huskies.

Sure they stay close to teams, either on the scoreboard or in the stats, but in three games this year — LSU, Arizona State and Oregon — the UW hasn’t been able to make the plays necessary to win, score, keep drives going, or stop opposing drives.

“We had opportunities to change the complexion of this game, to keep the crowd involved,” Sarkisian said. “So when you don’t do that, I hesitate to say, ‘Man, we’re just not good.’ I don’t want to say that. I still think we’re a dang good football team.”

The Huskies are young, so maybe they haven’t been through enough trials and tribulations to win when the opportunities are presented. But are they really a “dang good football team?”

Against Oregon, they looked worse than they have in the past few weeks.

When can we expect them to turn out performances like the one against USC on a weekly basis?

Sarkisian said at the beginning of the season that it wasn’t going to take very long.

He said at his first media press conference that they were going to find ways to win the close games.

So far, like every aspect of this team, the UW has been inconsistent.

Until the Huskies can figure out how to do what Sarkisian came here to do — win regularly — keep this disaster in mind.

This loss to Oregon was emblematic of all the problems this team still needs to fix before it joins the elite.

So don’t be surprised if the Huskies keep this disaster in their thoughts for some time.

Reach Opinion Editor Allen Wagner at sports@dailyuw.com.