Washington opens Apple Cup against Washington State

01What Happened

Washington State visits Washington at 4 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 6, for the 118th Apple Cup, the first meeting since the schools landed in different conferences, with the Big Ten Huskies favored by 23½ points. The game will air on NBC.

Washington is trying to keep control of the rivalry after a 9-4 season, while Washington State opens its first season in the new Pac-12 after going 7-6 in 2025. Washington leads the all-time series 77-34-6 and won 59-24 last season; the Cougars won 24-19 in 2024. The conference split gives Washington State an immediate chance to challenge the order of the new league era.

For Kirby Moore, the game is both his collegiate head-coaching debut and his first Apple Cup as Washington State’s coach. Jedd Fisch is coaching in his third Apple Cup and has split his first two.

“We're going to give it all we've got. It's all about 'this play.' I can't wait to see our players go,” Moore said on his weekly radio show.

02Why This One Matters

Washington returns quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who passed for more than 3,000 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season. He added 611 rushing yards and six touchdowns, including nearly 300 passing yards and 88 rushing yards against Washington State in last year’s Apple Cup.

Washington State will answer with Caden Pinnick, a UC Davis transfer expected to make his first FBS start. A year ago, Pinnick completed 8 of 16 passes for 50 yards in UC Davis’ 70-10 loss at Washington. His second chance comes in Seattle against the same program, this time as the Cougars’ starter.

Pinnick has returning skill players around him. Tony Freeman was Washington State’s second-leading receiver last season, while running backs Kirby Vorhees and Maxwell Woods also return. Freeman caught two passes for 28 yards against Washington last year. The Cougars’ offensive line, including in-state players Ashton Tripp and Kyle Martin, must withstand Washington’s physical front long enough for the offense to stay out of predictable passing situations.

03What Most People Are Missing

The 23½-point line reflects Washington’s recent edge, but Washington State’s immediate problem is more specific: Can Pinnick and the offensive line survive long enough for Freeman, Vorhees and Woods to matter?

Washington State’s defense faces the sharper individual challenge. Williams can win with his arm or legs, and last year’s Apple Cup showed how quickly he can separate from a defense. The Cougars need disciplined coverage and multiple tacklers at the ball rather than one defender trying to solve him alone.

04What the Coaches Can Actually Change

Washington State defensive coordinator Trent Bray can build the plan around keeping Williams contained without abandoning coverage. The Cougars’ edges Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk drew praise during camp, while veteran safeties Jaylen Thomas and Jeremiah Bernard provide experience behind them. Linebacker Keith Brown also returns after missing last season with a hand injury.

“It's a lot easier said than done,” Moore said. “You look at containing the quarterback and making sure we're sticky in coverage, and it really takes all 11 on defense. And then when you get in those positions, you got to get them on the ground. And if it's not the first guy, the second guy's got to be really close.”

Brown played in Washington State’s 2024 victory and brings a 1-0 Apple Cup record into Sunday.

05The Pate State Read

Washington has the stronger recent record, the established quarterback and the series lead. Washington State has a new head coach, a first-time FBS starter and a conference transition that begins under the brightest possible spotlight. The underdog can make an immediate statement by keeping Pinnick protected and forcing Washington to win without Williams turning broken plays into long gains.

Washington State plays at Kansas State on Sept. 12. Washington hosts Utah State that day.

06What to Watch Next

Watch Pinnick’s protection and Freeman’s involvement. If Washington’s rush closes quickly, the Cougars’ first FBS start at quarterback will become a test of survival; if Pinnick has time, Washington State can make its skill players part of the game.

On defense, track how often the first defender gets Williams down and whether a second tackler arrives. Moore has already identified the standard.

Washington linebacker Xe'ree Alexander has no interest in treating the Apple Cup like an ordinary game.

“I just can't wait to go kill them. It's everything to me, honestly. Growing up, family was a lot of Coug fans, and I got to grow up into the Husky fanbase. I was a little bit on the Coug side growing up, but hanging around my cousin and my uncle more, grew up a Huskies fan. That rivalry between my family is pretty big, so it's great,” Alexander said.