UW, WSU Preserve Apple Cup with Agreement Through 2028

The storied state rivalry will continue on despite conference realignment.

As the Washington Huskies get ready to play Washington State in the Apple Cup to close out the regular season, the schools on Sunday announced an agreement to continue the rivalry game through 2028.

The Huskies and Cougars will go their separate way next season when the UW moves to the Big Ten while Washington State apparently will remain in the Pac-12, but they'll play on with a few changes to the game.

First, the 2024 matchup will take place at the Seahawks' Lumen Field instead of a campus site. Second, next year's installment will be held on Sept. 14, instead of during the final week of the season, and in all likelihood will continue to be played early.

The schools have played this game since 1900, with the UW holding a 74-33-6 advantage, including a 51-33 victory in Pullman a year ago.

“The Apple Cup tradition is beloved by Huskies, Cougars and football fans across Washington and beyond, so one of my priorities has been to ensure that it continues into this new era,” University of Washington president Ana Mari Cauce said in a news release.

“I’m thrilled that we’ll be able to continue this tradition and to kick off the new era at Lumen Field before returning to each campus. I’m grateful to [athletic director] Troy [Dannen], our colleagues at Washington State University and our partners at First & Goal, Inc., for collaborating to make this happen. This is a win for our fans, our universities and the state of Washington.” 

Hired in October, Dannen was pressed about the future of the Apple in his introductory news conference. 

“While the landscape of intercollegiate athletics continues to change — including conference affiliation — the Apple Cup remains an indelible part of our universities’ identities and we are thrilled to find a framework to continue the more than a century tradition of football between the schools,” Dannen said. 

“This game means so much to so many and we are grateful to Washington State and [athletic director] Pat Chun for allowing us to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement for the years to come.”

After the 2024 matchup at a neutral site, the 2025 game will be played at Washington State and will alternate between Pullman and Seattle going forward. 

The agreement also finalizes Washington's non-conference schedule for the next two seasons after Ohio State pulled out of its deal to play a home-and-home with the Huskies.

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