Apple Cup

Apple Cup
SportCollege football
First meetingNovember 30, 1900
Tie, 5–5
Latest meetingSeptember 14, 2024
Washington State, 24–19
Next meetingSeptember 20, 2025
in Pullman
StadiumsHusky Stadium
Martin Stadium
TrophyGovernor's Trophy
(1934–c.1946)
Apple Cup Trophy
(since 1963)
Statistics
Meetings total116
All-time seriesWashington leads,
76–34–6 (.681)[1]
Largest victoryWashington, 51–3 (2000)
Longest win streakWashington, 8
(1959–1966, 1974–1981)
Current win streakWashington State, 1
(2024–present)

The Apple Cup is an American college football rivalry game between the University of Washington Huskies and Washington State University Cougars, the two largest universities in the state of Washington. Both were members of the Pac-12 Conference until 2024.

First played in 1900, 124 years ago,[2][3][4] the matchup was traditionally the final game of the regular season for both teams and generally took place on the Saturday preceding Thanksgiving. With the NCAA's extension of the regular season to twelve games in 2006, the game is often played at a later date. From 2011 to 2023, it was most commonly held on the Friday after Thanksgiving.[5] Due to the rivalry becoming a non-conference game with the demise of the Pac-12 Conference in 2024, the 2024 Apple Cup is scheduled to occur on Saturday, September 14 at Lumen Field in Seattle.[6]

Since 1946, the game has been held in odd years in Seattle at Husky Stadium (except 2011 and 2024, which were played at Lumen Field), while Washington State has hosted during even years at Rogers Field (1946, 1948, 1954) and Martin Stadium (since 1982) in Pullman, and Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane. The games in Eastern Washington from 1935 to 1948, all in Pullman, were held in mid-October. The exception was in 1945, when two games were played: the first in Seattle in mid-October, and the second in Pullman in late November.[7][8][9] This will change in 2024, as Seattle will host for 2024, 2026, and 2028 while Pullman hosts in 2025 and 2027.

First awarded in 1963,[10] the Apple Cup Trophy is presented to the winner by the state's governor at the conclusion of the game.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference series was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "A tie at Seattle". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 30, 1900. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Pullman still claims the lead". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). December 1, 1900. p. 5.
  4. ^ "Football men return". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). December 2, 1900. p. 5.
  5. ^ Withers, Bud (January 6, 2014). "Apple Cup moving back to Saturday for 2014". Seattle Times. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  6. ^ Vorel, Mike (November 19, 2023). "UW, WSU announce continuation of Apple Cup through at least 2028". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "Important W.S.C.-Husky game on at Pullman today". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 24, 1945. p. 9.
  8. ^ "Cougars beat Huskies; make bid for Rose Bowl". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 25, 1945. p. 10.
  9. ^ Ashlock, Herb (November 26, 1945). "Two factors remain in path of W.S.C.'s Rose Bowl hopes". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 13.
  10. ^ "U.W. Is First Home for Apple Cup". The Seattle Times. December 1, 1963. p. B. NEW TROPHY: [...] the Apple Cup Trophy which will be awarded each year to the winner in the cross-state football game. The Huskies won first possession of the cup by downing the Cougars, 16–0.