2024 Apple Cup Clash Between UW and WSU Marks New Era in College Football Rivalry
The 2024 Apple Cup is just around the corner, and it promises to be one for the history books. Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Washington (UW) will face off in their 116th meeting, but this year’s game comes with a lot of changes. Set for Saturday, September 14th at 12:30 p.m., this annual clash of two of Washington’s most prominent college football teams will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle—a "neutral" site that just so happens to be in UW's home city.
This year’s Apple Cup holds special significance because it’s the first time in more than 60 years that the teams will meet as non-conference opponents. UW made headlines in the offseason by leaving the Pac-12 Conference to join the Big Ten, while WSU remains in the Pac-12, a conference that is struggling to rebuild itself. With the Huskies and Cougars both starting the season 2-0, the stage is set for a fierce battle.
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UW opened its season with strong wins against Weber State and Eastern Michigan, and this will be head coach Jedd Fisch's first Apple Cup since taking over from Kalen DeBoer. On the other side, WSU comes into this game following a massive win over Texas Tech, and head coach Jake Dickert, who is 1-2 in Apple Cups, will be looking to reverse that trend. Both teams will also field new quarterbacks this year, with WSU's John Mateer and UW's Will Rogers stepping into leadership roles after their predecessors, Cam Ward and Michael Penix Jr., moved on to bigger opportunities.
This year's Apple Cup feels particularly different, not just because of the mid-September scheduling but also due to the impact of conference realignments that have shifted college football landscapes across the country. Traditionally, the Apple Cup has been held in late November, as part of the end-of-season rivalry games. However, with UW’s annual matchup against Oregon now taking that spot, the Huskies and Cougars will battle it out much earlier in the year, adding an unexpected twist to one of the oldest rivalries in college football.
The game will not be televised on traditional networks and can only be streamed on Peacock, which means fans will need to sign up for the streaming service to catch all the action. Despite these changes, the rivalry itself remains intense, with both teams hungry for victory.
UW has dominated the all-time series, holding a 73-32-6 record against WSU, and the Huskies have won the last two Apple Cups. In the 2023 meeting, UW secured a dramatic 24-21 win thanks to a game-winning field goal in the final seconds. The Cougars, now led by Mateer, will be eager to break the Huskies' winning streak and bring the Apple Cup trophy back to Pullman.
This year’s Apple Cup not only reflects the changing face of college football but also underscores the enduring rivalry between these two powerhouse programs. Whether you're a fan of the Huskies or the Cougars, Saturday’s game is sure to be a hard-fought battle that lives up to the Apple Cup legacy.
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