Overview
- The 118th Apple Cup is set for Sunday, Sept. 6 with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. PT (4:00 p.m. ET) at Husky Stadium in Seattle on NBC and streaming platforms.
- Washington enters as the clear favorite, ranked No. 17 and listed around a 23.5-point favorite with an over/under near 50.5, and predictive models lean toward a Huskies win and the game finishing under the total.
- Washington returns QB Demond Williams Jr. and coach Jedd Fisch, with Williams expected to be the focal point of an offense built around tempo and explosive plays.
- Washington State will debut first-year head coach Kirby Moore and start transfer quarterback Caden Pinnick, a combination analysts say can threaten Washington only if WSU wins the line of scrimmage, establishes the run, and forces pressure on Williams.
- Playing the Apple Cup as a Week 1 nationally televised standalone game reflects scheduling shifts tied to conference realignment and gives the rivalry earlier national exposure while preserving its in‑state significance; Washington leads the series 77–34–6.