What to Expect for the Apple Cup Game Tomorrow

As weird as a Christmas sale in July is, one Thanksgiving tradition will be taking place in September: the Apple Cup. Just don’t expect any snow.

Apple Cup 2024: How We Got Here

With the implosion of the Pac-12, the Huskies moved to the Big 10. Scheduling-wise, the Apple Cup had to be moved to September. The good news is that the annual tradition of the “Apple Cup” continues on. It will be the 116th time the two Washington teams get together for the Apple Cup.

Cougar fans like to blame Washington for the destruction of the Pac-12, but it all started with the two LA schools jumping ship in 2022. With massively declining TV revenues, partly due to the Pac 12 refusing to work with Direct TV, a mass exodus was inevitable.

Besides Oregon & Washington leaving, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah left, leaving only four schools in the Pac-12. Then Stanford and Cal left, leaving Oregon State and WSU as the only teams in the conference.

You can bet Cougar players and fans are extra motivated this Apple Cup, though the sting may hurt a little less with the Pac-12’s announcement yesterday. Four teams are joining from the Mountain West Conference (Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Colorado State). If WSU and Oregon State can get just two more teams to join by 2026, both teams will receive $20 million from the former teams.

Apple Cup 2024: What’s on the Line?

The game will be played in the Seahawks Stadium, Lumen Field, at 12:30pm Saturday. Both teams won their first two games, easily beating inferior competition.

This year’s game will be the 116th meeting between UW and WSU. The Huskies lead the Apple Cup series 76-33-6. The series began in 1900, when the teams played to a 5-5 tie.

The Apple Cup is important enough on its own, but winning the game would be the marquee win WSU would need to have a chance at playing in the College Football Playoffs, considering their lighter schedule. For Washington, it would be a way to hit the ground running as they head into the Big 10 gauntlet.

Apple Cup 2024: Who to Watch

After playing in the National Championship and losing their Coach to Alabama, Washington’s roster nearly emptied out. New coach, Jedd Fisch, brought a few players over from Arizona, but had to recruit new players on short order. The team doesn’t include a single starter from last year on offense, and the defense only has two returners. Fisch heavily promotes his ties & experience in the NFL: “I think NFL’s a lot more important than NIL.”

The Washington coaching staff is loaded with NFL experience. The defensive coordinator is Steve Belichick, former Patriots Defensive Coordinator, and son of Bill Belichick. The offensive coordinator is Brennan Carroll, son of Pete Carroll.

WSU QB John Mateer

WSU lost their starting QB, Cam Ward, who left to join the Miami Hurricanes and is now a leading Heisman candidate. But all is not lost as John Mateer, WSU’s new starting quarterback, is one of the top duel threat quarterbacks in the nation.

In the season opener, Mateer threw for 352 yards and 5 scores in WSU’s 70-30 victory over Portland State. In the Texas Tech game, Mateer ran for 197 rushing yards, the most-ever of a Cougar quarterback.

UW RB Johan Coleman

Washington, too, lost their starting QB, Michael Penix, to the NFL. Washington will lean heavily heavily on UW running back, Johah Coleman. He’s averaging 8.6 yards a carry and has three touchdowns in two games.

But don’t sleep on Washington’s quarterback, Will Rogers. Rogers is averaging 9.8 yards per throw and has thrown for almost 12,826 yards and 99 touchdowns.

Apple Cup 2024: What to Expect

The oddsmakers have Washington favored by 5 points, but its a rivalry game, so anything is possible. WSU is more motivated than ever, and half the UW football team has never seen an Apple Cup.

Considering the strength of both teams offenses, you’d expect a high-scoring affair, but it could come down to the defenses. WSU credits the defense for the Texas Tech win. and the Belichick’s Washington defense hasn’t allowed a single touchdown this season.