Seattle – Longtime fans of the Apple Cup will notice a change this year: the rivalry game between the University of Washington Huskies and the Washington State Cougars is scheduled for early September, ahead of Labor Day, rather than its traditional November slot. The shift reflects the broader realignment of college football, with Washington now in the Big Ten and Washington State preparing to join the conference alongside Oregon State.
Why the schedule changed
Washington entered the Big Ten three seasons ago, leaving the Pac‑12 after a historic run that began in 1949. The move came with a financial compromise – the Huskies receive only a half‑share of the conference’s media‑rights revenue until 2030, creating short‑term fiscal strain for the athletic department. Nevertheless, university officials argue the long‑term stability and national exposure outweigh the early challenges.
Washington State, meanwhile, is set to become a full‑time member of the Big Ten with Oregon State. The two schools have agreed to keep the Apple Cup on the schedule through the 2028 season, but the differing conference calendars forced the game into September.
Local reactions
Alumni and fans have mixed feelings. Aggie Clark, a Washington graduate married to a Washington State alum, says the rivalry still feels like “the end‑of‑the‑year stamp on the season,” even if the timing has shifted. “You always look forward to the Apple Cup,” she told the Gazette.
Long‑time Cougar fan Larry Arcia, class of 1989, expressed a more tempered enthusiasm. “A lot of my friends are like, ‘I didn’t want to play them again, I’m never going to that stadium, they screwed us over,’” he said. “I’m kind of like, ‘Eh, I don’t mind playing them,’ but I’m not super excited either.”
Impact on other rivalries
The Apple Cup is not the only storied matchup affected by conference shuffles. Over the past two years, nearly 50 Division I programs have changed affiliations, leaving many traditional games in limbo. The Bedlam series between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State paused after Oklahoma moved to the SEC, and the USC‑Notre Dame matchup will not return until 2030 as both schools adjust to the expanded College Football Playoff schedule.
In the Pacific Northwest, Oregon’s annual game with Oregon State is on hold after the Ducks joined the Big Ten, though the two schools managed games in 2024 and 2025 and plan a 2028 meeting in Corvallis.
What the future may hold
Sports analysts note that while the Apple Cup’s early date may feel odd to longtime fans, the continued broadcast on NBC offers the state valuable national exposure. Washington State coach Kirby Moore praised the arrangement, saying, “It’s a very unique opportunity for the programs, for the state, to have the exposure. To be on Sunday, it’ll be on NBC – all those things are awesome for the state of Washington.”
David Tyler, an associate professor at UMass who studies sports rivalries, explained the strategic thinking behind Washington’s conference move. “Their view was, ‘Okay, it’s going to be rough right now, but in the long run this is what is best for the long‑term viability of the program,’” he said. “They don’t want to be the University of Chicago, right?”
For now, the Apple Cup will proceed as scheduled, offering fans a chance to celebrate a historic rivalry despite the calendar shuffle. Whether the tradition retains its fervor for future generations remains to be seen, but the game’s continuation underscores the enduring importance of college football to Washington families and communities.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
