The Apple Cup is one of the oldest and most recognizable rivalry games in college football.
Played between the Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars, the matchup brings together the two major college football programs from the state of Washington.
So, what is the Apple Cup?
The Apple Cup is the annual college football rivalry game between the University of Washington and Washington State University. The rivalry dates back to 1900, while the Apple Cup name and trophy were introduced decades later.
For generations, the game has provided Washington and Washington State fans with an opportunity to determine football bragging rights within the state.
Here is everything to know about the Apple Cup, including why it is called the Apple Cup, its history and how conference realignment changed the rivalry.
What Is the Apple Cup in College Football?
The Apple Cup is the rivalry game between the Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars.
The two schools represent opposite sides of the state and have been playing each other for more than a century.
| Apple Cup | Details |
|---|---|
| Teams | Washington Huskies vs. Washington State Cougars |
| Sport | College football |
| First Meeting | 1900 |
| First Game Result | 5-5 tie |
| Apple Cup Name Introduced | 1960s |
| State | Washington |
| Trophy | Apple Cup Trophy |
The matchup was historically a conference game, but changes to the college football landscape have turned it into a nonconference rivalry.
Despite that change, Washington and Washington State agreed to continue playing the Apple Cup.
Why Is It Called the Apple Cup?
The Apple Cup gets its name from Washington state’s famous apple industry.
Washington is closely associated with apple production, making the name a natural fit for a trophy awarded to the winner of a major in-state rivalry.
The Washington-Washington State football series existed for decades before becoming known as the Apple Cup.
The schools previously competed for the Governor’s Trophy before the Apple Cup trophy was introduced in the early 1960s.
The Apple Cup name has since become synonymous with the annual Washington vs. Washington State football game.
When Did the Apple Cup Rivalry Begin?
The Washington-Washington State football rivalry began in 1900.
The first meeting ended in a 5-5 tie.
That means the rivalry predates the Apple Cup name by more than six decades.
Washington and Washington State continued meeting regularly throughout the 20th century, eventually turning the matchup into one of the Pacific Northwest’s signature college football rivalries.
The game traditionally became an important late-season matchup for both programs.
Who Plays in the Apple Cup?
The Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars play in the Apple Cup.
Washington represents the University of Washington, located in Seattle.
Washington State represents Washington State University, whose main campus is located in Pullman.
The geographic separation between Seattle and Pullman helps give the rivalry its statewide identity.
Fans, alumni and even families throughout Washington can be divided between Huskies and Cougars supporters when the Apple Cup arrives.
What Does the Apple Cup Winner Get?
The winner of Washington vs. Washington State receives the Apple Cup Trophy.
The trophy provides a physical symbol of supremacy in the rivalry and gives the winning school bragging rights until the teams meet again.
Before the Apple Cup trophy was introduced, Washington and Washington State competed for the Governor’s Trophy.
The Apple Cup eventually replaced that tradition and became the name most closely associated with the rivalry.
Is the Apple Cup Still a Pac-12 Game?
No. The Apple Cup is no longer a Pac-12 conference game.
For decades, Washington and Washington State competed together as members of the same conference.
That changed when Washington departed the Pac-12 and joined the Big Ten Conference beginning with the 2024 season.
Washington State did not follow Washington into the Big Ten.
As a result, the Apple Cup transitioned from a conference rivalry game to a nonconference matchup.
The change created uncertainty about the long-term future of the rivalry, but the universities agreed to continue playing.
Did Conference Realignment End the Apple Cup?
No. Conference realignment did not end the Apple Cup.
Washington and Washington State reached an agreement to continue the rivalry after Washington’s move to the Big Ten.
The schools announced a five-year continuation that included games from 2024 through 2028.
The 2024 Apple Cup was played at Lumen Field in Seattle, while subsequent games returned to the schools’ campuses.
Keeping the Apple Cup on the schedule allows one of college football’s longest-running in-state rivalries to continue despite the schools no longer belonging to the same conference.
Where Is the Apple Cup Played?
The Apple Cup has traditionally rotated between Washington and Washington State.
Washington plays its home games at Husky Stadium in Seattle, while Washington State plays at Martin Stadium in Pullman.
The rivalry has not always followed that exact arrangement.
For example, from 1955 through 1981, games alternated between Seattle and Spokane rather than Seattle and Pullman.
The 2024 Apple Cup was also played at Lumen Field in Seattle, home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
The series subsequently returned to an alternating campus format.
Why Is the Apple Cup Important?
The Apple Cup is important because it extends beyond conference standings or postseason implications.
For Washington and Washington State, the game represents more than a century of football history.
The rivalry divides college football fans throughout Washington and provides the winning program with statewide bragging rights.
Conference realignment may have changed the circumstances surrounding the matchup, but the significance of beating an in-state rival remains.
For Washington, the Apple Cup represents an opportunity to maintain its historical advantage over Washington State.
For Washington State, defeating the Huskies provides an opportunity to beat one of the program’s biggest and most familiar rivals.
Is the Apple Cup Played Every Year?
The Apple Cup has been played almost every year throughout its history, although there have been occasional interruptions.
One notable recent exception occurred in 2020, when the matchup was not played during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That marked the first interruption in the series since the World War II era.
The rivalry resumed afterward and continued even following Washington’s departure for the Big Ten.
What Is the Difference Between the Apple Cup and the Apple Cup Trophy?
The term Apple Cup can refer to both the Washington-Washington State rivalry game and the trophy awarded to its winner.
When college football fans talk about “the Apple Cup,” they are generally referring to the actual game between the Huskies and Cougars.
The winning team then takes possession of the Apple Cup Trophy.
Apple Cup Frequently Asked Questions
What teams play in the Apple Cup?
The Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars play in the Apple Cup.
What sport is the Apple Cup?
The Apple Cup is a college football rivalry game.
Why do they call it the Apple Cup?
The name is connected to Washington state’s prominent apple industry.
When was the first Apple Cup?
Washington and Washington State first played in 1900, although the rivalry did not become known as the Apple Cup until the 1960s.
Where is the Apple Cup played?
The rivalry generally alternates between Seattle and Pullman, the respective homes of Washington and Washington State.
Are Washington and Washington State still in the same conference?
No. Washington joined the Big Ten, while Washington State did not. The Apple Cup therefore continues as a nonconference rivalry.
Apple Cup: Washington vs. Washington State
The Apple Cup remains one of the defining college football traditions in the Pacific Northwest.
Washington and Washington State have been playing each other since 1900, with the rivalry eventually becoming known as the Apple Cup in recognition of Washington state’s connection to the apple industry.
Although conference realignment separated the Huskies and Cougars, it did not eliminate the rivalry.
Washington vs. Washington State continues to give fans across the state an annual opportunity to settle one of college football’s oldest debates: Huskies or Cougars?