The annual Washington State-Washington football rivalry, the Apple Cup, is being played under unusual circumstances, but remains significant for both teams, according to Dave Boling of *The Spokesman-Review*. The game is a non-conference matchup before Labor Day, a change reflecting the instability in college sports due to financial issues and player transfers.
Boling notes the game has been labeled the “Crab-Apple Cup” due to complaints about its irrelevance. He argues it’s one of the few remaining college sports contests with meaning beyond revenue. The changing landscape of college athletics, including the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, has altered the traditional rivalry dynamic. Washington quarterback Demond Williams, who has a $4 million NIL deal, briefly considered entering the transfer portal, highlighting the mercenary nature of current rosters.
For Washington State, the game represents the debut of a new staff and an opportunity to make an early statement in its first fall within the reshaped Pac-12 conference. No other team on the Cougars’ schedule is currently ranked in the Top 25. Conversely, a loss for the No. 17-ranked Washington Huskies would eliminate them from the polls and put them behind several Big Ten rivals. According to Boling, Washington State has more to win, while Washington has more to lose.
The contract for the Apple Cup only includes two more meetings after this year’s game, adding a sense of urgency. Boling observes that building the necessary animosity for a strong rivalry is difficult with frequently changing rosters. He recalls past games ending with strong emotional reactions from both sides, a contrast to the current environment.
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