First played in 1900, 125 years ago,[2][3][4] the matchup was traditionally the final game of the regular season for both teams and generally took place on the Saturday preceding Thanksgiving. With the NCAA's extension of the regular season to twelve games in 2006, the game is often played at a later date. From 2011 to 2023, it was most commonly held on the Friday after Thanksgiving.[5] As a non-conference game for the first time in 63 years, the 2024 edition was played early in the season, on September 14 at Lumen Field in Seattle.[6]
Since 1946, the game has been held in odd years in Seattle at Husky Stadium (except 2011 and 2024, both at Lumen Field), while Washington State has hosted during even years at Rogers Field (1946, 1948, 1954) and Martin Stadium (since 1982) in Pullman, and Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane. The games in eastern Washington from 1935 to 1948, all in Pullman, were held in mid-October. The exception was in 1945, when two games were played: the first in Seattle in mid-October, and the second in Pullman in late November.[7][8][9] Starting in 2024, Seattle is scheduled to host in even years and Pullman in odd years.
First awarded in 1963,[10] the Apple Cup Trophy is presented to the winner by the state's governor at the conclusion of the game.
Series history
The teams played for the Governor's Trophy starting in 1934.[11][12][13] This bronze shield was made by sculptor Dudley Pratt and donated and awarded by Governor Clarence D. Martin, an alumnus of the University of Washington and the namesake of Pullman's Martin Stadium.[11][13] The winners for the years 1934–1939 are etched on the shield.[13] The trophy was awarded until at least 1946.[14][15]
In 1963 the Big Apple Trophy was donated to the competition by the Washington Apple Commission,[16] emblematic of Washington's national reputation as a major producer of apples. This award was colloquially referred to as the Apple Cup,
[17] which later came to metonymically refer to the game itself. In 1989 the apple was recognized as Washington's state fruit[18] during the state's centennial celebration.
When the college football regular season was lengthened from eleven to twelve games in 2006, there was a movement to change the date of the game from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to the weekend following, which would have allowed a bye week for both teams during the season. In 2006, both teams played twelve straight weeks without a bye, leaving the two teams noticeably fatigued. The 2007 game was played on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the first time; but the 2008 game was returned to the Saturday before the holiday.
The media joked that the 2008 game won by the Cougars in Pullman was the "Crapple Cup" and "full of worms," because WSU (1–10) hosted winless UW (0–10).[19] The game returned to the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2009 in Seattle. The 2011 game in Seattle was moved to CenturyLink Field to allow an early start on the renovation of Husky Stadium.
The first game in 1900 resulted in a 5–5 tie. The series has been played continuously since 1945, when there were two games, one in Seattle and one in Pullman. The 2020 game was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[21]
^ The 2011 game was played at CenturyLink Field in Seattle to expedite the Husky Stadium renovation project.
Overtime was introduced for Division I-A(FBS) in 1996 and has been used four times in the Apple Cup, all in Pullman. Each team has two overtime victories: UW in 1996 and 2002, WSU in 2008 and 2012.
OT → Overtime (1996, 2012)
2OT → Double Overtime (2008)
3OT → Triple Overtime (2002)
After a two-year hiatus in 1943 and 1944, two games were played in 1945. The 2020 game scheduled in Pullman was declared No Contest by the league due to Washington State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of a positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases.[25] Prior to 1959, WSU was WSC.[26][27]
^"U.W. Is First Home for Apple Cup". The Seattle Times. December 1, 1963. p. B. NEW TROPHY: [...] the Apple Cup Trophy which will be awarded each year to the winner in the cross-state football game. The Huskies won first possession of the cup by downing the Cougars, 16–0.
^ ab"Trophy for U.W.–State Grid Clash". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. October 7, 1934. p. 19. A "Governor's Trophy" for the Washington–Washington State football struggle. That was the announcement made yesterday by University of Washington officials who said that such a cup had been donated by Governor Martin. The game will be played in Seattle on November 24.
^"'Big Stick' Stays Trophy Travels To Be Awarded". Seattle Times. October 17, 1935. The "Big 'W' Stick"—center of an annual college feud between University of Washington and Washington State college students—will not be taken to Pullman [...] Instead, the governor's trophy, donated last year by Gov. Clarence D. Martin to end the threat of annual riots over the stick, will be presented to the winning school
^"Huskies Playing Underdog Role in State Scrap". The Seattle Times. November 27, 1942. p. 22. Victor in tomorrow's game will take over possession of the Governor's Trophy, an award offered by former Governor Clarence Martin to be held by the winner of the annual Washington–W.S.C. game.
^"U.W. or W.S.U.? State's Big Apple Trophy Up for Grabs". The Seattle Times. November 21, 1963. p. 27. Who will get the first bite? The Big Apple Trophy, a new award symbolizing rivalry and competition between Washington State University and the University of Washington football teams. The perpetual trophy will be presented for the first time Saturday after the Husky–Cougar Homecoming game by Sun Dodgers, men's spirit organization. The Washington Apple Commission donated the trophy.
^"Apple Cup Is On The Line". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. November 21, 1964. p. 8. The Big Apple Trophy, symbolic of victory in the Washington–Washington State football series, will go on the line today when the two teams play in Spokane. [...] Donated by the Washington State Apple Commission last year,
^"RCW 1.20.035 (1989 c 354 § 63.)". Washington State Legislature. November 2, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017. The official fruit of the state of Washington is the apple.