The Apple Cup is an American college football rivalry game between the University of Washington Huskies and Washington State University Cougars, the two largest universities in the state of Washington. Both are members of the Pac-12 Conference.

First played in 1900, 124 years ago,^[2][3][4] the matchup is 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. Since 2011, it has most commonly been held on the Friday after Thanksgiving.^[5]

Since 1946, the game has been held in odd years in Seattle at Husky Stadium (except 2011, at CenturyLink 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.^[6][7][8] This will change in 2024, as Seattle will host for 2024, 2026, and 2028 while Pullman hosts in 2025 and 2027.

First awarded in 1963,^[9] the Apple Cup Trophy is presented to the winner by the state's governor at the conclusion of the game.

The teams played for the Governor's Trophy starting in 1934.^[10][11][12] 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.^[10][12] The winners for the years 1934–1939 are etched on the shield.^[12] The trophy was awarded until at least 1946.^{[13][14]: 7}

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Locations of Washington and Washington State

In 1963 the Big Apple Trophy was donated to the competition by the Washington Apple Commission,^[15] emblematic of Washington's national reputation as a major producer of apples. This award was colloquially referred to as the Apple Cup,^[16] which later came to metonymically refer to the game itself. In 1989 the apple was recognized as Washington's state fruit^[17] 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).^[18] 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.

From 1950 through 1980 (except for 1954),^[19] the WSU home games in the series were played in Spokane at Joe Albi Stadium (Memorial Stadium until 1962). The Cougars won three of these fifteen games (1958, 1968, 1972). In 1910, the WSU home game in Spokane was played at Recreation Park (47.668°N 117.368°W / 47.668; -117.368).

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. ^[20]

• List of NCAA college football rivalry games
• List of most-played college football series in NCAA Division I
• Washington–Washington State men's basketball rivalry