Apple Cup headlines opening weekend for Washington programs

MOSES LAKE — Week one of college football is here, and your favorite Washington programs are hitting the gridiron. Teams like the Washington Huskies, Washington State Cougars, Central Washington Wildcats and Eastern Washington Eagles are eager to build off the prior season and be competitive in their respective conferences. See below where your favorite team is playing this Saturday.  

Eastern Washington (0-1) 

The Eagles already have a game under their belt after falling 34-27 on the road against Northern Arizona in week zero last Saturday. They will have an opportunity to rectify the loss at home, Saturday against Northern Iowa. 

The Eagles jumped on the Lumberjacks and led 24-3 in the second quarter but proceeded to be outscored 31-3 the rest of the way. Despite the loss, the Eagles showed a lot of promise.  

Quarterback Nate Bell posted a career-best with 307 yards on 30-of-47 passing, throwing two touchdowns and running for a third, according to a statement by EWU Athletics. Drew Carlson and Jaxon Branch both set career bests in catches (9, 7) and yards (75, 88), with Branch grabbing his third career touchdown. 

On defense, Jaylon Jenkins snagged his first interception of the year and sixth for his career. Myles Mayovsky (18), Bryce Smith (14) and McKel Broussard (12) all set career-bests in total tackles.   

The Eagles host Northern Iowa for the third time in program history, holding a 2-0 mark against UNI in those contests. The teams met last season in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with the Panthers narrowly winning 17-14. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. 

The Apple Cup 

Both the Cougars and Huskies open the season against each other for the Apple Cup and 118th meeting between the two teams, according to UW Athletics. The Boeing Apple Cup marks the first of four straight home games in September for the Dawgs along with non-conference tilts vs. Utah State on Sept. 12, EWU on Sept. 19, followed by the Big Ten Conference opener vs. Minnesota on Sept. 26. The Dawgs enter the season ranked No. 17 in the preseason AP Top 25.  

This game will also mark the debut for new WSU Head Coach Kirby Moore, who takes over after Jimmy Rogers took the head coaching job at Iowa State after last season.  

According to WSU Athletics, Moore has strong ties to Eastern Washington, having grown up in Prosser, where his father, Tom, was a legendary football coach at Prosser High School. He has spent the past three seasons serving as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at the University of Missouri for Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz. 

The Cougars will be led by new starting quarterback Caden Pinnick, who transferred from UC Davis after putting together a freshman All-American campaign in the Big Sky Conference.  

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Husky Stadium.  

Central Washington  

After a 10-2 season in 2025, the Wildcats return to the gridiron with quite the makeover. During the offseason, former Head Coach Chris Fisk took over Portland State as their new head coach while CWU brought in Scott Power.

According to CWU Athletics, Power brings more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience across multiple levels, with a resume highlighted by defensive excellence, program development, recruiting success and sustained competitive achievement. 

The Wildcats kickoff the season on the road against FCS opponent Cal Poly at 5 p.m. Saturday, before their home opener against the number one ranked Ferris State.  

This will be the second time in history the two teams have met on the gridiron, the last time being in 1996 where the Wildcats lost 49-14 on the road. Fast forward 30-years and both teams are looking to start the season off right.  

Ahead of the season, the Wildcats were picked to repeat as Lone Start Conference champions, earning 16 first place votes. 

    The Wildcats’ Caleb Christensen (16) breaks loose on scramble against the Central Washington defense during camp.
  

    The Eagles’ Nate Bell (2) scrambles into the endzone against Northern Iowa last season.
  

    University of Washington Quarterback Demond Williams Jr steps into his throw during camp this summer.