One victory doesn’t erase months, years or even generations of heartbreak. But for Washington State to beat rival Washington State 24-19 in the Apple Cup, there was more to it than a single result.
Cougars head coach Jake Dickert said preparations for Saturday's 116th edition began nine months ago – referring to the 115th Apple Cup. In that game, Washington State got into Huskies territory late in the fourth quarter and the game was tied 21-21.
If the Cougars win, Washington will likely not make the College Football Playoff. Washington State also needs an upset win to become bowl eligible. However, a penalty stalled the Cougars' offense, and an injured Michael Penix led Washington to a gutsy win.
Penix strengthened his case for being a Heisman Trophy finalist; the Huskies defeated Oregon in what was then considered the final game of the Pac-12 Championship Game and the Cougars failed to qualify for the bowl.
The 2023 Apple Cup is the quintessential “Cougin' It.”
For those unfamiliar with the concept of Cougin' It, it's a simple way to describe the excruciating way Washington State teams have lost big moments over the years.
Official denial of Ryan Leaf and his teammates' last-second performance in the 1998 Rose Bowl? A snowstorm keeps Gardner Minshew out of the 2018 Apple Cup, costing Washington State a chance at a Pac-12 title and potential playoff contention? Penix’s heroics in 2023?
Different seasons, unique eras and three examples of Cougin' It.
While various game results suggest the Washington State program has been snake-bitten, it pales in comparison to the loss of a true home for the Cougars last year after members of the Pac-12 left to compete in various conferences.
Washington State joins Oregon State in football purgatory as members of the world's first two-team conference. Dickert He downplayed the situation in his post-match statement on Saturdayjoking that Washington State might “take this (Apple Cup) trophy back.”
“I think it's the Pac-12 trophy,” he quipped. “I think it's probably going to be with us for a long time. We'll bring new ones next year.
On Saturday, the conditions were ripe for another entry into Cougin' It's unfortunate history. John Martel's touchdown run before halftime gave WSU a 17-13 lead, but was unable to extend the lead beyond eight points in the second half.
A scoreless fourth quarter with the Cougars up by five set the stage for a perfect game: Washington had the ball with 3:40 remaining. Will Rogers connected with Giles Jackson for 45 yards on the first play from scrimmage.
A methodical Huskies team burst into the red zone, burning up yards and clocks simultaneously toward the goal line. The underdog story is interesting as it continues, but this is Big Ten football.
Instead, Washington State's defense was solid at the goal line. Andrew Edson's hit to Rogers forced Jonah Coleman to go for an option pitch, and Coleman had nowhere to go but to the Cougars' other high. Senior player Kyle Thornton.
The Pac-12 defeated the Big Ten. How about it?
“Coming from Washington, I can't tell you how much this win means to me,” said Edson, a senior and Snoqualmie native. “Growing up, I always wanted to play this game. You always think it could be your time. This play made me think about it, and it's awesome.
WSU last won the Apple Cup in 2021, the Cougars' first victory over the Huskies in nine years, and the veteran's game-winning performance underscored Dickert's message about the importance of this game.
“We are at a critical moment in Washington state football,” he said. “If you can't support this team at this moment, I just don't know what else we can do. These guys are here for this, for this moment.
The 2024 Apple Cup doesn’t erase the heartache the Washington State football team has experienced before. However, this victory does open a new chapter in a positive light.
Washington State has been shrouded in some uncertainty since the summer of 2023, and earlier this week Mountain West Conference members Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State announced they would be joining the Cougars in 2026 team and Oregon State.
The road to full rebuilding is long, but these are important steps. Each win over Washington State adds credibility to the century-old upstart conference's argument for an automatic playoff qualifier against a superior opponent.
While the playoff fates of both WSU and the Pac-12 are extremely unclear, the Cougars can take solace in competing for at least one trophy they may never have to return.
