Overview
- The Big Ten announced Wednesday that the 118th Apple Cup will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6 at Husky Stadium and will air on NBC.
- Washington State published its full 2026 kickoff times and TV assignments, including a 9 a.m. Pacific trip to Kansas State on Sept. 12 to be shown on TNT/HBO Max.
- The season-opening Apple Cup is the first time the rivalry will open both teams’ seasons instead of ending them, a change driven by the programs now playing in different conferences.
- Washington State begins the Kirby Moore era with continuing position battles at quarterback and along the line, a storyline that could affect readiness for the early rivalry game.
- Sunday games are rare for both programs—this will be only the third Sunday game in each school's history—and the schedule shift highlights new national broadcast windows, multiple network partners and a tentative Nov. 28 flex date that remains undecided.