NDL Rivalry Spotlight: The Apple Cup
Article By: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." The age-old saying promotes good health—but in the world of the NDL, it also hints at a rivalry that’s alive and well. Welcome to our fourth installment in the NDL Rivalry Series, where we dive into one of the league’s more underrated but fiercely contested matchups: the Apple Cup.
The Numbers Behind the Rivalry
Series Record: Washington leads 20–11
Longest Win Streak: Washington, 7 games
First Meeting: Season 1 – Washington 15, Washington State 14
Most Recent Matchup: Season 31 – Washington State 38, Washington 31
Apple Cup Historic Results
Despite both programs holding sub-.500 all-time records, there's no shortage of intensity when the Huskies and Cougars collide. Both teams are chasing a rise to national relevance—and lately, Washington State has been making the louder noise.
Over in Pullman, optimism is sky-high. Washington State is coming off just the second double-digit win season in program history and currently sits comfortably in the Top 25. Second-year head coach xLiQx has injected new life into the Cougars, stating he won’t leave until the team posts a winning record in the Apple Cup—even as he entered the NDL Season 32 draft just to return to Pullman.
But closing the gap won’t be easy. Washington still holds a commanding nine-game lead in the all-time series, largely built during a dominant stretch from Seasons 10 to 24, where the Huskies won 14 of 15 matchups. The lone Cougar victory during that run came in a wild 46–44 shootout in Seattle during Season 17.
Since that era of Husky dominance, though, the tide has shifted. Washington State has claimed five of the last seven matchups, with Washington managing just two wins—in Season 26 and Season 29.
Now, new Huskies head coach MattDaddy looks to turn the page. After a rough Week 1 loss at Fresno State, he's tasked not only with steering Washington through the rugged Big Ten but also reclaiming pride in this bitter rivalry.
With the Cougars emerging as early contenders in a retooled Pac-12, and the Huskies still searching for stability, this year’s Apple Cup could be more than just a rivalry game—it might be a pivotal turning point for both programs.
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