Will Washington's Apple Cup DOMINANCE Continue In 2026?

The Washington Huskies will open the 2026 season in rivalry fashion as the Apple Cup lands on Sunday, September 6, reigniting rivalry tensions with the Washington State Cougars. With quarterback Demond Williams Jr. aiming to silence offseason critics and local talents Kodi Greene and Derek Colman-Brusa making their college football debuts, all eyes are on how Jedd Fisch’s revamped squad will handle this high-stakes test at Husky Stadium. Will the Huskies’ elite defense, anchored by returning stars in the linebacker room and a retooled defensive line, handle Washington State’s dynamic rushing attack that’s looking to bounce back from last year’s 25-yard performance? Locked On Huskies host Roman Tomashoff and Locked On Pac-12's Christian Rau break down the fanbase’s reaction to the Williams storyline, the keys to stopping Washington State’s offense, and the penalty and turnover issues that could spark an upset. The episode also tackles the new-look Pac-12’s identity after realignment, Boise State’s long-awaited inclusion, and the importance of preserving iconic rivalries like the Apple Cup. 00:00 — Intro 01:11 — Apple Cup returns to Husky Stadium in 2026 02:28 — Washington ties in coaching staffs and off-season headlines 03:17 — Demond Williams Jr's off-season storyline and locker room impact 05:47 — Washington State’s running game vs. Huskies' defense 10:05 — The new Pac-12 conference and realignment reactions Become a Locked On Huskies Insider: joinsubtext.com/lockedonhuskies Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea- Imagn Images Locked On Huskies is part of the Locked On Podcast Network Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.