Washington Football: What the 2026 Apple Cup Box Score Shows
I checked the official university records to understand how Washington turned a close Apple Cup into a 24–10 win.
Why I looked it up
I saw Washington football drawing attention and wanted to understand what had actually happened rather than rely on scattered reactions. I went directly to the University of Washington and Washington State athletics pages.
The matchup had unusual timing. According to Washington’s official preview, this was the 118th meeting between the programs, but the first played as a season opener and the earliest date in series history.
The core result
Washington beat Washington State 24–10 at Husky Stadium on September 6, 2026. The official game center records Washington moving to 1–0 and Washington State to 0–1.
The final margin does not show how long the game remained close. Washington led 10–0 at halftime, neither team scored in the third quarter, and all 10 Washington State points came in the fourth. Washington answered with 14 points in that same quarter.
My box-score checklist
I used three comparisons to get beyond the final score:
| Check | Washington | Washington State |
|---|---|---|
| Total offense | 402 yards | 242 yards |
| Third-down conversions | 4 of 12 | 0 of 11 |
| Turnovers lost | 0 | 3 |
Those figures come from the official box score. My reading is that the third-down and turnover columns are the most useful starting points: Washington State never converted a third down and lost two interceptions plus one fumble. That does not make either statistic a complete explanation, but together they show how difficult it was for WSU to sustain possessions while the score was still within reach.
The players behind the scoring
Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. completed 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards, with one passing touchdown and no interceptions. He also ran for 61 yards and scored on a 5-yard run.
WSU quarterback Caden Pinnick completed 16 of 25 passes for 142 yards and threw two interceptions. He led the Cougars with 61 rushing yards and scored their touchdown on an 11-yard run, as also summarized in Washington State’s official recap.
What I wanted to know next
The useful takeaway for me is not simply that Washington won. It is the sequence: a 10-point halftime lead, a scoreless third quarter, WSU’s fourth-quarter response, and Washington’s two fourth-quarter touchdowns. When I revisit this game later, I’ll start with that progression and then check third downs, turnovers, and quarterback production in that order. That gives me a clearer account than the final score alone.