Washington State to Host 2027 Apple Cup on August 28
The annual rivalry game is moving to late August as part of a scheduling adjustment for the 2027 football season.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Football
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Washington State and Washington have rescheduled the 2027 Apple Cup to take place on August 28 at Gesa Field in Pullman. This change to the rivalry series results in Washington State moving its scheduled bye week to September 18.
Why it matters
The scheduling change marks a significant adjustment to the 2027 season for both programs, as the institutions continue their long-standing annual rivalry. The game represents the fourth match in a five-year series extension that was initially agreed to in 2023.
Washington leads the all-time series with a 78-34-6 record over the 118-year history of the Apple Cup. Washington won the most recent contest in 2026 with a score of 24-10.
The players
Washington State
The institution is a public research university located in Pullman that competes as a member of the football landscape.
Washington
The Seattle-based public research university maintains one of the most storied football programs in the Pacific Northwest.
The details
The decision to move the game stems from a mutual agreement between Washington State and Washington to alter the date from its previously scheduled slot. This adjustment effectively grants Washington State a bye week on September 18, shifting the team's operational rhythm for the 2027 campaign.
Timeline
The schools agreed to a five-year series extension in 2023.
The 2027 Apple Cup will be played at Gesa Field on August 28, 2027.
Washington State now has a scheduled bye week on September 18, 2027.
Season Trajectory
This game remains the centerpiece of the regional football calendar as the fourth entry in the five-year series extension. Moving the contest to August alters the early-season momentum for both programs while establishing the 2028 matchup location in Seattle.
Fans should mark their calendars for August 28, 2027, as the transition to the earlier start date impacts the traditional autumn schedule of the rivalry. The shift also effectively moves Washington State's bye week to September 18, altering the team's recovery period early in the season.
The takeaway
The rescheduling demonstrates the flexibility required to maintain long-standing rivalry series within modern collegiate athletics schedules. Adjusting these dates ensures that the 118-year-old tradition remains a focal point for both universities despite broader structural changes.
Further reading
For more on local college sports updates, visit the Football section.
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