SEATTLE — The clock is ticking on Apple Cup Eve!
The 115th edition of the storied rivalry kicks off in under 24 hours.
There is a lot on the line for both Washington State and Washington in this matchup. The Cougs need a win to extend their bowl game streak to eight consecutive appearances. The Huskies are looking to complete and undefeated regular season to streghten their college football playoff resume.
"We're playing for the Apple Cup," Washington State head coach Jake Dickert said. "That means something to every person that wears the coug."
The Apple Cup name alone carries weight. But with everything that's transpired off the field this year, it has magnified the importance of this finale as conference foes.
"To say it's just another game is not fair," Dickert Said. "It's not."
"This one definitely is a little bit more special. It's a little bit more meaningful," safety Jaden Hicks said.
A Washington State win would not only be a massive upset, but a parting gift to fans and the seniors on this team.
"My first year here going to Seattle and winning and storming the field, you know, you can see the hope in people's eyes and really see the impact of what a game can truly do to a community," senior wide receiver Lincoln Victor said. "Everything's on the line for this game. Bragging rights for a year and that trophy, man."
In the early stages of the season, this game looked like it could be a matchup of two Heisman finalist quarterbacks, Cam Ward versus Michael Penix Jr.
While the Heisman race isn't in the cards for Ward, a chance to lead his team to a historic win is.
"I don't believe they'll ever be too big of a moment for me. You know, I was a zero-star recruit, I'm at Power Five school right now. So you know, I've been blessed to get the opportunity," Junior quarterback Cam Ward said.
"I don't want to put weight on it, but it'll take some of those plays of Cam's magic," Dickert said. "Going out and doing it and being the playmaker that he is for us to continue to stay ahead because we got to score with him (on facing Michael Penix Jr.). You know, we really do."
While WSU enters this game as a 15.5 point underdog, coming off a 56-14 win over Colorado has the cougs feelin like they've got their groove back.
"I think it just got us back on track. Got us back in the winning feeling," Hicks said. "So, we're gonna surprise them Dawgs."
"If we click on all three phases, man, we can beat anybody in the conference," Victor said. "So it's really not much about what they're doing. It's really how well can we perform and how can we be at our best at one o'clock on Saturday."
Washington State at Washington will kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Seattle. The game is being broadcasted on FOX.