Washington State Goes Classic Crimson and White for Sunday Apple Cup Opener

Washington State opens its 2026 season with an unusually early edition of the Apple Cup, facing Washington on Sunday in a matchup that trades tradition for the calendar. But when it comes to what the Cougars will wear, tradition wins out: the program confirmed via social media that it will don a crimson helmet, white jersey, and crimson pants — the same look, down to the white facemask, that the team wore during its most recent Apple Cup win in Seattle in 2024.

The uniform choice carries some history. The exact combination — crimson shell, white jersey, crimson facemask accents — has appeared just three times since 2017, including forgettable losses in the 2017 Holiday Bowl against Michigan State and at USC in 2020. A broader crimson-and-white pairing with a crimson facemask has been worn seven times overall, producing a 2-5 record, most recently at Ole Miss last season.

By the numbers, the individual elements are a mixed bag. The crimson helmet stands at 16-18 since 2017, and 3-7 when paired with a white facemask. The white jersey, worn exclusively on the road, is 18-31, while crimson pants carry a winning 19-17 mark. Helmets featuring a white facemask are 17-20, and the white WSU logo sits at 20-24.

Broadcast Spotlight on Comcast

The Sunday afternoon kickoff lands on NBC, putting the rivalry game in front of a national audience on the Comcast (CMCSA)-owned network. Comcast, a media and technology company operating across connectivity, media, studios, and theme parks segments, has made live sports a cornerstone of its NBC programming strategy. College football broadcasts like the Apple Cup are a key part of that slate, and a Week One rivalry slot on broadcast television underscores the value networks continue to place on marquee conference matchups. Shares of Comcast closed at $26.38 previously and were trading at $26.89, up 1.94%, valuing the company at roughly $94.4 billion.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern on NBC.

What to watch

• Viewership figures for the Sunday Apple Cup broadcast on NBC, a data point for Comcast’s live-sports strategy.
• Whether Washington State’s traditional look coincides with a result against its rival, adding to the combo’s record.
• Upcoming Big Ten and Pac-12 scheduling announcements that could affect future Apple Cup timing.

Source: original release