Jedd Fisch Says He Wants the Apple Cup to Survive the Current Contract

Washington coach Jedd Fisch used his weekly news conference on Monday at Husky Stadium to address a question that goes beyond any single season: whether the Apple Cup will continue in the future. Fisch said he hopes the long-running Washington-Washington State rivalry game can extend beyond the current contract, indicating that the tradition still matters to his program even as scheduling debates continue across college football.

The Apple Cup is one of the sport’s best-known rivalry matchups, built on regional proximity and a long history between the two schools. For Washington, it is also a familiar measuring stick against a neighbor that competes for state bragging rights every time the teams meet. When coaches speak publicly about whether those games remain in place, it typically reflects more than nostalgia. It often highlights recruiting visibility, statewide interest, and how much a program can count on a consistent, high-emotion opponent year after year.

Fisch’s comments came in the form of sentiments rather than details. According to the report, he spoke about his desire for the game to continue past the current contract, framing the issue as a hope that the rivalry can remain intact. The remarks were delivered during the Husky Stadium news conference, where Washington’s coaching staff normally uses the platform to set a tone for the week and respond to ongoing program questions.

While the specific contractual terms of the current Apple Cup agreement were not outlined in the account, the underlying storyline is clear. Rivalry games in the modern college football landscape often face uncertainty because of conference realignment, scheduling shifts, and the constant churn in nonconference matchups. When those pressures land on a rivalry as established as the Apple Cup, the conversations tend to become immediate and public, with coaches and athletic departments weighing how to protect tradition without sacrificing flexibility.

For Washington players and fans, the timing of this discussion matters. A rivalry game is not just another entry in a schedule, it can shape a team’s identity and week-to-week intensity, and it tends to carry extra meaning for in-state recruits. Fisch’s willingness to openly discuss the future suggests Washington is invested in preserving that identity, at least from the program leadership perspective.

What to watch next is whether Washington and Washington State athletic departments provide additional clarity on the Apple Cup’s path. Until there is official confirmation, the only certainty is that the current agreement is what is driving the question in the first place, and that Fisch is positioning the rivalry as something worth maintaining. In the meantime, the Apple Cup’s next renewal window will be tested by the broader forces affecting college football scheduling, even as coaches argue for the long-term value of rivalry football.