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We'll make it mean something again when we hang 50 on THEM in September

The 1997 Apple Cup was an outlier, the series record is 75-33-6, and the rivalry's intensity was always regional, not national

You're just mad your program couldn't keep up in a real conference. Adapt or get left behind.

You killed the Border War first

You think you've got it bad? Try watching the SEC West get carved up after we built that conference into what it is.

You're just mad because the rivalry died the second Washington left you behind. The Apple Cup meant something when both teams were relevant, but let's be honest, Wazzu hasn't been a real factor in years. Realignment is about competing at the highest level, something your program clearly struggles with. The game became a sad annual reminder of the gap between the two schools. If you cared about pride so much, you'd build a program people actually want to watch. The sport evolved, and your nostalgia doesn't pay the bills. Washington moved on to bigger things, while you're stuck complaining about the past.

You're blaming the wrong people, and you're looking at the past through rose-colored glasses. The game isn't dead, it's just different, and your program got left behind because you couldn't keep up. Realignment is about survival in a modern landscape, not nostalgia. If that rivalry meant so much, why wasn't your program competitive enough to be an attractive addition to a major conference? You talk about pride, but pride doesn't pay for facilities or NIL collectives. Now you're scheduling Washington as a non-conference game because that's the tier you're in. The heart of college football is still there, it's just beating in the SEC and Big Ten where the resources and competition are. Kids today are absolutely picking a school, they're picking the best program to develop them for the league, with the best support system. That's not a stock portfolio, that's a smart business decision for their future. The 1997 game was great, but you can't build a future on one memory. The system isn't broken, it just exposed programs that weren't built to last.

you're just bitter because your program got left behind. the game still means everything to the players on the field and the fans in the stands. realignment is survival of the fittest, and washington earned its seat at the big table. the rivalry didn't die, it just leveled up while yours stayed provincial. if the apple cup mattered so much, your administration should have fought harder to keep it relevant instead of clinging to nostalgia. the sport evolves, and rivalries either adapt or become history lessons. this is what progress looks like.

Rivalries adapt. We'll dominate the new one.

The Apple Cup is absolutely NOT dead, it just got an upgrade by moving to a premier conference. Washington joining the Big Ten doesn't diminish the rivalry, it elevates the stakes because now both programs are competing for national relevance on a bigger stage. That 1997 game decided a Rose Bowl, but future matchups could decide Big Ten Championships and College Football Playoff berths, which matter far more in today's landscape. Acting like a non-conference game lacks meaning ignores that Oregon-Colorado was a non-conference game for decades and defined the Pac-12. The idea that realignment killed pride is backwards, California's move to the ACC was about securing a sustainable future to preserve our competitive pride against programs like Stanford. The whole state will still stop for the Apple Cup, the difference is the winner will be showcased to the entire country instead of just the West Coast. Bragging rights are eternal, and now they come with the added weight of conference standings that have national implications. The system isn't broken, it's evolving, and clinging to a regional schedule is what actually kills programs. Washington's 2023 run to the national title game proves the new paths available, and a fierce rivalry game only enhances that trajectory for both sides.

You think you invented heartbreak? Try watching the Southwest Conference die.

you're drowning in nostalgia and missing the entire point of the modern game. the apple cup isn't dead, it's just been upgraded. realignment is about competing at the highest level, not clinging to rregional scraps. washington chased the big ten money and exposure for a reason, to build a national brand that attracts elite croots. that "meaningless exhibition" you hate is now a prime-time showcase on a bigger stage. kids today absolutely pick a school like a portfolio, they're looking at nil collectives, development paths, and conference tv deals, and that's smart. the pride comes from winning championships on the national scene, not just owning your state. the 1997 game was great, but the future is about competing for spots in the expanded playoff, not just the rose bowl. if the cougs want that rivalry to mean something again, they need to build a program that can actually compete in the new landscape, not complain about the past. the heart of college football is still there, it just beats for different trophies now.

The Apple Cup is better now. Washington had to run to the Big Ten because they couldn't handle the competition in the new Pac-12.

Rivalries adapt. We'll dominate the new Big Ten.

Rivalries adapt. We'll make new ones.

You're just bitter your program couldn't keep up in a major conference

You're just mad because your program got left behind. The game still means everything to the players on the field, and real fans will still watch. Rivalries evolve, they don't die.

You're just bitter because the realignment finally exposed your program. We're building something real here, and clinging to dusty old memories doesn't win championships. The game still means everything to us, and we'll prove it by beating you on the field, conference or not. If your pride was so strong, you'd focus on winning the matchup instead of whining about the calendar. The heart of a rivalry is the competition, not the league logo on the field. We're ready to play, and we'll show you what Peacock pride is all about.

We'd never let a rivalry die like that, our tradition and blue turf mean everything here

Your guys left first

We'll beat them anyway