Sunday, September 6, 2026. Kickoff 4:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
The Apple Cup, in Week 1, on a Sunday. Washington State visits Washington in a rivalry that conference realignment nearly killed and that both schools went out of their way to preserve.
| Day | Sunday, September 6 — not Saturday |
| Kickoff | 4:00 p.m. ET · 3:00 CT · 2:00 MT · 1:00 PT |
| TV | NBC |
| Streaming | Peacock, Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream |
| Free option | NBC is available over the air with an antenna |
A Rivalry That Survived Realignment
Washington left for the Big Ten. Washington State stayed behind as the Pac-12 collapsed around it. On paper there was no longer any structural reason for these two to play.
They scheduled it anyway. The Apple Cup has been contested since 1900, and both schools treated preserving it as non-negotiable — which, in an era where realignment has erased rivalries across the country, is worth noting.
Why Week 1
Rivalry games traditionally close the season. Moving the Apple Cup to the opening weekend is a consequence of the two schools now being in different conferences with different schedules — late-November dates are locked up by league play.
The upside is a national Sunday afternoon window that neither would get in November.
Husky Stadium
Husky Stadium sits on the shore of Lake Washington, and fans arrive by boat — the only venue in the country where that is a normal matchday routine. An early September afternoon in Seattle is close to ideal conditions.
How to Watch Free
NBC carries it nationally and is free over the air with an antenna. Peacock streams all NBC games, so a Peacock subscription alone is enough.
It is the earlier of the Sunday games — Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame and Louisville vs. Ole Miss both follow at 7:30.
The Bottom Line
Washington State at Washington kicks off 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 6 on NBC and Peacock from Husky Stadium. The Apple Cup dates to 1900 and survived the schools landing in different conferences. NBC is free over the air.