Bizarro Apple Cup arrives as Washington State and Washington meet in rivalry showdown

Washington State (1-0) vs. Washington (1-0) at Lumen Field in Seattle, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Washington 4 1/2.

Series record: Washington leads 76-33-6.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

For the first time since 1961, the Apple Cup is a non-conference matchup – this time between a Big Ten school and one of the two remaining Pac-12 programs. There’s been a significant amount of external debate about whether to continue the series following the collapse of what was the Pac-12, which forced the rivalry matchup to be moved to September and for this year to be played at a neutral site. The game will return to campus sites starting in 2025 and as of now will continue through the 2028 season as a non-conference matchup. But the acrimony – especially from the Washington State side – leaves open the chance the Apple Cup rots away before that date.

KEY MATCHUP

Washington’s defense has yet to allow a touchdown this season and has gone two straight games without giving up a TD for the first time since 1991. Washington State scored 70 points in its opener and followed up with 37 in a convincing win over Texas Tech. The Huskies defense has looked good in the first two games, but has yet to face an offense with the weapons of Washington State – in particular quarterback John Mateer, who rushed for 197 yards against Texas Tech after throwing for five touchdowns in Week 1.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Washington State: It’s been a quiet start to the season for WR Kyle Williams with just five receptions through two games, although three of his five catches have gone for touchdowns. Williams had five catches for 85 yards and a TD in last year’s Apple Cup.

Washington: QB Will Rogers was terrific last week against Eastern Michigan, completing 21 of 26 passes and throwing four touchdowns. Rogers numbers from the first two games have been nearly identical as he’s shown efficiency running the offense of head coach Jedd Fisch.

FACTS & FIGURES

Washington has won nine of the last 10 in the series, including last year’s 24-21 victory on a field goal from Grady Gross on the final play of the game. … RB Jonah Coleman has rushed for at least 100 yards in the first two games. … Washington State freshman RB Wayshawn Parker had a 54-yard TD run in Week 1 and a 43-yard scoring run in Week 2. … Mateer’s 197 yards rushing were the most ever by a Washington State QB. … Next year’s game is scheduled to be in Pullman.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Washington safety Kamren Fabiculanan (13) and cornerback Elijah Jackson (25) break up a pass to Eastern Michigan wide receiver Terry Lockett Jr. (3) in the end zone during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Seattle. Washington won 30-9. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Washington quarterback Will Rogers looks to throw during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

NEW YORK (AP) — Celtics star Jayson Tatum won’t be far from Madison Square Garden when Boston faces a must-win situation against the New York Knicks on Friday night as the defending champions attempt to force a deciding Game 7.

Tatum has been released from a New York hospital following season-ending surgery to repair the ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered late in Boston’s 121-113 loss to the Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals matchup.

The 27-year-old All-Star had the opportunity to meet with his teammates Thursday at the team's hotel for the first time since he was carried off the court with the injury. He had what the team said was successful surgery on Tuesday and has been recuperating in New York.

“It sucks to see someone go down like that who doesn’t deserve it,” Celtics guard Sam Hauser told reporters from multiple outlets at the team’s shootaround Friday morning. “But he wouldn’t want more than us to just keep winning. We saw him yesterday. He seems to be in good spirits. Definitely thinking about him and trying to get some wins for him.”

Tatum is facing around a nine-month recovery from his injury. When Kevin Durant tore his Achilles tendon during the 2019 NBA Finals, he wound up missing the entire 2019-20 season.

While playing for Tatum is a rallying cry for the team headed into Game 6, Celtics guard Payton Pritchard said seeing their “brother” was an emotional lift for everyone.

“We didn’t talk about basketball at all. That stuff is bigger than basketball now,” Pritchard said. “It’s seeing how he is as a person, how he’s dealing with stuff. The basketball side, we’ll handle that. But just want to check-in as a friend.”

If the the Celtics win on Friday night, Game 7 would be Monday night in Boston.

Boston is looking to become just the 14th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0) looks to pass during the second half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Trainers check on Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum after he was injured during the second half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Trainers help Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0) off the court after he was injured during the second half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)