'Coug Nation' is itching to spoil the Huskies' perfect season. Can they?

In the year 1900, Washington had only been a state for 11 years when two college football teams — the University of Washington and Washington State College, now Washington State University — played to a 5-5 tie. That game started an enduring football rivalry. It’s called the Apple Cup now, and it’s back this Saturday at Husky Stadium.

KUOW’s Kim Malcolm talked to sportswriter and UW grad Danny O'Neil about the importance of the series, and this weekend’s big game.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

Kim Malcolm: There was a lot of worry over the future of this game, but last weekend WSU and UW announced they'd agreed to a five-year continuation of the Apple Cup, through the year 2028. That's good news. Right?

Danny O’Neil: It's great news. This is a game that is part of a fabric of college football. It’s Eastern Washington versus Western Washington. It's a very rural campus in Pullman against a very urban campus here in Seattle. And with the change of the PAC-12, with Washington and Oregon leaving for the Big 10, it left it open that there might not be a game between the Cougs and the Huskies anymore.

It's going to be different going forward. It's going to be played earlier in the year as opposed to Thanksgiving weekend. Next season, it's going to be at the Seahawks Stadium as opposed to being on campus, but then it will go back on campus. I think it's great to have this game continued. It would be heartbreaking if Washington didn't have a chance to smoke the Cougs each and every season. I'm just kidding, Kim. That's not very nice.

Hey, I’m talking to a Husky. What do I expect?

Exactly right. Typical, arrogant Husky. And if we didn't have our chance to have our annual comeuppance at the hands of the salt-of-the-earth Cougs, we'd all be poorer off for it.

UW is a powerhouse this year, 11-0. WSU has been struggling a little bit, at 5-6. Do the Cougs have any chance this weekend in the Apple Cup?

Yes. And they have a lot at stake. Actually, I was glad when they beat Colorado last Friday because they've got a huge incentive to become bowl-eligible. There's a little part of me that was worried when you've got an opponent whose only goal is anarchy. If Washington State lost that game and came in here with a record of 4-7, all they would have wanted to do was ruin UW’s season. Now, they've got a little bit on the line. And I think when you've got something to lose, that can create a little bit of pressure.

This season's been a disappointment for Washington State, but they've got a huge amount to play for, and there is nothing that a Washington State fan or player would love more than to ruin Washington's chance at making the college football playoff.

When you look at both teams then, how important is this game Saturday for both of them?

For Washington State, it's a chance to kick the older brother in the rear end as he prepares to abandon them. For Washington, it is keeping everything on track so that when they go into the PAC-12 championship game the following week at Las Vegas, a win would put them into the college football playoff. So, Washington certainly has more to lose, which means that Washington State has a lot more to gain in this game. And UW has had to play a lot of really close games recently. They don't really have much margin for error, because they are undefeated, and aiming for that college football playoff.

Listen to the interview by clicking the play button above.