Kaden Beatty doesn’t need a reminder about what the Apple Cup means. He got that message last year, in his first taste of the rivalry, and it stuck with him for the full 365 days since.
The Washington State defensive tackle grew up in Virginia Beach, a long way from both Seattle and Pullman, but one game was enough to make the stakes clear. Beatty played 24 snaps in last year’s Apple Cup, and now he’s heading into his second rivalry game with the Cougars carrying that experience - and plenty of fire.
“I’m a Coug now through and through.” Beatty said.
“It’s in my blood. I bleed crimson and gray.
So now just having this rivalry is just something that I’m thrilled to be a part of. And now I’m going to be immersed in history with some of the other greats that have gone through this building and these walls.
And so I couldn't be more excited and more fired up.”
He’s not exaggerating the learning curve. Only 13 Cougars on this year’s roster played in the Apple Cup a year ago, and some of those cameos were limited to special teams. Beatty is one of the few who has actually been in the middle of it, and he says that matters.
“I’m telling the guys it's all four quarters,” Beatty said. “The game isn't won in the warmup or the first quarter.
You have to play all four quarters. So it's going to be a nitty-gritty game and it's all about who wants it more and who's prepared themselves better.”
For a player who embraces the edge that comes with trench warfare, this is the kind of stage he wants. Beatty is one of the Cougars’ bigger personalities and one of their loudest trash talkers, and he’s not planning to tone it down when Washington State walks into Seattle.
“Definitely,” Beatty said. “It's a rivalry and I think even the fans know.
They get a little bit more riled up. You're going to enemy territory where you know you're within the state, within the rivalry, and it's going to be exciting and I'm fired up.”
Beatty also praised coach Moore’s steadiness, saying, “Coach Moore is Mr. Consistent.
He's the same guy every single day, out of the building and inside of the building. He's just a great leader.
And a great man all around. So I haven't seen anything different and he's just the same guy.”
The memory of last year’s loss still lingers, and Beatty hasn’t let it fade.
“That wasn't our standard, that wasn't us. And so I've lived with that now for an entire 365 days and some.
So now that we can go out and show who we really are and show that last year, that wasn't what we're about. That wasn't our defense and we all had a terrible taste in our mouth after that game.
So it's awesome to be able to go in and do it over again and get another shot at it.”
And if the Cougars do get it right this time, Beatty knows exactly what it would mean.
“Winning the Apple Cup would mean absolutely everything. That is what makes this place go around here, that's what makes everyone within the state of Washington (go).
If you're wearing crimson and gray, this is why you watch on Saturday and now on Sunday. And it's something that I've worked for all offseason.
Something that I've definitely pinned on my calendar to look at and something that I'm excited for. So I'm just thrilled to be a part of it and to make history.”
In Other News...
Washington State Enters Apple Cup With One Roster Question Still Looming
Washington State is heading into the Apple Cup with most of the roster trending in the right direction, a welcome development as the Cougars prepare for one of the seasons most important games. Coach Kirby Moore said only two players, tight ends Trey Leckner and Hudson Cedarland, will be out against Washington, while several others who had been limited recently are expected to be available, including defensive tackle Kaden Beatty.
Kirby Moore also took a moment to acknowledge the passing of former Washington State coach Bill Doba, adding a somber note to a week otherwise centered on getting as healthy as possible. With the availability picture clearing up, the Cougars still have one lingering roster question to sort through before kickoff, and it could shape how they approach the rivalry game. [Read more 🡒]
Keith Browns Apple Cup Return Just Changed The Feel Of This Opener
Keith Browns return gives Washington State a meaningful veteran presence as the Cougars head into the Apple Cup, a game that already carries its own built-in edge. The linebacker has been out since December 2024 because of injury, and his perspective matters in a matchup where emotion can easily take over if a team lets it. Brown said the approach still has to stay consistent, even with the rivalry energy around it, and he sounded eager to get back into this one right away in Week 1.
Ashton Tripp also put a finer point on what makes this opener stand out, noting the significance of the rivalry and the atmosphere waiting at Husky Stadium. For Washington State, that combination of a returning defensive voice and the usual Apple Cup intensity adds another layer to a game that rarely needs much help drawing attention. The Cougars know the setting, the stakes and the noise will all be part of the test. [Read more 🡒]
WSUs Linebacker Depth Suddenly Matters In A Big Way For Apple Cup
Nylan Brown spent fall camp staying at the Cougar Football Complex, putting his attention on football and recovery as Washington State worked through the early part of the preseason. The junior transfer arrives with prior playing experience at Kent State, and he fits into a linebacker room that suddenly carries more weight in the buildup to the Apple Cup.
Brown is expected to be part of Washington States backup mix in the 4-2-5 defense, which makes his development worth tracking even before the first big rivalry test arrives. His tackling ability is one area the Cougars will be watching closely, and with depth at linebacker becoming more important, every rep has a little extra value. [Read more 🡒]