Washington State enters Sunday’s Apple Cup in a rare spot: mostly healthy.
Kirby Moore said Monday the Cougars expect to be down only two players when they kick off against Washington at 1 p.m. on NBC, with tight ends Trey Leckner and Hudson Cedarland the only absences. That leaves a roster that has been getting healthier lately, including defensive tackle Kaden Beatty, back in the mix.
“Trey will be out, Huddy will be out for an extended period of time,” Moore said. “And hopefully we'll see where things are at about mid-season with both of those guys.
For Washington State, that’s a notable change of pace. Injuries have too often shadowed the Apple Cup over the past two decades, with the Cougars running into availability issues in years like 2024, 2022, 2017 and beyond.
This time, at least, the injury list is short. And neither Leckner nor Cedarland is a surprise addition to it - Leckner missed all of fall camp, while Cedarland has been sidelined the last few weeks.
Moore opened his press conference by acknowledging a loss felt well beyond Pullman: the death of Bill Doba, who died over the weekend at 85.
“I want to send our condolences to the Doba family on the passing of Coach Bill Doba,” Moore said. “I remember coming here as a kid, my dad was a high school football coach at Prosser, and coming with the Prosser staff and meeting Coach Doba.
He was so gracious with his time and always had a smile on his face. Grateful for everything Coach Doba gave to Washington State and the people that he impacted.”
Sunday’s matchup also carries a personal note for Moore, who has been around the Apple Cup scene before. He was at Washington in 2015 and 2016 as a graduate assistant, and he also saw one of the rivalry’s wildest finishes from the stands.
“I was a junior at Boise,” Moore said. “It was 2012.
We had a bye over Thanksgiving for whatever reason. And so came here for Thanksgiving.
The Cougs were down quite a bit in the fourth quarter. And not going to name names, but there were some people who came with us who left.
And that game, the Cougs did a great job of responding there in the fourth quarter.”
That was the 2012 Apple Cup, when Washington State stormed back from a 28-10 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Washington in one of the rivalry’s most memorable finishes. Moore’s own season ended with a 28-26 win over the Huskies in the Las Vegas Bowl.
As for this week’s first Sunday Apple Cup, Moore said the unusual schedule is a first for him.
“Playing at Boise State, I've been a part of games on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Sunday, this will be a first and I'm really looking forward to it.”
The shift changes the rhythm of the week a bit, too.
“It changes the prep a little bit. Just the days, you move forward a little bit more.
It's a great opportunity for both programs to be on a national stage. And we have to give credit to both administrations working together to create this opportunity.”
Moore also pointed to what he wants from Caden Pinnick at quarterback: control, communication and smart decisions.
“It really starts with command and operation in the pre-snap. Doing a really good job of communicating with his teammates from play to play.
The other team has really good players that are going to make plays. Making sure we're picking guys up when that happens.
We have to be accurate, we have to make great decisions, and when scramble drill opportunities come up, he has to do an excellent job of finding guys downfield or using his legs.”
On defensive tackle Soni Finau and the five-for-five rule, Moore said he still doesn’t have an update.
“I do not (have an update) and I'm just trying to get the best understanding from our administration of where that's at.”
And when asked about the Apple Cup’s future, Moore kept his focus on the present.
“I'm not necessarily in those conversations about where the Apple Cup goes. I know we have three more opportunities, and we're really looking forward to those.”
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Kaden Beatty Brings Extra Edge To A Cougars Rivalry That Still Hurts
Kaden Beatty is bringing a little extra bite to the buildup around this years Apple Cup, and for good reason. The Washington State defensive tackle has already lived through one of the sports most emotionally charged rivalries, and he spoke this week about how much the matchup against Washington still means as the Cougars prepare for another shot at their cross-state foe.
Beattys perspective gives the game a little more urgency for Washington State, especially with his emphasis on doing the job for four quarters and his confidence in the direction of his coach. He sounded eager to be part of a Cougars effort that turns last years experience into something better, and in a rivalry this heated, that edge can matter as much as anything else. [Read more 🡒]