While most college programs are kicking off their season on Saturday, September 5, the Washington Huskies will be enjoying the day off in preparation for Sunday's Apple Cup. With the NFL not opening its season until Wednesday, September 9, Week One of college football begins Thursday evening and runs through Monday.
The Apple Cup is the first of three nationally televised games on Sunday, followed by Wisconsin-Notre Dame and Louisville-Ole Miss. With the Huskies having the 1:00 p.m. slot on NBC to themselves, Jedd Fisch's team will have the opportunity to make a strong first impression to a national audience.
"I thought it was awesome," Fisch said when asked about the schedule. "I'm all for it. I told our team today we're the only game at 1:00;
we're on NBC. It's an opportunity; everybody that turns on the TV on Sunday in the fall is looking for football. So, it just happens to be, surprise, it's college. And it's us, and that's our hope that they all benefit from that."
The head coach also noted that he "couldn't say yes fast enough" when athletic director Pat Chun originally proposed the idea of playing the game a day later than usual.
The Huskies are slated to play five teams ranked in the preseason top 25, giving them plenty of opportunities to impress viewers on national television. However, with a number of teams ranked in front of them playing in highly competitive matchups this weekend, Washington has an opportunity to slide into the top 15 if it can defend home turf against the Washington State Cougars.
In the first season of the new era of the Pac-12, Washington State is not scheduled to play another ranked team for the rest of the year. After producing back-to-back winning seasons, the Cougars are in real contention for a conference championship under first-year head coach Kirby Moore and transfer quarterback Caden Pinnick.
While some may see the circumstances as unusual and awkward, Fisch is encouraging his team to welcome the opportunity and leave a lasting impression on those who may be unfamiliar with what the Huskies have to offer.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football Embracing the Opportunity of a Sunday Kickoff
