With the 118th edition of the Boeing Apple Cup on the horizon, the Huskies shift their focus from fall camp to their season opener against their in-state rivals. This year's matchup will be played at Husky Stadium for the first time since 2023, when Washington saved its undefeated season with a game-winning 42-yard field goal by Grady Gross.
Similar to last year, the Cougars were still undecided on who their starting quarterback would be heading into the rivalry game. That was until first-year coach Kirby Moore named UC Davis transfer Caden Pinnick as his starter on Monday afternoon.
The FCS product will be a familiar face for many Husky players and coaches, as he made his second career start against Washington last season. Defensive coordinator
Ryan Walters did not hold back on the inexperienced signal-caller, holding him to just 50 yards passing on 8 completions, along with a touchdown and an interception.
Washington State has named UC Davis transfer Caden Pinnick its starting quarterback for the 2026 season.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) August 24, 2026
Threw for 3,206 yards and 32 TDs with 437 rushing yards in 2025. Will be Kirby Moore's first starting QB. Cougars play Washington in Week 1.https://t.co/VWqKni1l0T pic.twitter.com/hAZ2xMjUup
Following a 70-10 loss on Montlake, the Loomis, California, native went on to star at the FCS level. The dual-threat playmaker threw for over 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns, and added 437 yards rushing. He was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the most outstanding freshman at the FCS level, and was named the Big Sky Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American.
After putting his name in the transfer portal and making the decision to take his talents to Pullman, Pinnick was not guaranteed to be QB1 for Moore. The 6-foot, 190-pound gunslinger stepped into a three-way quarterback battle with second-year Owen Eshelman and third-year Julian Dugger.
Out of the three, Pinnick was the clear favorite. Although he spent his first two years at a smaller program, he had much more starting experience than Eshelman and Dugger. Now, surrounded by a much more competitive roster, the transfer quarterback will look to seek revenge against the Huskies in his Washington State debut.
As for the aggressive Walters and his defense, they will look to mimic a stellar performance from the last time as they expect to be one of the best units in the nation this fall. However, he also understands that things will look a little different this time around.
“I anticipate he’ll be surrounded by a better supporting cast,” Walters said on Tuesday. “Obviously, he’s a cerebral guy that can move around, extend plays with his legs, and he’s accurate when he throws the football. So I don’t think the representation of him playing against us a year ago in a different system at a different school is something we can really pay attention to.”
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football To Square Off Against Familiar Face in Apple Cup
