SEATTLE — The false start seemed to sum up the day. Facing third-and-4 from its own 38-yard line while clinging to a one-score lead, Washington suffered another self-inflicted error. Freshman left tackle Kodi Greene, making his first collegiate start, flinched before the snap, setting UW back 5 yards. Upon receiving the snap, junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr. surveyed downfield, then ...

Washington's Rashid Williams scores on the 1- yard touchdown pass from Demond Williams Jr. in the fourth quarter as Washington State safety Jaylen Thomas defends at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026.

Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times/TNS

SEATTLE — The false start seemed to sum up the day. Facing third-and-4 from its own 38-yard line while clinging to a one-score lead, Washington suffered another self-inflicted error.

Freshman left tackle Kodi Greene, making his first collegiate start, flinched before the snap, setting UW back 5 yards. Upon receiving the snap, junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr. surveyed downfield, then sprinted to his left where he was met by three WSU defenders.

But Williams pulled off a trademark escape. He stepped backward out of one tackle, then ducked under before breaking downfield for a 21-yard gain and a new set of downs. Two plays later, senior running back Jayden Limar was celebrating a game-sealing touchdown in the end zone.

Limar’s touchdown, set up by Williams’ run, secured Washington the 118th Apple Cup as the Huskies beat the Cougars 24-10 in front of an announced attendance of 71,056 at Husky Stadium. It’s the second rivalry win for coach Jedd Fisch’s team, which overcame a series of unforced errors and leaned on a stout defense to secure the victory.

Williams was 24-for-35 passing for 268 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He added 61 yards rushing on seven carries and one touchdown. Sophomore receiver Chris Lawson had four catches for 87 yards receiving, while Limar tallied 47 yards rushing on 12 carries and a score.

Washington’s first half was filled with evidence of Game 1 nerves. Particularly on the offensive line. Its first drive ended when Greene was bull rushed into Williams by Washington State edge rusher Linus Zunk on third down, forcing an incomplete pass. UW’s second drive, which reached the WSU 11-yard line, stalled out after a pair of holding calls on sophomore right guard Champ Taulealea resulting in a 48-yard field goal by senior kicker Tyler Robles.

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Washington Huskies linebacker Xe'ree Alexander gets to Washington State Cougars quarterback Caden Pinnick during the second quarter Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times/TNS

The Husky defense, however, needed significantly less time to settle into the game. After giving up a 25-yard rush to Cougar quarterback Caden Pinnick on the first play from scrimmage, UW didn’t let WSU out of its own territory for the remainder of the half, forcing punts on three of the Cougars’ six first-half drives.

And the defense tried to give the offense a hand. The Huskies created two short fields in the first half. Freshman defensive back Jeron Jones registered his first career interception, picking off Pinnick with 12:35 remaining in the first half to give UW’s offense the ball on the WSU 21-yard line. One drive later, fifth-year edge rusher Isaiah Ward forced and recovered a fumble by Cougar running back Kirby Vorhees on WSU’s 24-yard line.

Only one of those turnovers, however, resulted in UW points. Williams generated Washington’s first touchdown of the season practically on his own, scrambling for 16 yards to set up first-and-goal following Jones’ interception. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound signal caller punctuated the drive two plays later, diving over the left pylon for a 5-yard score and a 10-0 lead. Robles, however, missed a 29-yard field goal from the right hash wide left, failing to capitalize on Ward’s fumble recovery.

Washington’s offense finally showed some life on its final possession. The Huskies, starting on their own 6-yard line, drove 93 yards in three minutes, thanks in large part to a 29-yard reception from senior wideout Rashid Williams. But UW was stopped on WSU’s 1-yard line, when Limar was stuffed for no gain on fourth down as the first half expired.

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Washington Huskies cornerback Jeron Jones intercepts a pass intended for Washington State Cougars wide receiver Darrius Clemons during the second quarter Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times/TNS

UW’s offense wasn’t helped by the first-half departures of two starting skill position players. Sixth-year wideout Christian Moss exited after Washington’s first drive of the game. Sophomore tailback Quaid Carr left with trainers shortly before halftime. Neither player returned immediately after the break.

But the Husky defense’s attempted shutout nearly ended because of its own mistakes. Two penalties after third-down stops — a late hit by freshman edge rusher Ramzak Fruean and an unsportsmanlike conduct on fifth-year linebacker Jacob Manu — kept WSU’s first drive of the second half alive and allowed the Cougars to drive down to the Husky 13-yard line. But kicker Jack Stevens, who shanked a 52-yard attempt during the first half, missed again to preserve UW’s 10-0 lead.

Washington’s offense continued to flounder. The Huskies punted away their first two drives of the second half before turning the ball over on downs on their third drive. And the Cougars finally broke through in the fourth quarter, when Pinnick’s 11-yard touchdown rush capped a nine-play, 62-yard drive to make it 10-7 with 10:15 remaining.

The WSU score finally jolted the UW offense awake. Demond Williams Jr. completed a 29-yard pass to Lawson to open the drive, then found Rashid Williams, who stepped out of bounds at the WSU 2-yard line while diving toward the end zone, for a 44-yard completion. The senior wideout’s trip to the end zone was simply delayed. Two plays later, Demond Williams Jr. connected with Rashid Williams for a 1-yard touchdown pass to restore UW’s advantage, 17-7.

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Washington’ s Rylon Dillard-Allen is called for targeting on Washington State's Caden Pinnick in the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times/TNS

And Washington nearly forced an immediate turnover, when Pinnick fumbled in UW territory on WSU’s ensuing drive. But a targeting penalty on sophomore safety Rylon Dillard-Allen, who hit Pinnick after he’d already fumbled, wiped out the turnover and set up a 42-yard field goal by Stevens to cut the deficit back to one score, 17-10, setting up UW’s game-sealing drive.

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University of Washington players celebrate with the trophy after a 24-10 win in the Apple Cup Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times/TNS