The Boeing Apple Cup, scheduled for Friday night in Pullman, will not be played as scheduled due to the Cougars’ inability to field a competitive roster after a number of positive COVID-19 tests and subsequent contact tracing. Per Pac-12 guidelines, the game will be declared a no contest by the league.
Pac-12 Statement
The Pac-12 today, Nov. 22, issued the following statement regarding the Washington at Washington State football game, previously scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27.
After consultation with Washington State University, the Pac-12 Conference announced the game involving Washington at Washington State scheduled for Friday, November 27 will not be played. This decision was made under the Pac-12’s football policy due to Washington State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols. Under Conference policy, the game will be declared a no contest.
Not contesting this game is very disappointing to our student-athletes and our fans. While all of us want to see our football student-athletes on the field competing, our number one priority must continue to be the health and safety of all those connected to Pac-12 football programs.
Statement from University of Washington Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen
“This is so disappointing for our players, coaches and staff, as well as Husky Nation as we were all looking forward to the Boeing Apple Cup this week. This is one of the best rivalries in college sports and every year we circle this game at the start of the season. We will work with Pac-12 to prioritize this game and look into any opportunities to play it should there be an open date for both schools down the road. We also understand that the Pac-12, in conjunction with local and state officials, developed policies that placed the health and safety of students, coaches and staff as the top priority. We want to provide an opportunity for our football program to compete this weekend and are working to find another opponent.”
Bring on BYU!