Rep. Baumgartner calls for state action to preserve Apple Cup amid College Football Playoff changes

Rep. Michael Baumgartner called on Gov. Bob Ferguson to help preserve the Apple Cup after the College Football Playoff (CFP) approved a 24-team format beginning with the 2027 season, raising questions about future nonconference schedules.

In a post on X, Baumgartner urged Ferguson to “show some leadership” in keeping the annual matchup between Washington and Washington State, arguing it is “good for the state.”

Some are going to claim that this will force the end of the Apple Cup. That’s BS. Both UW and WSU are Washington state tax-payer owned public institutions and the Governor and Legislature should have them play every year because it’s good for the state. Publicly accountable officials should be making these decisions not corporate TV execs in back rooms. This is a great chance for Bob Ferguson to show some leadership on something important to the state. 🇺🇸

— Congressman Michael Baumgartner (@RepBaumgartner) November 9, 2026

New College Football Playoff requirements raise questions about Apple Cup’s future

The College Football Playoff Management Committee approved the expansion Monday. The new format will double the playoff field from 12 teams to 24 beginning with the 2027–28 season.

Under the expanded format, Power Four programs such as the University of Washington (UW) will be required to play 10 regular-season games against qualifying opponents.

With UW already playing a nine-game Big Ten schedule, the requirement would mean at least one additional qualifying nonconference game each season.

Washington State University (WSU) and Oregon State will count as qualifying opponents through the 2027 season, according to CBS Sports. Whether they will continue to count toward that scheduling requirement beyond 2027 remains uncertain.

That distinction could affect the Apple Cup’s future, but the playoff changes do not necessarily require UW to drop the Apple Cup. UW could also adjust other nonconference games to meet the requirement.

The schools’ existing Apple Cup agreement runs through 2028. The remaining games are scheduled for 2027 in Pullman and 2028 in Seattle.

Baumgartner argued that decisions about the rivalry should rest with publicly accountable officials rather than television executives, and urged Gov. Ferguson to take action.

“Publicly accountable officials should be making these decisions, not corporate TV execs in back rooms,” he wrote. “This is a great chance for Bob Ferguson to show some leadership on something important to the state.”

The CFP also announced a new agreement making ESPN the exclusive rights holder for the expanded playoff. Financial terms were not disclosed, but ESPN reported that the additional five-year agreement is worth nearly $1.7 billion, on top of the current $7.8 billion contract that runs through the 2031 season.

The scheduling requirement could also affect WSU’s future matchups against other Power Four opponents if games against the Cougars no longer count toward the requirement after 2027. Those games include a road matchup against Kansas in 2028, home games against Kansas State in 2029 and Virginia in 2031, and a road game against Texas Tech in 2032.

However, any changes to the Apple Cup or WSU’s other future games remain uncertain.

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