The Apple Cup as a nonconference game in September? Times have changed. With Washington moving into the Big Ten and Washington State one of two remaining teams in the Pacific-12 Conference, the rivals -- both off to 2-0 starts -- will meet Saturday afternoon at Lumen Field, home of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. "I would love to say you practice the same way no matter who we're playing," said Washington coach Jedd Fisch, who will be involved in his first Apple Cup. "But when you do have a rivalry game, your practices are a little more amped up. The competitive nature is a little more amped up. The energy on the field is a little higher." The schools, who are playing in different conferences for the first time since 1962, last fall agreed to a five-year extension of the rivalry, which Washington leads 73-32-6. The next four seasons will feature games alternating at each school's home field. "We'll continue to make sure our guys understand the importance of the game without making the game (mean) so much that you lose the discipline, that you lose your preparation," Fisch said. The coach said he's looking forward to the rivalry game, as it will provide a level of intensity rarely found in nonconference play, and hopes it continues for years to come. "I know we have it for the next five years," Fisch said. "So it's going to be really important over these next five years that we continue to make this game as important as it is." The Huskies have opened the season with a pair of wins at home -- 35-3 against Weber State and 30-9 over Eastern Michigan. Washington quarterback Will Rogers has completed 41 of 52 passes for 511 yards and five touchdowns, and Jonah Coleman has rushed for 231 yards and three TDs. Washington State this season has defeated Portland State 70-30 and Texas Tech 37-16 in games played in Pullman, Wash. Cougars quarterback John Mateer has rushed for a team-high 252 yards and has completed 20 of 36 passes for 467 yards and six TDs. "Obviously our guys will be really excited to play," Cougars coach Jake Dickert said. "I think they know what's on the line ... to get the Apple Cup back in Pullman is a big deal." --Field Level Media

No. 15 Oklahoma and Tulane are looking for better things out of their young quarterbacks this weekend when the Sooners and Green Wave play Saturday in Norman, Okla. Oklahoma is 2-0 but coming off a shaky offensive performance in last week's 16-12 home win over Houston. The Sooners managed just 249 yards of total offense, and sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold was 19 of 32 for 174 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. "He's a mature, tough guy," Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. "So he's handled all of it really well. Again, he had great self-awareness and has taken ownership where he's needed to, and that's allowed him to take the next step as far as his progression and development." While Arnold struggled against Houston, Oklahoma's offensive issues go far beyond him. The offensive line has been a revolving door, with the Sooners on their third center of the season already -- starter Branson Hickman injured an ankle in the opener, then Geirean Hatchett sustained a season-ending torn biceps injury. Joshua Bates has been forced into action despite Venables saying Bates was playing without the full use of one arm. The Sooners' running game has struggled, rushing for just 75 yards last week after much of their 220 yards on the ground in the opener came late with the game well in hand. Arnold has also been without several key targets, though Venables said there was a chance Nic Anderson, who had 10 touchdown catches a year ago, could make his season debut Saturday after dealing with a hamstring injury. "This is a group of guys that are committed to the work and the things that it takes," Venables said. "It may not happen as fast as everyone would like, but it'll get better." Tulane (1-1) is coming off a 34-27 home loss to Kansas State last Saturday, when redshirt freshman quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 342 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also lost a fumble in the fourth quarter that resulted in a K-State defensive touchdown. "Everything's new for (Mensah)," Green Wave coach Jon Sumrall said. "He's learning. ... He's going to get it. He's going to learn it. Usually being a kid, you touch a hot stove and you learn it's hot, don't touch it anymore. Hopefully, he learns, ‘Hey, if I'm in traffic, put the ball away.'" Through two games, Oklahoma has forced eight turnovers, tied for the FBS lead. Tulane has turned the ball over twice. "Good scheme and good players usually make for good football, and they're really well-coached with great players," Sumrall said of the Sooners' defense. "They're multiple. They keep you really guessing, keep you off balance. We've got our work cut out for us." For the second consecutive matchup against Oklahoma, the Green Wave are battling inclement weather in the lead-up to the game. In 2021, Hurricane Ida forced the teams' season-opening matchup to be moved from New Orleans to Norman. Now, Tropical Storm Francine has impacted Tulane's preparations, as they practiced at the New Orleans Saints' facility early in the week. In that 2021 meeting, the Green Wave took the Sooners down to the wire before the Sooners pulled out a 40-35 win. Oklahoma has won both previous meetings with Tulane. --Field Level Media

Texas Tech will try to get back on the winning track against an old foe Saturday when North Texas rolls into Lubbock for the first time since 2000. The Red Raiders (1-1) got thumped 37-16 on the road by Washington State last week, with turnovers (four) and the defense's struggles to stop the Cougars' running game (301 yards) topping the list of problems. The loss, on the heels of a 52-51 overtime win against Abilene Christian on Aug. 31, has created some unrest with the Texas Tech fan base, a fact that isn't lost on third-year coach Joey McGuire. In particular, the Red Raiders' defensive struggles are hard to ignore. Texas Tech ranks last or next-to-last in the Big 12 in every major category, surrendering an average of 515.5 total yards and 44 points per game. "One of the biggest things we have to do is play better defense," McGuire said. "It has to start with that side of the ball." That is a daunting proposition as Texas Tech braces for a Mean Green offense overseen by former Red Raiders offensive coordinator Eric Morris, who is in his second season as North Texas' head coach. The Mean Grean (2-0) are off to their best start since 2018 and have churned out 1,054 total yards in wins against South Alabama and Stephen F. Austin, with quarterback Chandler Morris (no relation to his coach) leading the charge by throwing for 737 yards and seven touchdowns. The potential for an offensive shootout looms because the Red Raiders have moved the ball effectively in both games. Texas Tech has done heavy damage through the air, with quarterback Behren Morton leading the Big 12 with an average of 350.5 passing yards per game and receiver Josh Kelly pulling in a national-best 19 receptions. The Mean Green have surrendered an average of 415 yards a game, but some confidence is bubbling with a unit that began the season with eight new starters. North Texas took major strides last week against Stephen F. Austin by limiting the Lumberjacks to 3-of-17 efficiency on third down. "The chemistry on defense has come together surprisingly well," Mean Green linebacker Jordan Brown said. "We build each other up." --Field Level Media