Once again this year, the Washington State Cougars head into the Apple Cup with nothing but pride on the line. It's been quite some time since the Cougars and Huskies met in the final game of the year with something on the line for both teams, be it bowl positioning, postseason eligibility or even a Rose Bowl. And while we're miles from another Crapple Cup -- you remember 2008, or have blocked it out of your mind completely -- the 2011 Apple Cup is still a one-sided affair.
Washington already locked up its bowl game, but is still fighting for a better destination on Saturday. Washington State came inches, literally, from keeping its bowl hopes alive and continuing a streak not unlike that of the Huskies last season. The Cougars' bowl hopes were slim, but still alive until Utah beat them in overtime last weekend.
And so it goes. The Apple Cup is the bowl game for the Cougars and state pride is on the line once again. While it would be fun to see an Apple Cup with serious implications yet again, let's be honest: No matter the stakes this is the game of the year in Washington.
For more on the Huskies head over to UW Dawg Pound. For the Cougars side of things, check out Coug Center.