The game the brings the state of Washington together kicks off a little earlier than expected after all the realignment this past offseason, and at a "neutral" location, but nonetheless the Boeing Apple Cup Series lives on as Washington State meets Washington in Seattle this Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars (2-0) are coming off an end-to-end win, beating up on Texas Tech offensively with a dominant run game led by sophomore quarterback John Mateer, and defensively getting junior quarterback Behren Morton for Texas Tech rattled early and neutralizing the opposing run game. The defensive performance for WSU took leaps and bounds forwards after giving up 30 points at home the week prior to Portland State.

The Huskies (2-0) have faced inferior opponents at home in Eastern Michigan and Weber State but have yet to allow an offensive touchdown on the season, with dominant wins at home led by their defense and their powerful ground game.

Washington will be tested for the first time this season on Saturday, facing a Cougar offense that has put up 107 points and ranks inside the top 15 nationally after two games.

“It’s going to be different now that this is in September, but at the end of the day, this means a lot to Cougs everywhere and we got to keep moving forward,” head coach Jake Dickert said.

The story of this year’s meeting comes with the different schemes both teams use, after previous success with old schemes. For Washington, it’s with a powerful defense, led by defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick, who came in from the NFL. The Huskies like to bring pressure to the quarterback, recording eight sacks in two games so far, and driving offenses backward. Washington also ranks inside the top 25 nationally in total defense, allowing only 228 yards a game on average so far.

The Cougars’ run game has emerged as a powerful lean for WSU, meanwhile, with a collective group in the backfield along with Mateer, who led the team in rushing last weekend. The defense has some holes, but the Cougars improved from week one to two, limiting a good Texas Tech offense to only 16 points.

The Apple Cup divides households, friends and everyone in the state of Washington.

“It’s an opportunity to be 1-0 and to get the Apple Cup back in Pullman.” Dickert said. “It’s a big deal, it always has been, always will be. I think we’re battle tested. I think we’re war ready.”

Injury Report:

“We had some bumps and bruises from the game but feel pretty confident that we should be mostly full strength come game time,” Dickert said.

Dickert said that senior punter Nick Haberer is still questionable for this weekend’s game after missing last week’s game. Haberer was a game-time decision last Saturday dealing with a back injury and will again be a game-time decision for this weekend’s matchup.

Sixth-year defensive back Jerrae Williams is now downgraded to being out for “an extended period of time," after he was questionable last weekend at home against the Red Raiders.

Redshirt junior offensive lineman Fa’alili Fa’amoe looks to be a game-time decision as well, recovering from his knee injury throughout the entire offseason. Dickert said Fa’amoe will have a full week of practice this week for the first time all season.

“We’re going to build [Fa’amoe] into full practices and kind of see how he reacts," Dickert said.

Offense: What to Expect in Week 3

Attacking the rejuvenated Huskies defense is going to be a heightened challenge for offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s offense.

The biggest stat of all? That Washington's defense has not allowed an offensive touchdown yet and only nine total points through two games.

Running backs coach Mark Atuaia talked after practice Wednesday about how the Huskies’ defensive front, with how much they like to blitz, can cause a disturbance in the backfield.

“They’re in a bare front and then they move a lot,” Atuaia said.

Mateer has had success on the ground, and in the air, which could be a problem for the Huskies’ defense. If they do bring pressure, Mateer has that ability to scramble for extra yards, with his teammates always giving him blocks downfield.

Dickert talked in his Monday press conference about the defense last year for the Huskies in comparison to this season, and how they’re going to bring pressure and not just sit and drop eight defenders.

“You have no idea where these guys are going to line up,” Dickert said.

Defense: What to Expect in Week 3

“If we can be one of the best teams in the country at just stopping explosive plays, you’re going to give your team a shot every week,” Dickert said.

The Huskies offense has explosive playmakers, the biggest one, being junior running back Jonah Coleman, who followed head coach Jedd Fisch up from Arizona to Washington after entering the transfer portal. Coleman is averaging just over 115 rushing yards a game on the ground and opens up the Huskies offense in the pass game for senior quarterback Will Rogers, who has five passing touchdowns and zero interceptions on the year.

Dickert talked about facing Coleman last year, when he was at Arizona, and how their game plan last year for him wasn’t successful.

“If you think you’re just going to throw a shoulder on [Coleman], it isn’t going to happen,” Dickert said. “He’s very physical and we got to match his physicality if we want a shot to get him.”

Senior EDGE Nusi Malani talked after practice Tuesday about Washington’s offense, especially Coleman, and how he’s a downhill running back that isn’t afraid to get physical.

“We got to kill his motors,” Malani said. “He’s a downhill guy, we just have to try to get him to move east to west.”

Redshirt senior defensive back Tyson Durant gave credit to Rogers’ ability to throw the ball accurately, coming from Mississippi State, where he was coached under former head coach Mike Leach.

“He can get loose, but he’s not too much on the running side,” Durant said. “I know he’s coming from Air Raid as well, trying to fit him in a pro-style offense. … If we can just shake him up under the center … I think he’s going to struggle.”

Game Outlook:

The Cougars opened as 5-point underdogs against the Huskies in the neutral site game with a total set at 55.5 points. (All odds according to ESPNBET). Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. PST at Lumen Field in Seattle and will be broadcast on Peacock.