In the week leading up to the Apple Cup game between Washington and Washington State, there was question about who the Cougars' starting quarterback would be.

Wazzu sophomore signal caller Jaxon Potter earned the starting job in a preseason competition with senior Zevi Eckhaus and freshman Pittsburgh transfer Julian Dugger, but struggled in the Cougars' recent 59-10 loss against North Texas.

Potter completed 69.6% of his passes against the Mean Green (16-for-23) for 139 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. For the season, Potter has completed 67 of his 95 passing attempts (70.5% completion) for 604 yards, four touchdowns and three picks.

Following Potter's struggles against North Texas, Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers said there would be a quarterback competition in the week leading up to the Apple Cup.

Rogers reversed his statements about a QB competition and said the starter for the Apple Cup was determined the Sunday after WSU's loss against the Mean Green.

Rogers didn't say who the starter would be. The indication from pregame warmups Saturday at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash., is that Eckhaus will get the nod against the Huskies.

Eckhaus led the huddle in the pregame warmups, according to a post on "X" from the Spokesman-Review's Cougars reporter Greg Woods. Eckhaus also led the team out of the tunnel before the game.

Eckhaus transferred to Washington State ahead of the 2024 season. He played three seasons in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) with Bryant before joining the Cougars.

Eckhaus sat behind then-Washington State and current Oklahoma starter John Mateer for almost all of 2024.

Eckhaus started for the Cougars in the Holiday Bowl against Syracuse, which WSU lost 52-35. He went 31-for-43 for 363 yards, three touchdowns and was picked off twice. The former FCS signal-caller added 28 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in the loss.

Eckhaus' only playing time this season came in the Cougars' loss against North Texas. He went 7-for-10 with 72 yards and was sacked once.

Washington and Washington State are 2-2 against each other in the last four editions of the Apple Cup. The Huskies won in 2022-23 and the Cougars won in '21 and '24. It will be Rogers' first Apple Cup as head coach of Washington State and Jedd Fisch's second heading Washington's program.