CHANGE OF SCHEDULE AND LACK OF CONFERENCE TIES APPEARS TO BE HAVING AN IMPACT ON TICKET SALES. KOMO NEWS AT 6:00 STARTS NOW. >>> IT MIGHT BE TWO MONTHS EARLIER THAN USUAL AND IT MIGHT NOT MATTER IN TERMS OF CONFERENCE STANDINGS FOR THE WASHINGTON POST IS AN WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS WILL BATTLE IT OUT TOMORROW IN THE APPLE CUP POINT >> IT IS YEARS GAME IS DIFFERENT ON A LOT OF LEVELS. PERHAPS MOST NOTABLE IS IT IS THE FIRST MATCHUP SINCE THE HUSKIES ABANDONED THE PAC-12 TO JOIN THE BIG TEN. KOMO SENIOR REPORTER CHRIS DANIELS IS LIVE AT A COUGAR RALLY IN SEATTLE TONIGHT. CHRIS? >> YEAH, MOLLY, ORGANIZERS ARE EXPECTING UPWARDS OF 400 PEOPLE FOR THIS RALLY AND FUNDRAISER HELD IN ADVANCE OF THE APPLE CUP. YOU KNOW, THE REALLY WAS A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR BOTH SCHOOLS TO KEEP THIS GAME GOING. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BUZZ IN THE AIR OR OUTSIDE THIS STADIUM THE NIGHT BEFORE THE APPLE CUP, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. WHAT'S THE CHEAPEST TICKET I COULD GET TO APPLE CUP RIGHT NOW? TICKETS ARE NOT HIGH. 75? OH, I SAW IT FOR LIKE 50 ONLINE. THIS ANNUAL CLASH BETWEEN THE COUGARS AND DOGS IS THE FIRST WITH THEM IN SEPARATE CONTINENTS AND PLAYING IN SEPTEMBER. IT IS ALSO FAR FROM SOLD-OUT, LEADING TO PRICES PLUMMETING BY 60% IN A WEEK. DO YOU FEEL THAT THE ENTHUSIASM LEVEL IS THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE? >> YEAH, IT'S A DIFFERENT TIME. CHRIS, IT'S A DIFFERENT TIME POINT >> Reporter: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, SAYS THERE IS AN INCENTIVE TO KEEP IT GOING. >> IT IS A FANTASTIC CHANCE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AROUND WSU AND AROUND SPORTS AND OUR CULTURE. >> Reporter: THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COUGAR FUNDRAISING MEETINGS IN SEATTLE THIS WEEK WITH A PAIR OF SIX-FIGURE DONATIONS AS WELL. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS APPLE CUP? >> IT'S DIFFERENT, I WILL SAY THAT. SEPTEMBER , PLAYING THE COUGARS AT LEWMAN FIELD, IT'S NOT AS TRADITIONAL AS WE WERE ONCE ACCUSTOMED TO. >> Reporter: ABOUT ANDREW OF MOTLEY FUTURES, WHICH HELPS HUSKIES STUDENT ATHLETES A PROFIT ON THEIR NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS, SAYS THE GAME IS STILL A RALLYING POINT FOR FUNDRAISING PROJECTS ANYTIME THERE IS A BIG RIVALRY GAME, WE TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND GET OPPORTUNITIES IN FRONT OF FANS AND COMPANIES TO BE A PART OF THE EXCITEMENT AND COME SUPPORT THE TEAM. >> Reporter: WHICH IS WHY YOU CAN EXPECT THIS CONTEST TO CONTINUE EVEN AFTER A WEIRD SATURDAY IN SEATTLE. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. NEXT YEAR, THE APPLE CUP WILL BE PL