Peyton Bender will start at quarterback for Washington State in the Apple Cup today, according to several sources including The Seattle Times.

The announcement that the redshirt freshman would be the Cougs’ signal caller comes in the wake of redshirt sophomore Luke Falk, who started the previous 11 games for WSU (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12), sustaining a concussion Saturday against Colorado.

Today’s game will be Bender’s first collegiate start. In four relief appearances for Falk this season, Bender has thrown for 210 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. In Saturday’s game, Bender played almost the entire second half, and his 133 yards and a touchdown secured the Cougars’ 27-3 victory over the Buffaloes.

With Jake Browning starting at quarterback for Washington (5-6, 3-5), the Apple Cup will feature two freshmen quarterbacks.

Speculation about the game has suggested Falk was doubtful to suit up for the Cougs, considering he had suffered his second concussion in as many weeks. The Cougars enter the Apple Cup as 7-point underdogs, suggesting betters expected the nation’s leading passer to be unavailable for WSU.

The Apple Cup will kickoff at 12:30 p.m. in Husky Stadium and will be televised on FOX.

Reporting by Dustin Brennan