Hawaii’s Alejado named Preseason Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year

Another year, more history made for Micah Alejado.

After becoming the first UH player to earn Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors in 2025, the sophomore quarterback is back with sights on even greater heights in 2026. Alejado was picked as the conference’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year on Wednesday morning, marking another first in the Mountain West for the Rainbow Warrior football program.

“It’s super cool,” Alejado said after becoming the first sophomore to ever receive preseason OPOY recognition in the Mountain West. “You’ve got to go out there and prove it and I understand that … I’m excited with the challenge. Obviously, it brings a lot of attention and [puts] a target on my back so I’m excited for it. I’ll take it and I’ll go out there and prove it this year.”

Hawai’i burst into conference title contention last season on the back of Alejado’s breakout, seeing the southpaw signal caller pace the Mountain West with a freshman-record 24 touchdown passes to go with 3,106 yards through the air as UH danced to a 9-4 record and a bowl game (and win) for the first time under head coach Timmy Chang.

His return to the Rainbow Warriors for the 2026 campaign firmly secured Hawai’i’s spot in the conversation for the new-look conference’s most elite squads. Along with Alejado, Hawai’i had WR Pofele Ashlock, LB Jamih Otis and DB Elijah Palmer finding spots on the preseason All-Mountain West squad.

UH was tied for third-most preseason all-conference team selections with four players between the offense, defense and special teams units. New Mexico and UNLV led all programs with five selections each while Nevada and newcomer North Dakota State also each placed four different players on the preseason list.

For Alejado and his army of talented teammates, the focus remains on one place.

“Last year, we knew we could [compete for a conference title] and we were chasing a championship and fell short,” the star sophomore said. “The expectations for us this year are high. We’re not settling for nothing we shouldn’t be settling for, right? Championship – hosting a championship, go win a championship and put ourselves in the best spot for the [College Football Playoff spot]. That’s always our expectation.”

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