Hawai‘i heads to Wyoming looking to retain Paniolo Trophy

Hawai‘i returns from its first bye week of the season with a rivalry trophy in tow and another opportunity to get its season moving in the right direction.

The Rainbow Warriors (1-2, 0-1 Mountain West) travel to Laramie to face Wyoming (1-2, 0-0) Saturday at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 9 a.m. HT on The CW. Hawai‘i currently owns the Paniolo Trophy after defeating the Cowboys 27-7 in Honolulu last season.

Hawai’i Defensive Tackle Luther McCoy holds up the Paniolo Trophy after the Rainbow Warriors’ win over Wyoming in 2025. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

For head coach Timmy Chang, the week off came at an opportune time. Hawai‘i entered the bye following its first victory of the season, a 29-19 win over New Mexico State in which the Warriors posted season highs with 29 points, 420 yards of offense and 21 first downs while forcing three turnovers.

The challenge now is carrying that momentum away from home.

“I appreciate the bye week because we get to rest up, we get to recover,” Chang said. “But we really get to look at ourselves, analyze, correct…really dive into who we are, what can we be better at, and then what are we good at.”

Chang said he liked how his team approached the week, particularly with a significant stretch of the schedule ahead.

Quarterback Micah Alejado echoed that sentiment, describing the bye as anything but a week off. Practices remained demanding as Hawai‘i attempted to avoid some of the mistakes it made coming out of open weeks last season.

The sophomore enters Saturday after his strongest performance of 2026, completing 33-of-45 passes for 346 yards against New Mexico State. Alejado leads the Mountain West at 264.7 passing yards per game and ranks fourth nationally with 27 completions per game.

Micah Alejado rolls to his left while escaping a defender during Hawai’i’s 29-19 victory over New Mexico State. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Tama Uiliata also emerged as a major piece of the passing attack against the Aggies, catching 10 passes for a career-high 107 yards while also throwing a touchdown. Running back DeVon Rice added two rushing scores as Hawai‘i showed its most complete offensive performance of the young season.

Wyoming presents a different challenge.

The Cowboys have leaned much more heavily on the ground, averaging 153.3 rushing yards compared with Hawai‘i’s 77.0, while UH enters with a significant advantage through the air at 269.3 passing yards per game to Wyoming’s 153.0.

Quarterback Tyler Hughes has been a significant part of Wyoming’s rushing attack. He ran for a career-high 78 yards in last week’s 24-10 loss at Central Michigan and leads the Cowboys with 156 rushing yards through three games.

Hawai‘i will also have to account for Wyoming’s tight ends.

Jake Wilson leads the Cowboys with nine receptions for 117 yards, while sophomore Kyle Frendt is coming off a career-best performance with four catches for 95 yards against Central Michigan.

Wyoming TE Jake Wilson | Photo Credit: gowyo.com

“Their tight ends have been very productive,” Chang said. “They’re going to run block. They’re going to block on the perimeter, and then they’re going to catch the ball.”

Whether it comes on screens, play-action or shots down the seam, Chang called the position a “weapon” Hawai‘i must be prepared to defend.

The Warriors could get some help on that side of the ball with the potential return of defensive lineman Lester Lagafuaina.

Lagafuaina has been sidelined since suffering an injury in Hawai‘i’s Week 0 game at Stanford but was back on the practice field this week and appears poised to return against Wyoming.

Chang stopped short of guaranteeing the availability of players returning from injury, but acknowledged the possibility of getting several contributors back.

DL Lester Lagafuaina lines up against Stanford in Week 0 of 2026 | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista

“There’s a potential for these guys to come back,” Chang said. “If they do come back, it’ll be nice as we get some of our playmakers back on both sides of the ball.”

Lagafuaina’s presence would provide size up front, but Chang also pointed to the energy he brings to the group.

“Lester’s a guy in our program that just loves being a Warrior, being a team player,” Chang said. “His energy is going to be contagious, but his play on the field is going to be more valuable.”

Hawai‘i will need that energy in one of the program’s traditionally difficult road environments.

The Rainbow Warriors are just 4-9 all-time in Laramie and have won only once in their last eight trips there. However, last season provided evidence this group can handle similar conditions. Hawai‘i won at both Air Force and Colorado State in 2025, earning victories in a pair of high-altitude cities.

Saturday is also Wyoming’s Homecoming game, adding another element to the atmosphere at War Memorial Stadium.

RB Cam Barfield rushes against Air Force during Hawaii’s 44-35 win in 2025. | Photo Credit Brian Bautista

Chang said the Warriors have prepared for the altitude and crowd noise but don’t want either to become a mental hurdle.

“In the Mountain West, you just deal with the elements and environment that you’re presented,” Chang said. “Mentally, it doesn’t matter. We just got to roll the ball out there and go play.”

Then there is the trophy.

Saturday marks the 30th meeting between the programs and the 28th time they will compete for the Paniolo Trophy. Wyoming leads the all-time series 17-12 and the trophy series 17-10, but Hawai‘i reclaimed the hardware last November behind a defense that did not surrender an offensive point in the 27-7 victory.

The trophy is already packed for the trip to Laramie.

Hawai‘i’s objective is making sure it gets packed again for the flight home.

“That thing’s going to be out there in Wyoming,” Chang said, “and we want it to come back here.”

Hawai‘i at Wyoming
Saturday, Sept 25, 9:00 a.m. HST
Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium
TV: The CW

HAWAI’I FOOTBALL COVERAGE ON HSRN IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY