Hawai‘i 38, San Diego State 6 — Notes & Quotes from the Postgame Presser

Hawai‘i 38, San Diego State 6 — Notes & Quotes from the Postgame Presser

Nov 8, 2025

Hawai‘i 38, San Diego State 6 — Notes & Quotes from the Postgame Presser

BY HSRN STAFF
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 8, 2025

Hawai‘i’s most complete outing of the season came with a side of Mānoa rain and a lot of swagger. After a rocky opening (two early sacks and an interception), head coach Timmy Chang said freshman quarterback Micah Alejado “settled in” — and as a first-time captain, “he’s nails … pretty special.” Chang praised the group’s week of work and quick “turn the page” mentality, crediting offense, defense, and special teams for executing across all three phases.

Offense Finds Its Gear (Again)

Alejado finished 22-for-34 for 256 yards and three touchdowns, all to Jackson Harris (7 catches, 130 yards). The sophomore wideout attacked man coverage on verticals for scores of 9, 34 and 35 yards, explaining simply that SDSU “played a lot of man, and we took advantage — Micah is going to throw a dime every time.”

The 38 points marked UH’s fifth straight game hitting 30-plus, the program’s longest single-season streak since 2007.

Defense Makes a Statement

UH held SDSU without a touchdown, limiting the Aztecs to 12 first downs and 132 passing yards, while forcing four takeaways (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries).

Senior safety Peter Manuma said the difference was everyone doing “their 1/11th,” adding the defense wanted to respond after last week — “I hope they watched this game.”

Chang highlighted the defensive line’s coaching and buy-in as the foundation of the front’s production. Corner Elijah Palmer delivered the exclamation point with a 53-yard pick-six.

“We came a long way — this wasn’t built overnight,” said Manuma, a four-year veteran under Chang. “We’ve built this over time, and we know every game matters. Anything can happen on any given night.”

Special Teams Swing It

To open the second half, Cam Barfield housed an 86-yard kickoff return — UH’s first special-teams touchdown of the season and first KR TD since 2020.

Chang praised special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield for emphasizing hidden yardage, calling the return “the equivalent of a birdie or an eagle,” a golf reference to highlight just how rare and impactful that play was.

Chang also highlighted Kansei Matsuzawa, whose 22-yard field goal in the second quarter extended his perfect season (22-for-22) and national-best 23 straight makes.

The coach called Matsuzawa’s mindset “pretty elite,” crediting his preparation and the full operation — snapper, holder, and protection — for the unit’s consistency. When a reporter suggested Matsuzawa was performing at an All-American level, Chang agreed, emphasizing that “it’s the biggest team game there is” and that the entire unit deserves credit for the streak.

Rain Is a Blessing

On a slick, wet night (steady rain; kickoff 74°, NE wind 11 mph), Chang said the team embraced the conditions as part of the culture — football only stops for lightning.

Milestones & Context

  • Final: Hawai‘i 38, SDSU 6; attendance 15,194.

  • Harris became the only player in the country with five straight 100-yard receiving games and has multiple TDs in three straight.

  • Matsuzawa improved to a perfect 22-of-22 and owns the nation’s longest active FG streak.

  • UH snapped a five-game skid vs SDSU; the 32-point margin is UH’s largest ever in the series.

  • UH has seven wins, its most since 2019.

What’s Next

Chang said the team will enjoy the win briefly, focus on academics early in the week, then “flip the page” ahead of a Friday-night road test in Las Vegas.

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Hawai’i gets chance to throw wild Mountain West standings into chaos

Hawai’i gets chance to throw wild Mountain West standings into chaos

Nov 7, 2025

The Hawai’i defense celebrates together after forcing a turnover and scoring at home. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i gets chance to throw wild Mountain West standings into chaos

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 7, 2025

HONOLULU – Fret not, one who worries.

Even after last Saturday’s brutal 45-38 loss at San Jose State, the dream season is not over.

Yes, even after giving up over 600 yards of total offense to the Spartans, you can believe still in the Rainbow Warrior defense. It’s the same unit that leads the entire Mountain West Conference in quarterback sacks for league play (12 in five games) and overall (22 in eight games).

That doesn’t even get into the fact that UH’s offense has clicked back in time nine years, becoming the first Rainbow Warrior team since 2016 to post 30+ points in four straight games. Redshirt freshman QB Micah Alejado is averaging more than 300 yards passing and has thrown three or more TD passes in each of those outings while the offense as a whole has been going for half-a-grand each weekend for the past month.

Heck, not even the University of Hawai’i’s hopes at a bid into the Mountain West Championship game have gone fishing yet. Needing one of the league’s top two spots to participate in the title game, the Rainbow Warriors sit in a tie for third place with four weeks left.

Why should your hopes at the ‘Bows flirting with the summit of the Mountain West in the final year as we know the conference as it is be gone if they’re still fighting and kicking?

Hawai’i (6-3, 3-2 Mountain West) welcomes in San Diego State (7-1, 4-0 Mountain West) on Saturday, hoping to wash away the taste of an uncharacteristic performance on the road with an upset in the islands of the top team in the conference through 10 weeks of action.

“Great attention to detail and discipline,” said head coach Timmy Chang when asked about the first practice back after last week’s loss. “We’re going to need it with a really good opponent, San Diego State, coming in this week. One-loss team, very excited for a sold-out crowd and our guys, they feel the last one, and we quickly had to move on so we can get ready and get up for this one.”

Hawaii QB Micah Alejado scans the field during a home game for the Rainbow Warriors. | Photo credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

The Aztecs, who have taken five straight meetings against UH, come in as the hottest team in the conference with a six-game win streak. Led by the best defense in the Mountain West and a balanced offensive attack of junior QB Jayden Denegal and junior RB Lucky Sutton, SDSU hasn’t lost in two months.

Sutton has torched defenses all season but kicked it up another level in competition against Mountain West rivals. Over four conference games, the 6-foot-1, 225-lb running back has broken the century mark three times and found the end zone at least once in every contest. Last weekend against Wyoming, he set a new career high with 158 rushing yards as he helped the Aztecs get off to the third 4-0 start to conference play in program history.

It’s not hard to see why he’s already eclipsed 800 rushing yards in only eight games when the bruising back has punished defenses to the tune of more than five yards per carry this season. Sutton also has eight touchdowns, finding the end zone in all but two games – the Aztecs’ lone loss against Washington State and an ugly 6-3 victory against future Mountain West member Northern Illinois.

Denegal, who showed up on Wednesday’s availability report as questionable for the game against UH, won’t blow you away with his numbers this season (63.3% comp, 176.9 pass ypg, 8 TD-5 INT) but helps fit together the Aztec offense with a dose of deep shots each night.

The SDSU defense is the meal ticket, though.

Coming off a win versus Wyoming in which they forced four turnovers for the first time in more than two years, SDSU’s conference-best scoring defense (10.25 points per game allowed) will take on the biggest test of the year so far in UH’s offense that ranks second in Mountain West play with 35.6 points per game.

The Aztecs’ defense has turned it up another gear over the team’s six-game winning streak, holding opponents to 7.3 points per game over the half-dozen outings. In the 32 total quarters SDSU has played, opponents have scored in just nine of them.

If Hawai’i can revert back to form defensively from before the San Jose State game and keep the offense clicking to put up points in at least three quarters, an upset of the Aztecs is on the table – something that would throw the Mountain West standings into chaos with three weeks remaining.

Should the Rainbow Warriors run the table and finish the season at 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the conference, the door could be open for a seat in the Mountain West Championship.

Winning out would provide Hawai’i with the head-to-head tiebreaker over San Diego State, UNLV and Utah State, who all have two or less losses in conference play heading into Week 11.

San Jose State and Fresno State each have a pair of Mountain West losses on the resume and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rainbow Warriors but end the season playing each other which would provide one with a third loss to drop out of the running. The Spartans also have to play at SDSU the week before while the Bulldogs host Utah State.

New Mexico could be the wild card, sitting at 3-2 in conference play with a bye week before ending the year home against Colorado State, at Air Force and home against San Diego State. If the Lobos are tied with the Rainbow Warriors for the final spot in the conference championship game, the tiebreak goes to the team with the better record against the highest-placed teams in the standings. (MWC Tiebreak Procedure, 4.)

Boise State always plays into the equation as well as they sit at 4-1 in conference and 6-3 overall, though they face question marks regarding the health of starting QB Maddux Madsen and their own matchup against the Aztecs next weekend at Snapdragon Stadium.

All of that word vomit to say, even after last weekend’s metaphorical rainy day on the Rainbow Warrior Mountain West Championship parade, Hawai’i remains firmly in the mix for a bid to the conference title game with a win this weekend.

It’s easier said than done, of course.

But if it was easy, everyone would do it.

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Warriors Host Mountain West Leader San Diego State in Final Conference Meeting

Warriors Host Mountain West Leader San Diego State in Final Conference Meeting

Nov 7, 2025

Warriors Host Mountain West Leader San Diego State in Final Conference Meeting

BY HSRN STAFF
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 7, 2025

Hawai‘i Football returns home for one of the most anticipated nights in recent program history, as the Rainbow Warriors (6-3, 3-2 MW) take on San Diego State (7-1, 4-0 MW) in the final meeting between the two programs as Mountain West members. The Aztecs, currently first in the conference standings and receiving national Top 25 votes, will make their last visit to Honolulu before moving to the Pac-12 next season.

Historic Rivalry and Final Chapter

Saturday marks the 40th all-time meeting between the teams, with San Diego State holding a 26-11-2 advantage. The Aztecs have won 11 of the past 13 and five straight overall, but history shows this matchup often goes down to the wire — six of the last seven have been decided by seven points or fewer.

Hawai‘i last defeated San Diego State in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019, including a 14–11 defensive battle at Aloha Stadium in 2019. Both programs were under different leadership at the time, adding fresh storylines to this year’s matchup between Timmy Chang and Sean Lewis.

This weekend’s game also closes an era — the last as Mountain West rivals — though the schools have already announced a future home-and-home series in 2028 and 2029.

Chang: “A Great Opportunity to Compete and Perform”

Head coach Timmy Chang said the Warriors have quickly turned the page from their narrow 45-38 loss at San José State, emphasizing discipline and precision in practice.

“We’ve got a really good opponent in San Diego State coming in this week,” said Chang. “They’re at the top of their game, and we’ve got a great opportunity to go out there and compete and perform.”

Chang praised his team’s leaders — including captains like Elijah Palmer — for holding each other accountable as the Warriors aim to deliver a complete performance across all three phases.

“It’s about telling the truth and holding each other accountable,” Chang said. “Complete buy-in by our guys, and that’s what I love. That’s where we are culturally, and we’ll continue to grow.”

Offensive Firepower vs. Defensive Wall

The Warriors’ passing game has been among the nation’s most explosive in recent weeks. Quarterback Micah Alejado has thrown for 300+ yards and 3+ touchdowns in four straight games, while the team has averaged 39.3 points and over 500 yards of offense during that span.

Placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa remains one of the most consistent in the country, having tied UH’s single-season record with 21 made field goals and owning the nation’s second-longest active made streak (22).

They’ll face one of the most dominant defenses in college football. San Diego State ranks No. 2 nationally in scoring defense (10.0 ppg), No. 6 in total defense (246.3 ypg), and has held five opponents to seven points or fewer, including three shutouts.

“They’re a top-10 defense in the country, and it shows on film,” Chang said. “They fly to the ball and they’re very alert about their responsibilities. It’s going to take a full team effort to move the chains and get in the end zone.”

Lewis Praises Hawai‘i’s Growth

Across the field, San Diego State head coach Sean Lewis had high praise for Hawai‘i’s development under Chang.

“Timmy does a great job — you can tell the team has taken on his personality,” Lewis said. “They’ve done a great job developing their run game to complement an elite passing game. They stress you with space, speed, and physicality all over the field.”

Lewis called Hawai‘i’s Alejado “a really talented kid” who remains composed under pressure and makes smart reads against aggressive defenses.

“He can extend plays and still drop dimes all over the yard,” Lewis said.

Keys to Victory

For Hawai‘i, success will come down to matching San Diego State’s discipline and finishing drives in the red zone. The Warriors have scored 30 or more points in four straight games — their longest streak since 2016 — and will need to sustain that offensive rhythm while tightening up defensively.

For San Diego State, maintaining its defensive identity and avoiding empty possessions looms large. The Aztecs have outscored opponents 176–44 during their current six-game win streak and are chasing their third Mountain West title in program history.

What’s at Stake

A Hawai‘i win would mark a major statement and the program’s first victory over San Diego State since 2019 — potentially thrusting the Rainbow Warriors back into the conference title picture. For the Aztecs, it’s a chance to stay perfect in league play and continue their climb toward national recognition.

Betting Odds (via BetMGM)

  • Spread: San Diego State -6.5

  • Total (Over/Under): 48.5 points

  • Moneyline: Hawaii +220 | SDSU -275

Game Info

  • Matchup: Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors (6-3, 3-2) vs. San Diego State Aztecs (7-1, 4-0)
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. HT
  • Television: Spectrum Sports & Spectrum SportsNet Streaming: Mountain West App (outside HI only)
  • Location: Clarence T.C. Ching Complex (15,194)
  • All-time Record: SDSU leads 26-11-2
  • Last Meeting: SDSU, 27-24, Oct. 5, 2024

Promotions & Gameday Information

Military Night presented by Hawaiian Airlines
Hawai‘i will salute every branch of the military and their service to keep our communities safe. Hawaiian Airlines is the game sponsor for Saturday’s matchup and will distribute 1,000 UH x Hawaiian Airlines rally flags to fans in celebration of Military Night.

  • Tailgating lot opens at 2:00 p.m.

  • Warrior Walk: The team arrives around 3:15 p.m., walking through the tailgating and Pā‘ina on the Path area.

  • Pregame Concert: Hawai‘i’s Finest presents Kapena live at 4:30 p.m.

  • National Anthem & Hawai‘i Pono‘ī: Performed by Sam Hesch before kickoff.

  • In-Game Recognition: UH will honor veterans from the Wounded Warriors program, including several Purple Heart recipients.

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San Jose State stuns Hawai’i behind offensive explosion, Scudero’s career night

San Jose State stuns Hawai’i behind offensive explosion, Scudero’s career night

Nov 1, 2025

Hawai’i S Peter Manuma looks on while playing defense during a road game for UH. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista, HSRN

San Jose State stuns Hawai’i behind offensive explosion, Scudero’s career night

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 1, 2025

Crashing down quick.

Capping off a crazy day in the Mountain West Conference, the University of Hawai’i football team saw a three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night as the Rainbow Warriors fell in a shootout on the continent to San Jose State, 45-38.

The Spartans (3-5, 2-2 Mountain West) torched the UH defense to the tune of 603 total yards, including a career-best 212 yards receiving on just six catches from redshirt sophomore WR Danny Scudero, who hauled in two more touchdowns to bring his season total to 10 scores.

Redshirt senior QB Walker Eget completed 20-of-40 pass attempts for 458 yards and a pair of TDs, his second-highest passing total of the season and third-highest output in a single game in his career. The 6-foot-3 signal caller also added 25 yards with his legs and did not take a sack all game as SJSU won its fifth straight game over UH.

Hawai’i (6-3, 3-2 Mountain West) started hot, stopping the Spartans on each of the first two drives while punching in a touchdown on their own opening possession as Cam Barfield scored for the fifth time this season with a 1-yard run. The momentum flipped in favor of San Jose State with time winding down in the first quarter when Landon Sims fumbled near midfield, allowing SJSU to register the lone takeaway of the night and keep it at a 7-0 deficit.

An Eget-to-Scudero connection for 37 yards immediately put the Spartans into the red zone and Steve Chavez-Soto took care of the rest on the next play as bounced outside and dove for the pylon for a 10-yard rushing TD, tying the game with 51 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The momentum for SJSU carried over into the second quarter as Hawai’i’s defense continued to look for answers. Following a three-and-out from the UH offense, San Jose State drove 87 yards down the field to take the lead with less than 10 minutes left in the first half as Chavez-Soto burst through for a score for the second time, this time on a 20-yard TD rush.

Lamar Radcliffe, who finished a game-high 70 rushing yards on 10 carries for the Spartans, extended the lead to 21-7 on the next possession after a second straight punt from the Rainbow Warriors.

Hawai’i punched back finally as the offense awoke with a 68-yard TD to Jackson Harris that cut the deficit back to seven, but San Jose State quieted the rally Rainbows with a quick 50-yard scoring strike to Scudero less than a minute later. The Spartans tacked on a 24-yard field goal right before the half, taking a 31-14 lead over the Rainbow Warriors into the locker rooms.

Hawai’i applied pressure to open the second half, marching down on the first possession of the third quarter and seeing Sims barrel into the end zone on a 6-yard score to make it a 10-point game. Again, the Spartans countered with another long Scudero score as the redshirt sophomore broke behind the UH defense for a 62-yard touchdown as he recorded his third multi-touchdown game of the season.

The Rainbow Warrior defense provided the offense with a pick-me-up after a punt as they forced a turnover-on-downs near midfield, leading to another Landon Sims touchdown to bring UH within two scores once again.

The defense for UH stood tall to force just the second SJSU punt all game to open the fourth quarter, allowing the offense to cut it to a 3-point game with 9:32 left in regulation as Alejado tossed up a 50-50 ball for Jackson Harris that resulted in a 20-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive.

San Jose State quickly advanced into UH territory after the following kickoff, seeing Leland Smith take a short pass 42 yards on the first play of the drive. After draining about four minutes off the clock, Chavez-Soto ran over defenders at the goal line to put SJSU back up by two possessions with 5:41 to play.

Hawai’i drove deep into Spartans’ territory, but curious clock management and a lack of urgency from the offense left little wiggle room for the Rainbow Warriors to work with after Kansei Matsuzawa’s program record-tying field goal with 1:16 left made it a one-score game once again.

UH had a chance to recover the subsequent onside kick try, seeing the ball spin towards the sideline untouched before rolling out of bounds and just escaping the grasp of Pofele Ashlock as the Rainbow Warrior win streak was snapped.

Leland Smith finished with 113 yards on four receptions for the Spartans while Chavez-Soto racked up 53 yards on 10 carries to go along with his trio of touchdowns. Kyri Shoels ended up with five catches for 109 yards for SJSU as the hosts had nine different receptions of 25+ yards throughout the night.

Micah Alejado finished with his fourth consecutive game with 300 or more passing yards and three or more touchdowns, completing 31-of-46 passing attempts for 367 yards and three scores in the loss. The redshirt freshman became the first UH quarterback since Bryant Moniz in 2010 to throw for 300 or more yards and three or more touchdowns in four straight games.

Jackson Harris and Pofele Ashlock each showed out in the loss as Harris went for six catches, 134 yards and two touchdowns and Ashlock pulled in seven receptions for 104 yards. It was the fourth straight game with 100 or more yards for Harris, becoming the first receiver for UH to accomplish the feat since John Ursua in 2018.

Landon Sims had his first career multi-touchdown game with a rushing and receiving score, ending the night with 57 yards on the ground and 18 more through the air across 17 total touches.

Hawai’i returns home next weekend to host Mountain West-leading San Diego State, who defeated Wyoming on Saturday, 24-7, to remain the lone unbeaten team in the Mountain West. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. HT on Saturday, November 8 and is already being listed as a sell-out at T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.  

Hawai’i looks to keep Mountain West momentum rolling at San Jose State

Hawai’i looks to keep Mountain West momentum rolling at San Jose State

Oct 30, 2025

Hawai’i LB Jalen Smith holds up the turnover club after forcing a fumble on the road. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista, HSRN

Hawai’i looks to keep Mountain West momentum rolling at San Jose State

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 30, 2025

HONOLULU – Keep the good times rolling.

Exiting the second of three bye weeks on their 2025 schedule, the University of Hawai’i football team hopes to maintain momentum of a season-long three-game win streak this Saturday as they hit the road to face off against San Jose State.

The Rainbow Warriors (6-2, 3-1 Mountain West) enjoyed another well-timed week off after beating Colorado State on October 18, clinching bowl eligibility for the first time under head coach Timmy Chang (and the earliest point in a year since the 2007 season) as the offense posted a third consecutive game with 400 or more total yards.

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The defense enjoyed a banner day against the Rams as well, racking up a season-best six sacks as a unit while UH combined to commit a season-low three penalties as a team. The offensive line dominated in their own right, not allowing a single sack for the second straight road contest.

The reward for the players?

A chance to be college students, rest and catch up and/or get ahead on studies.

“There’s just a lot of things to cover as a student-athlete,” Chang said to the media after practice on Tuesday. “These guys are focusing on academics and picking up the pieces of everyday life is really important for them. Then, just recovering their bodies and getting ready to play a really good San Jose State team.”

The Spartans (2-5, 1-2 Mountain West) almost always promise for a fun game against the Rainbow Warriors. The programs boast ties that run together all over, from legendary late coach Dick Tomey – who the rivalry trophy the two teams play for is named after – on the sidelines, to the 46 meetings inside the lines on the gridiron that have ended up in 22 wins for UH, to the multiple recruiting battles the two find themselves in for similar prospects.

Fully refreshed with focus turned to SJSU, the Rainbow Warriors look to continue their venture into new territory under Chang. Already on a career-best three-game winning streak, the fourth-year head coach hopes to improve upon a 2-4 career record following bye weeks with a potential fourth straight victory.

San Jose State presents an intriguing challenge for UH. The Spartans got off to a rocky start in the 2025 campaign, stumbling to a 2-5 record with a bundle of “what-ifs” that hold actual weight.

Four of SJSU’s five losses this year have come by one possession, including one by a single point and another by just two. The kicking game has struggled for the Spartans, seeing Mathis Brown and Denis Lynch flounder to a combined 6-for-14 on field goal attempts while letting multiple games slip through the cracks.

The left-footed Lynch specifically has experienced both highs and lows this season, knocking through the game-winning 48-yard kick against Idaho back on September 20 for San Jose State’s first win of the year and immediately turning around and going 3-of-5 on field goals with a pair of misses inside 30 yards the very next week for the Spartans in a one-point loss at Stanford.

SJSU’s offense has started to figure things out over the past five games, putting up 25 or more in each outing despite the kicking woes. The defense for the Spartans has sputtered over that same timespan, allowing 28 points or more in all five contests.

Despite discussions around postseason potential heating up and an opponent punching below preseason expectations, the Rainbow Warriors remain focused on one game at a time. This week, preparing for the best version of a Spartans squad with a dynamic offense and a defense due for a breakout performance has been front-of-mind for UH.

“It’s one at a time,” Chang said when asked about how the home stretch of the schedule. “We got to go get this one [against] a tough and dangerous opponent in San Jose. They’re looking to get right back on track and get things going, so we got to focused in on what we’ve got to do.”

There may be a lingering desire among players who participated in the last matchup against SJSU to avenge a brutal 35-0 loss on Homecoming that came against Chevan Cordeiro and the Spartans in 2023, added motivation even with the “single game at a time” mindset

Redshirt freshman QB Micah Alejado said that he remembers watching the last matchup between the Rainbow Warriors and San Jose State as a signee for UH. Despite the many differences for the Spartans, having brought in a new faces quarterback and head coach among other changes since the last meeting between the programs, Alejado believes revenge remains on the minds of some veterans.

“I think some of the guys still have that taste in their mouth that were on the team,” Alejado said speaking about the matchup. “It’s one of the games they want to get back so [we] just attack the same.”

Revenge on the Spartans would help the Rainbow Warriors keep pace atop the Mountain West before co-leader San Diego State visits the islands for a meeting that could have massive implications for the top of the conference. While bowl eligibility was one box to check off on UH’s goals list, the conference championship is the main prize currently in their sights.

It would most likely take winning out to earn a berth into the Mountain West title game.

The path to the playoff is real – very difficult, but real.

The chase for forever continues for Chang’s Rainbow Warriors on Saturday in San Jose.

Tomey Trophy Ties: Hawai‘i and San José State Renew a Shared Legacy

Tomey Trophy Ties: Hawai‘i and San José State Renew a Shared Legacy

Oct 29, 2025

Tomey Trophy Ties: Hawai‘i and San José State Renew a Shared Legacy

BY HSRN STAFF
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 29, 2025

When Hawai‘i and San José State meet on Saturday night, the stakes go far beyond the Mountain West standings. The two programs — forever linked by the late Dick Tomey — will again battle for the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy, a tribute to the legendary head coach who shaped both programs and countless players and coaches who now represent his enduring impact.

A Brotherhood Born in Hawai‘i

Both sidelines will feature men who once wore the Rainbow Warrior uniform — including both head coaches. Hawai‘i’s Timmy Chang and San José State’s Ken Niumatalolo, both former UH quarterbacks, continue to carry forward the legacy and lessons of Coach Dick Tomey’s leadership.

“This game being represented as the Dick Tomey Legacy Game — it’s special,” Niumatalolo said. “Coach Tomey was the one who catapulted University of Hawai‘i football into the national limelight. Everything I learned about effort, family, and playing for your brother came from him.”

For Chang, now in his third year leading Hawai‘i, the matchup is both personal and professional. “There’s so much respect between the programs,” he said. “A lot of guys we call brothers are on that staff. We love to see them do well — but we’re battling for a trophy that means a lot to both schools.”

Coaching Connections Across the Pacific

The ties between the teams stretch far beyond the head coaches. Niumatalolo’s Spartan staff includes Craig Stutzmann (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Billy Ray Stutzmann (receivers), and John Estes (offensive line) — all Hawai‘i alumni who once played on the same turf at Aloha Stadium.

“It’s a reunion in a way,” Chang said. “Craig and Billy Ray — those guys are family. We coached together, learned together, and always root for each other.”

Stutzmann, who previously served as offensive coordinator at Emory & Henry College before Chang later succeeded him in that role earlier in their coaching careers, echoed that bond. “You’d like to say every game is the same, but there’s a little extra oomph to want to win this one,” he said. “We’re from there. Born and raised, played there, coached there — and now it’s the Dick Tomey Legacy Game.”

Respect Between Rivals

The personal ties add mutual respect to a rivalry that’s grown competitive over decades. Hawai‘i (6–2, 3–1 MW) enters riding a three-game win streak and its best start since 2018, while San José State (2–5, 1–2 MW) has been more competitive than its record shows, with four one-score losses.

Niumatalolo praised the Rainbow Warriors’ offensive surge behind quarterback Micah Alejado, who has topped 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in each of the last three games.

“Everything starts with Micah,” Niumatalolo said. “He’s a baller — smart, accurate, and tough. They’re explosive on offense and one of the best defenses in the country on the other side.”

Chang, meanwhile, highlighted the challenge of facing familiar faces who share roots in the same offensive philosophies. “There’s some crossover between our systems,” he said. “We’ll see similarities, but we each have our own wrinkles. That’s what makes it fun — the chess match between brothers.”

The Legacy Lives On

For both coaches, the significance of this game extends beyond the scoreboard. Tomey’s influence — his emphasis on humility, toughness, and “ohana” — still echoes in both programs.

“Coach Tomey taught me to lead with heart,” Niumatalolo reflected. “Everything about effort, family, and playing for your brother — that came from him.”

Chang carries that same spirit. “It’s a big lift to represent Hawai‘i and Polynesia,” he said. “I don’t carry it alone — it’s shared with our school, our staff, and our players. We carry it together.”

When the Warriors and Spartans take the field on Saturday night, the game will be more than a contest of yardage and points — it will be a celebration of the lasting connections Tomey built between islands and inland, and the generations of players and coaches who still live by his lessons.

Betting Odds (via BetMGM)

  • Spread: San Jose State -2.5

  • Total (Over/Under): 57.5 points

  • Moneyline: Hawaii +110 | SJSU -135

Game Info

  • Matchup: Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors (6-2, 3-1) vs. San José State Spartans (2-5, 1-2)
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. HT
  • Television: CBS Sports Network Streaming: CBS Sports mobile app, CBSSports.com
  • Location: CEFCU Stadium (18,265), San Jose, CA
  • All-time Record: SJSU leads 23-22-1
  • Last Meeting: SJSU, 35-0, Oct. 28, 2023 (Honolulu)

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