Hawai’i to join Mountain West Conference as full-time member by 2026

Hawai’i to join Mountain West Conference as full-time member by 2026

Oct 14, 2024

Hawai’i to join Mountain West Conference as full-time member by 2026

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 14, 2024

HONOLULU – It won’t just be football in the Mountain West anymore.  

First reported by Brett McMurphy of the Action Network, Hawai’i has agreed to become the eighth full member of the Mountain West Conference, effective July 1, 2026. Both the Mountain West Conference and the University of Hawai’i confirmed the news on Tuesday morning, seeing 15 of UH’s athletic programs move into the MWC full-time with Olympic sport programs (water polo, men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, men’s swimming & diving) exploring remaining in the Big West as affiliate members. 

(Note: The Mountain West Conference does not currently support / have enough participation from member schools for water polo, men’s volleyball, beach volleyball or men’s swimming and diving.)

The move satisfies the FBS requirements for an NCAA conference and ends over a decade of the Rainbow Warriors being football-only members of the Mountain West. As part of Hawai’i’s move, the Mountain West will cover the $750,000 exit fee to the Big West for UH and will see the end of paying travel subsidies to other conference members.

The move comes as part of the second round of conference realignment that has seen the Mountain West and Pac-12 fighting with each other for schools while looking to other conferences to fill in the gaps. Back on September 26, seven schools (including UH) re-affirmed their commitment to the MWC with an intention to execute a Grant of Media Rights from member institutions to the conference from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2032. 

“We are thrilled to welcome the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa as a full-time member,” Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement. “Hawai’i has been a tremendous football-only member since 2012, and we’re excited to add their incredible national brand across all MW sports. As the flagship institution on the islands, with extraordinary academics and a celebrated athletics tradition, we look forward to providing their student-athletes with exceptional educational and athletic experiences.”

The Pac-12, led by Oregon State and Washington State, poached five schools in Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State and San Diego State from the MWC after one year of a scheduling agreement between the sister conferences. The movement could cost nearly $150 million in poaching and exit fees to be paid to the Mountain West while the new Pac-12 still looks for another full-time member to complete their rebuild.

Hawai’i and Pac-12 officials held exploratory conversations around bringing the Rainbow Warriors into the league, though the sides split without an invite being extended to UH due to further financial fees the conference would be forced to pay. Instead, Angelos and Hawai’i entered talks with the Mountain West about the full membership, moving forward and eventually resulting in a move that many around the Hawai’i athletic department believe will be good for student-athletes and overall financial standing as the college landscape continues to change.

According to Hawai’i AD Craig Angelos, who appeared on ‘Wake Up in the Den with Ku’ulei Agbayani’ on Tuesday morning before his press conference, UH was happy to remain as a football-only member of the Mountain West before the second round of conference realignment began and the Pac-12’s poaching shook up the status quo. Only then was Hawai’i forced to consider a potential move from the Big West for more programs as the landscape across college athletics became unstable again.

“We kept [the Big West] updated on where that was probably heading and [Big West commissioner Dan Butterly] understood in [today’s college athletics landscape] that it might make the best sense for us,” Angelos said. “He was still very interested in keeping us and treated us very well and so we’re hopeful that maybe our other four sports can stay in [the Big West] when we do leave, because there is no home for them in the Mountain West Conference.”

If Hawai’i were to remain in the Big West for the four sports, it could cost approximately $25,000 per sport per year as an affiliate member fee. UH would also need the approval of the board of directors of the Big West to be an affiliate member for it to be an option for the programs, otherwise a move to the MPSF would seem likely.

In terms of the travel subsidies that Hawai’i pays as part of the Big West currently, Angelos acknowledged that those could remain for the three sports that travel (men’s swimming & diving goes to a year-end tournament, does not travel back-and-forth), though it has not been discussed yet. Hawai’i programs won’t pay travel subsidies as new members of the Mountain West.

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

by | Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely...

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Three takeaways following Hawai’i’s Week 7 loss against No. 17 Boise State

Three takeaways following Hawai’i’s Week 7 loss against No. 17 Boise State

Oct 14, 2024

Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Three takeaways following Hawai’i’s Week 7 loss against No. 17 Boise State

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 14, 2024

HONOLULU – No moral victories. 

(…But still takeaways.) 

After a rough road loss the week prior, it appeared that Hawai’i (2-4, 0-2 Mountain West) was up to the challenge Saturday night as the Rainbow Warriors held No. 17 Boise State (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West) to the lowest scoring output of the season. It did not matter, as the offense could not get going and BSU’s Ashton Jeanty galloped for 217 yards on 31 carries, scoring twice (1 rec, 1 rush) as UH fell at home, 28-7. 

Following another tough loss, here are three takeaways for Hawai’i football entering Week 8. 

Defense is very good – even when depth fills in 

Hawai’i has leaned on the defensive side of the football all season, ranking among the top 30 units in the country through six games according to PFF. With usual names like Cam Stone and Peter Manuma having good seasons and the emergence of players like Jackie Johnson III and Jamih Otis, Hawai’i has been able to compete week-in and week-out with an offense that has struggled to find any real rhythm. 

Week 7’s loss to Boise State came with many absences on both sides for Hawai’i, who lost Manuma after four plays and saw leading receiver Pofele Ashlock disappear after taking a brutal hit in the first half. Caleb “C-Bo” Brown, UH’s starting cornerback across from Stone, did not dress for the game and defensive lineman and captain Ezra Evaimalo was ejected for targeting in the opening quarter. 

Despite the key missing pieces to the unit, Hawai’i’s defense embodied the “Next Man Up” mantra to the max while holding their own against the nation’s top scoring offense. Defensive lineman Tariq Jones enjoyed a nice night for UH as his snaps continue to increase week-over-week while redshirt freshman Deliyon Freeman had a quality performance across 16 coverage snaps, allowing two catches on four targets. 

The 28 points for Boise State marked a season-worst scoring output for the Broncos, who were elevated to 15th in the latest AP rankings after the win over the Rainbow Warriors. Coming into the weekend, BSU was averaging 50.6 points and 537.6 yards per game, both marks that UH was able to hold the Broncos under despite the absence of some top personnel.  

The absence left by Steven McBride will not be filled this year 

The defense was not the only side of the ball to be missing significant contributors for the date with the Broncos as the offense dealt with Dekel Crowdus not suiting up and Pofele Ashlock getting banged up early against Boise State. Add in the season-long absence of Steven McBride, who led the Rainbow Warriors with 1,024 yards and nine touchdowns on 63 catches in 2023, and you get a Hawai’i offense without the three top targets for Brayden Schager over the past 1.5 seasons. 

Nick Cenacle continued his nice season as a reliable option with seven catches for 59 yards against BSU and sophomore Alex Perry posted season-highs with six catches for 57 yards in 53 snaps (44 pass). While both have developed as quality depth pieces for the Run-N-Shoot, the dynamic nature that the ‘23 Rainbow Warriors showed at times with the McBride-Ashlock pairing has not been there. 

Even with Crowdus healthy, the 1-2 punch has not been the same. The depth at receiver is extremely nice to have, especially for games where you lose multiple contributors like this past weekend, but you need top-end talent and players to make plays if you want to compete at a high level. 

After Ashlock was unable to go to his usual workload after sustaining the targeting strike midway through the 2nd quarter, Hawai’i saw the offense punt two times and turn the ball over on downs twice as the offense stalled in the red zone. A fully depleted wide receiver core stood no chance. 

Halfway through the season, it feels unlikely that anyone in the Hawai’i receiving core will breakout in the same way that Ashlock and McBride were able to in time for it to be meaningful. There are pieces that could potentially get there with a good offseason and connection with whoever the next quarterback is after Brayden Schager graduates, but that won’t help the program get back to a bowl this year. 

Dion Washington has arrived 

A transfer from Nevada, Dion Washington has slotted in nicely to the Hawai’i defensive front. The 6-foot-2 defensive tackle is one of the best run defenders on the entire Rainbow Warriors unit and posted his best overall game of the year against UH’s highest ranked opponent with two sacks and the highest run stopping grade of the year from PFF (84.1). 

He started the year off slowly, getting acclimated to the UH scheme while working on a majority of passing downs. Since playing at Sam Houston, Washinton has played 63 of his 97 snaps against the run, seeing his play take off along with the switch in deployment. 

That does not mean he has stopped rushing the passer, but his run stuffing and tackling has helped Hawai’i close gaps up front that have long been leaking. With his ability as a run stopper, it can help others on the line be more effective in running and passing downs. 

For Hawai’i to come close to running the table, Washington will need to continue his rapid development while the multitude of players out with injuries heal quickly. Oh, and the offense needs to score more, allow sacks less and find some sort of running game. 

It is a long road to a bowl, but the journey back up begins in Pullman. 

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

by | Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely...

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Boise State survives test from Hawai’i behind another big night from Jeanty

Boise State survives test from Hawai’i behind another big night from Jeanty

Oct 12, 2024

Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (2) is tackled by Hawai’i redshirt freshman Deliyon Freeman (26) during the Rainbow Warriors’ 28-7 loss to the Broncos. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Boise State survives test from Hawai’i behind another big night from Jeanty

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 12, 2024

HONOLULU – They were able to survive the Hawai’i test. 

Hawai’i (2-4, 0-2 Mountain West) fought hard but came up short on Saturday, falling to nationally-ranked Boise State (5-1, 2-0 MWC) inside Clarence T.C. Ching Complex, 28-7. Despite holding the 17th-ranked Broncos to a season low in points, the Rainbow Warriors struggled again offensively as Brayden Schager was sacked eight times and the rushing attack stalled out for a season-worst 15 yards. 

Heisman-hopeful Ashton Jeanty totaled 217 yards rushing, scoring a pair of touchdowns in the win over UH as the back set a new program record with his fifth career game with 200+ yards on the ground and third-such game this season. 

Things got off to an auspicious start for Hawai’i, seeing three catchable balls hit the turf to go three-and-out after receiving the opening kickoff. To make matters worse, starting safety Peter Manuma was injured on punt coverage and was sidelined for the rest of the game before the defense had taken a snap. 

Jeanty then ripped off a 13-yard run on the first play for the Broncos and quarterback Maddux Madsen found tight end Cam Camper down the field for a 32-yard gain a few plays later to convert on third down and enter Rainbow Warriors’ territory. After UH defensive tackle Dion Washington got home for a sack, Boise State was forced to settle for a 24-yard field goal for the game’s first points at the 10:14 mark of the opening quarter. 

The Broncos added during the next drive, seeing Jeanty glide for a 54-yard touchdown run and make it 10-0 immediately after Hawai’i captain and defensive tackle Ezra Evaimalo was ejected for targeting after a hit on Madsen. The 50-plus yard score was the longest touchdown Hawai’i has allowed this season and was Jeanty’s eighth touchdown from 50+ yards out this year. 

The Rainbow Warriors looked like the offense had a response cooking on the ensuing drive, marching down the field into Boise State territory as Schager connected on a pair of long passes to Nick Cenacle and Pofele Ashlock. The drive fizzled out on the BSU 13 when Schager took a sack and Kansei Matsuzawa’s 39-yard field goal attempt went wide to begin the 2nd quarter, keeping Hawai’i scoreless. 

Boise State added another field goal with seven minutes remaining in the first half, converting on multiple third and fourth downs and short to keep the drive rolling before the Hawai’i defense got off the field with a stand inside their own 10. 

UH lost Ashlock on the next drive after the sophomore was blasted high by BSU safety Alex Tuebner, who was ejected for targeting after the play was reviewed. The Hawai’i offense made the most of the 15-yard penalty as Landon Sims took a screen 52 yards to get into Broncos’ territory and Schager found Tylan Hines for a 27-yard touchdown a few plays later to make it a one-score game before halftime. 

The sides traded stops in the 3rd quarter, holding the Boise State advantage at 13-7 with only 15 minutes left to play. Despite the Broncos driving into the red zone, the Hawai’i defense looked to stand tall as Jamih Otis broke a ball free from Jeanty’s hands for UH to recover at their own 8 – or so it was called on the field. 

After a lengthy review, Jeanty would be ruled down by contact and the Broncos retained possession as Hawai’i saw what would have been a game-changing turnover overturned with just over 12 minutes remaining in regulation. Boise State found Jeanty on the very next play for the running back’s first receiving score of the year, a five-yard touchdown catch that was followed by a two-point conversion to make it a 21-7 lead for the Broncos. 

It looked like Hawai’i would respond after the score, marching inside the Boise State 10-yard line with a five-minute long drive before penalties and another sack forced a 4th-and-goal try from 19 yards out for the Rainbow Warriors. Despite a leaping effort by Jonah Panoke, UH turned it over on downs with just over five minutes left in regulation.  

Boise State quickly delivered the dagger as a 13-yard Jeanty run had a facemask penalty added to put the Broncos out near midfield. Hawai’i was able to push BSU to a 4th-and-1, but a play-action strike to Austin Bolt for a 44-yard touchdown broke the backs of the Rainbow Warriors and made it 28-7 with under four minutes to play. 

Schager was taken down two more times on the final drive for Hawai’i, giving Boise State a total of eight sacks throughout the night against the Rainbow Warriors. The eight sacks by the Broncos are the most by a UH opponent since Louisiana Tech tallied nine in the 2018 Hawaii Bowl. 

Heisman-hopeful Ashton Jeanty totaled 217 rushing yards on 31 carries, cashing in on a pair of touchdowns (1 rushing, 1 receiving) in the win for Boise State. It was Jeanty’s sixth game of over 100 yards rushing this season and third outing over 200 yards on the ground. 

BSU quarterback Maddux Madsen finished the night completing 17-of-25 passes for 217 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Cameron Camper enjoyed his best game of the year with a season-high 111 yards on seven receptions, becoming the first Boise State receiver to eclipse 100 yards this season. 

Brayden Schager finished the night 21-of-36 passing the ball for 264 yards and a touchdown. The senior quarterback passed Cole McDonald for 4th all-time in career passing yards for the University of Hawai’i football program with 8,097 yards through the air while becoming the fifth player in program history to eclipse more than 8,000 total yards of offense. 

Nick Cenacle led UH with 59 yards on seven catches while Alex Perry enjoyed his best game of the year with six receptions for 57 yards in the loss. Hawai’i was without the services of Dekel Crowdus while Pofele Ashlock left the game with an injury in the opening half.  

Hawai’i will look to snap a two-game losing streak next Saturday as the Rainbow Warriors travel to Pullman to take on Washington State. Boise State heads into a bye week before returning to action on October 25 for a massive road game with conference title implications at UNLV. 

https://youtu.be/fmly0uyh7xE

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

by | Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely...

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Five players to watch as Hawai’i hosts Ashton Jeanty & No. 17 Boise State

Five players to watch as Hawai’i hosts Ashton Jeanty & No. 17 Boise State

Oct 9, 2024

Hawai’i WR Pofele Ashlock celebrates a catch at home with teammate Nick Cenacle. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Five players to watch for as Hawai’i hosts Ashton Jeanty and No. 17 Boise State

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 9, 2024

HONOLULU – The world doesn’t stop when you are hurting, and neither will Ashton Jeanty. 

Hawai’i (2-3, 0-1 Mountain West Conference) is coming off a brutal 27-24 road loss to San Diego State last weekend, seeing a close battle that had both sides feeling like a win was on the way go to the Aztecs after failing to convert on a late 4th-and-2 inside SDSU territory. It was the 13th loss in 14 road games for Hawai’i over the past three seasons, continuing struggles away from Clarence T.C. Ching Complex. 

The Rainbow Warriors now return home, where they have gone 9-8 over the same three-year stretch, for a date with the 17th-ranked Boise State Broncos and the Heisman hopeful running back Ashton Jeanty. Beating BSU is a tall order to fill, a feat that only #3 Oregon has pulled off this season and something that a Hawai’i football team has not done since the magical 2007 season. 

For Hawai’i to hang around with Boise State, here are five players to watch for the Rainbow Warriors in Week 7. 

RT James Milovale / RT Luke Felix-Fualalo 

A little bending of the rules to open this week’s version as two different offensive linemen combine to make the position group’s first appearance of the season among the players to watch for Hawai’i. Luke Felix-Fualalo has been out since suffering a lower body injury during UH’s 16-13 loss against UCLA but has been progressing towards a return to the field, where junior James Milovale has filled in since. 

Regardless of who plays for the Rainbow Warriors this weekend, that tackle needs to be ready to go against one of the top teams in the country and the third-best graded defense (81.3, PFF) in the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos have the preseason MWC Defensive Player of the Year in Ahmed Hassanein (6 sacks, 22 QB pressures) and 27 sacks as a team and will be ready to try to get after Brayden Schager.

For Hawai’i to have any chance at upsetting Boise State for the first time since 2007, the entire offensive line needs to play better, and the right tackle position specifically needs to have a bounce back after a rough outing against San Diego State. Milovale posted a 55.9 pass blocking grade against the Aztecs, allowing three hurries and a sack while playing at replacement level in the run game. 

If Felix-Fualalo is ready to go, the 6-foot-8, 310-pound tackle would provide a big boost to the right side of the offensive line in both pass and run blocking. If he cannot go once again, Milovale will have to return closer to his form against Northern Iowa (75.0 run block, 64.9 pass block) and shake off a pair of brutal performances against FBS programs. 

WR Pofele Ashlock  

The top gun for the Hawai’i attack, Ashlock has seen more than double the targets of the next closest UH receiver with 67 passes (40 receptions) in five outings so far. He has continued to produce into his sophomore season, totaling 428 yards and four touchdowns to pace the team. 

Ashlock is one of the players on the roster for Hawai’i that could see an NFL future if his development continues along with his production, meaning games such as the one on Saturday can provide a chance to show out against higher level competition that could translate to the next level. He has certainly started to heat up, hauling in a score in each of Hawai’i’s last four outings with at least eight catches in each of those contests. 

It has not come without some shaky moments as the 6-foot-2 wide receiver leads the team with eight drops (which can be expected slightly with his usage). Against the 17th-ranked Broncos, Ashlock will need to have sticky hands to help Hawai’i move up and down the field. 

The sophomore has a big chance to introduce himself to many new onlookers, some with connections to levels he may be able to reach someday. Look for him to remain Brayden Schager’s go-to target and have a chance to show out – Hawai’i will need him to. 

DL Jackie Johnson III 

The true unsung hero of the elite Hawai’i defense, Jackie Johnson III is one of the highest-graded edge rushers in the country through five games. The Roosevelt alum broke out in Week 0 with seven total pressures and the first of his team-high 3.0 sacks and has had sacks in back-to-back games against stronger offensive lines in Northern Iowa and San Diego State. 

Boise State has struggled slightly when forced to go to the passing attack (which is not much) with protecting the quarterback and Broncos QB Maddux Madsen has made five turnover-worthy plays when under pressure this season. However, Madsen is elite against the blitz with a perfect 5-0 TD-INT ratio while completing 68.8 percent of his passes when defenses send the house. 

Johnson has become the truest pass rusher in the entire rotation for Hawai’i, who has seen an uptick in defensive line production this season in general. As his breakout year continues, he will get a chance to test himself against top talent in the country and see if his production can roll on. 

He has also been above average against the run, which Hawai’i will need everyone to be and then some as Heisman-hopeful RB Ashton Jeanty rumbles into the islands with his nation-leading 1,031 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Johnson and the defensive line will have to be able to get home while closing all holes possible, though the right edge should be extra prepared – that’s Jeanty’s favorite place to run from (24 attempts, 268 yards & 5 TDs off right-end). 

LB Jamih Otis 

Speaking of stopping the run, sophomore linebacker Jamih Otis is one of the best run defenders on the roster and among the best-graded linebackers in the country against rushing attacks. He has ramped back up to full health and will need to show that on Saturday as Hawai’i attempts to subdue Jeanty with better success than the first five opponents. 

Jeanty is the human first-down maker, averaging over 10 yards per carry and making opponents look silly on the weekly. Otis has shown himself off to be a heat-seeking missile for the Rainbow Warrior defense and admitted this week that these are the types of matchups you dream about and work for. 

Defense will be the unit to watch in general for Hawai’i, who has been rated as the best defense in the conference so far with an 89.6 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. They face off with the Mountain West’s top-rated offense in Boise State, a team that is averaging more than 50 points per game so far and have been able to rest Jeanty for the second half in two separate contests already. 

Otis’ continued development and added production is a must-have for Hawai’i. The Bishop Gorman product is built for these moments and can show that in full on Saturday. 

CB Cam Stone

Another first among “Player to Watch” articles this season, cornerback Cam Stone is the first UH player to be highlighted in back-to-back weeks as someone to keep an eye out for. Stone has been among the best corners in the country through five games for the Rainbow Warriors according to PFF. 

He will need to be that once again for Hawai’i against the nation’s most potent offense this year. Boise State enters Saturday as the only team in all the entire FBS to be averaging over 50 points per game (50.6 ppg), coming off a 62-point showing against Utah State and averaging an insane 537.6 yards per game on offense. 

While more than 300 of those yards typically come on the ground, the passing game is no slouch for the Broncos, averaging 236.4 yards through the air each time out. Stone has had a nice year so far but has turned up his coverage over the past couple of weeks. 

After his worst outing of the year against Sam Houston, Stone has bounced back with back-to-back games allowing 10 or less yards in coverage. He is one of the best tacklers on the defense and will need to be ready to contribute to stopping the run as well when Jeanty breaks into the second level looking for house calls. 

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

by | Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely...

read more
Three takeaways from Hawai’i loss at San Diego State in Mountain West opener

Three takeaways from Hawai’i loss at San Diego State in Mountain West opener

Oct 7, 2024

Oct 5, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego State Aztecs linebacker DJ Herman (56) tackles Hawaii Rainbow Warriors quaterback Brayden Schager (13) during the third quarter at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images

Three takeaways from Hawai’i loss at San Diego State in Mountain West opener

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 7, 2024

HONOLULU – One you just could not lose. 

Hawai’i (2-3, 0-1 MWC) saw road struggles and San Diego State troubles continue in Week 6 as the Rainbow Warriors fell in the Mountain West Conference opener at Snapdragon Stadium, 27-24. Hawai’i had a possession late for a chance to take the lead, but a failed 4th-and-2 conversion ended the Rainbow Warriors’ hopes at a comeback as Pofele Ashlock was tackled behind the line of scrimmage. 

The two programs traded blows throughout the afternoon, seeing a pair of ties in the first half and a pair of lead changes within minutes of each other in the 4th quarter. While Hawai’i was able to post more total yardage than San Diego State, the Aztecs won the turnover battle and went a perfect 3-for-3 on 4th down conversion attempts while getting points on all five red zone opportunities against the Rainbow Warriors defense.

With Boise State coming to the islands up next, Hawai’i has had to move on from the result already – but before we look to the Broncos, here are three takeaways from the Rainbow Warriors’ Week 6 loss at San Diego State. 

The offensive line needs to bounce back fast. 

The loss of Luke Felix-Fualalo to an injury in Week 1 against UCLA has been one of many factors that have resulted in the up-and-down play of the offensive line for Hawai’i this season. While James Milovale has been a solid replacement in Fualalo’s absence at right tackle, starting left tackle Ka’ena Decambra has been inconsistent and had his worst game of the season against the Aztecs. 

The junior has struggled when the competition has gone up a level so far this season after making the move outside to left tackle this season. Decambra started 11 games as a sophomore, nine as the right guard and two as a right tackle, providing adequate pass blocking and struggling in the running game.  

Kuao Peihopa, who replaced Decambra as the starting right guard this year after switching over from the defensive line, also had his worst game of the year in both the passing and running games. After consistently grading out in the 70.0 or above category as a pass blocker, Peihopa got a 46.9 grade as he allowed multiple pressures and a quarterback hit (via PFF). 

The entire offensive line struggled in run blocking as Hawai’i failed to eclipse 100 yards rushing against the 2nd-worst run defense in the conference through a month of play. After an impressive performance against Northern Iowa as a unit, the drop off coming after a bye week is frustrating. 

While the SDSU defense is strong, the road gets even tougher this weekend as Hawai’i hosts #17 Boise State and the Mountain West pre-season Defensive Player of the Year selection Ahmed Hassanein (6 sacks, 13 QB hurries). The UH offensive line will need to bounce back fast after one of the roughest showings all season. 

Defense has been forced to play perfect – and has not been able to. 

This will sound like a criticism of the defense – it is not. 

Hawai’i had multiple chances to take back control of the game after scoring against San Diego State, most notably to end the first half after tying the game at 10 and after taking a lead for the first time with less than 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter. The Aztecs ran the two-minute drill to perfection against a lighter Hawai’i defense, quickly advancing down the field and converting on a 4th-and-4 inside UH territory with 41 seconds left before halftime on the way to the go-ahead touchdown. 

Instead of having the offense pick them up with the first possession of the second half, Hawai’i went three-and-out and punted back to SDSU not even two minutes after halftime ended. Back on the field in their own territory, the defense was able to hold the Aztecs to a 43-yard field goal that made it a 20-10 deficit. 

Hawai’i finally played complimentary football on the next three possessions as the offense marched into the end zone twice in two drives to sandwich a three-and-out forced by the defense and take a 24-20 lead with 9:39 left to play. With momentum leaning back in Hawai’i’s direction, San Diego State completed a 48-yard pass on 2nd-and-10 while backed up on their own 13 to quickly flip into UH territory.  

The Aztecs went on to score the go-ahead touchdown with 7:05 remaining in regulation and Hawai’i would advance into SDSU territory before turning it over on downs with 72 ticks left on the clock. Again, the UH defense stepped up to get the ball back with 10 seconds left by forcing a three-and-out, but it was too little, too late. 

In many ways, Hawai’i did enough to win this game on both offense and defense despite trailing most of the evening but still could not make the winning plays at the end on either side. The defense has been the top graded unit in the Mountain West through five games and the Rainbow Warriors still have three losses, two that have come after holding a lead entering the 4th quarter. 

Hawai’i needs the offense to start faster and allow the defense some wiggle room by playing with a multi-score lead against an FBS opponent. The defense has been good overall but cannot get to perfection to save a slow offense. 

A bowl game is going to take a lot of work (and luck). 

In bowl game calculations, a win against San Diego State was critical for Hawai’i after falling against Sam Houston during the non-conference schedule. The Mountain West slate is among the harder variations possible with Fresno State, UNLV and nationally-ranked Boise State all awaiting in the final seven games for Hawai’i. 

Though they have two wins on the record, only one of Hawai’i’s victories over FCS programs will count in the overall calculation of the six wins needed for bowl eligibility. After losing at San Diego State, the Rainbow Warriors will need to go 5-2 over the final seven games to snag a spot in a bowl game.  

Part of the worry is that UH would need to win at least one game on the road over that stretch – and that is assuming a 4-0 finish in the islands with matchups with Boise State and UNLV. Without an upset of either the Broncos or Rebels, Hawai’i would need to win two road games against the trio of Washington State, Fresno State and Utah State. 

For any of that to happen, Hawai’i needs to begin winning on the margins. The penalty issue needs to be completely wiped out – they have improved in total penalties but still see costly errors in big moments – and the turnover battle cannot be lost anymore.  

It will take a total team effort to save Hawai’i’s bowl dreams, but this staff and these players have gotten hot to end a season before. The Rainbow Warriors finished the 2023 season with three wins in the final four games, including wins over Air Force and Colorado State in the islands to spoil different hopes for each. 

Fixing it all began on the plane ride home from San Diego, continues through this week of practice and needs to start showing as soon as Saturday against Boise State. 

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

by | Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely...

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Hawai’i comes up short on road in Mountain West opener against San Diego State

Hawai’i comes up short on road in Mountain West opener against San Diego State

Oct 5, 2024

Oct 5, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; Hawaii Rainbow Warriors head coach Timmy Chang looks at his play book against the San Diego State Aztecs during the third quarter at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images

Hawai’i comes up short on road in Mountain West opener against San Diego State

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 5, 2024

Another year, another heartbreaker against the Aztecs. 

Hawai’i (2-3, 0-1 MWC) came up short against San Diego State (2-3, 1-0 MWC) for the fifth consecutive time on Saturday, falling 27-24 at Snapdragon Stadium. The three-point loss dropped UH head coach Timmy Chang to 1-13 on the road in his career and 0-4 following bye weeks. 

Senior quarterback Brayden Schager set a new program record with his 27th consecutive start as signal caller for the Rainbow Warriors, passing Bryant Moniz (26, 2009-11) for the most all-time. The 6-foot-3 gunslinger finished the day completing 26-of-44 attempts, totaling 272 yards and three touchdowns while tossing an interception for the game’s lone turnover for either team. 

San Diego State got the scoring started with a16-play, 53-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard field, giving the Aztecs a 3-0 lead with 5:35 remaining in the opening quarter. Hawai’i responded with a 15-play, 77-yard drive and 30-yard field goal of their own to knot the game at three through a quarter of play.  

After the Hawai’i defense forced back-to-back punts, Schager was intercepted by SDSU’s Jelani Whitmore on a bomb intended for Dekel Crowdus near midfield with 8:26 left to play in the 1st half. The Aztecs capitalized on the day’s lone turnover, going 55 yards in under four minutes for a touchdown after senior running back Marquez Cooper rumbled in from eight yards out to give a 10-3 lead to the hosts with just over five minutes remaining in the half. 

The UH offense bounced back immediately as Schager connected back-to-back passes with Pofele Ashlock to get out near midfield before a targeting penalty against San Diego State’s Ryan Henderson set up the Rainbow Warriors at the Aztecs’ 23-yard line. Hawai’i would tie it on the next play as Schager lofted a pass to Tylan Hines down the sideline for a touchdown, the first receiving score of Hines’ career.  

San Diego State responded with a pristine two-minute drill, advancing down the field quickly and converting on a critical fourth down in Hawai’i territory on the way to taking a 17-10 lead into the halftime break.  

The Aztecs added on with a 43-yard field goal after forcing a three-and-out from Hawai’i to begin the 3rd quarter, giving a 10-point lead to the hosts. Hawai’i upped the tempo on the next drive, seeing Schager orchestrate a 75-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 6-yard touchdown catch by Ashlock to make the deficit just three points with two minutes left in the third. 

Re-energized, the defense of Hawai’i forced an SDSU punt to give the ball back to the offense with 27 seconds left before the 4th quarter and a chance to tie or take the lead on the drive. 

Starting at the UH 11, a holding penalty set the offense back even further before Brayden Schager put his head down and sprinted for a 14-yard gain on 3rd-and-13 to keep the drive rolling. That conversion proved important minutes later when Nick Cenacle bounced off a defender and twisted his way towards the end zone on a 23-yard touchdown to give Hawai’i a lead for the first time all game, 24-20, with 9:35 left to play. 

A busted coverage on the next possession allowed a 48-yard catch and run for San Diego State, setting the Aztecs up inside the Hawai’i 40-yard line just a minute after the Rainbow Warriors took the lead. SDSU’s Cooper provided the decisive score a couple minutes later, punching into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown to give the Aztecs a 27-24 lead with seven minutes remaining. 

Hawai’i was able to advance into San Diego State territory on the final drive, converting on a 4th-and-18 from their own 42 as Schager heaved it with heavy pressure in his face and connected with Ashlock on a leaping grab to keep the comeback hopes alive. Those hopes were wounded when Schager took a sack two plays later and went to bed when Hawai’i was stopped behind the line of scrimmage on 4th-and-2 at the Aztecs’ 31-yard line with 1:12 left to play. 

It is the sixth time in the last seven meetings between the two programs that the matchup was decided by seven points or less. San Diego State has won 13 of 17 games against the Rainbow Warriors in San Diego, including 11 of the last 12. 

SDSU quarterback Danny O’Neil tallied 224 yards and a touchdown while completing 72.7 percent of his passes in the win for the Aztecs. The true freshman completed his fourth game without an interception thrown, pushing himself to a streak of 113 straight passing attempts without turning the ball over to begin his career. 

Aztecs running back Marquez Cooper totaled 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory while Nate Bennett led all SDSU receivers with four catches for 74 yards. Louis Brown IV added four receptions for 40 yards and the lone score through the air for San Diego State. 

The Hawai’i offense mustered only 84 net rushing yards throughout the day against the 2nd-worst graded run defense in the Mountain West entering the day. Pofele Ashlock continued his productive sophomore campaign with another eight catches for 77 yards and a touchdown reception, the fourth straight game that Ashlock has found the end zone. 

Elijah Robinson led the effort on defense for Hawai’i, totaling a career-best 11 tackles (10 solo) and 3.0 TFLs for a Rainbow Warrior defense that finished with 10 TFLs total. Jackie Johnson III added his team-high third sack of the year in the loss. 

Hawai’i will return to the islands for a matchup next weekend with Heisman-candidate Ashton Jeanty and nationally ranked Boise State while San Diego State will travel to Laramie to face off with Wyoming. 

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

by | Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely...

read more