The University of Hawai‘i football team hit a major benchmark on Saturday, defeating Colorado State 31-19 on the road on Saturday.
With the win, Hawai‘i improved to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in Mountain West play, gaining bowl eligibility while remaining in the hunt for the conference title.
The Rainbow Warriors are bowl eligible for the first time under head coach Timmy Chang, who took over in 2022. Prior to 2025, the Rainbow Warriors were not selected to a bowl game since the 2021 Hawai‘i Bowl but withdrew due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the team.
On Saturday, the Rainbow Warriors took down the Rams (2-5, 1-2 Mountain West) behind 435 yards of total offense, as well as a defense that racked up eight tackles for loss.
After holding Colorado State to a three-and-out, the Rainbow Warriors got on the scoreboard first with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Micah Alejado to Nick Cenacle with 8:38 left in the first quarter.
Hawai‘i led 14-7 at halftime, its only points surrendered on a 91-yard punt return from Javion Kinnard.
Jackson Harris sparked the UH offense with consecutive touchdowns. His first one was from 75 yards with 5:58 in the second quarter on a one-handed grab, while his second came on a fade route in the third quarter from nine yards.
With 3:09 remaining in the third quarter, the Rainbow Warriors took a 24-7 lead on a 25-yard Kansei Matsuzawa field goal.
Matsuzawa's make upped his 2025 total to a perfect 20-for-20 on field goals. It was also Matsuzawa's 21st consecutive make dating back to 2024, breaking Jason Elam's UH record of 20 straight made field goals. Elam, a 17-year NFL veteran and two-time Super Bowl champion, was in attendance at the game in Colorado Springs.
Colorado State put a major scare into Hawai‘i with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cut the UH lead to 24-19.
Facing a late fourth down in Colorado State territory, Cam Barfield sealed the game for Hawai‘i with a 35-yard rushing touchdown.
Alejado completed 26 of his 38 passes for 301 yards, with 109 of those going to Harris.
Defensively, reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week Jamih Otis had a game-high 11 tackles for the Rainbow Warriors.
Hawai‘i has a bye week and will next take on San Jose State on the road on Nov. 1. The Spartans (2-5) are coached by UH alum Ken Niumatalolo.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
