After suffering a setback at San Jose State last weekend, the University of Hawai‘i football team returned to its home field undeterred ahead of another crucial matchup.
The loss to the Spartans ended Hawai‘i's three-game winning streak, a string of victories that began on Sept. 27 at Air Force. At 6-3 overall and 3-2 in Mountain West play, the Rainbow Warriors are currently tied for third in the conference standings.
The 'Bows will need help from other teams in order to climb to one of the two top spots needed to clinch an appearance in Dec. 5's Mountain West Conference championship game. With conference leader San Diego State (7-1, 4-0) coming to town for a game on Saturday at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, the Rainbow Warriors still feel as though they're in control of their own destiny.
"That's been the point ever since we started. We understand that we control what we want to do. Every weekend for us, it's just about attacking it one game at a time, one play at a time, and it's all in front of us. It's all up to us," quarterback Micah Alejado said. "This week, like coach said, is all about the details. Being able to control what we control, and going out there and put the best product out."
Senior linebacker Jalen Smith has been a member of the Rainbow Warriors since 2022, back when the team went 3-10 in Timmy Chang's debut season. Although the 'Bows have already clinched bowl eligibility, the team was not shy about their goals heading into the season, which included a Mountain West championship.
"We got to have this one," Smith said of Saturday's game. "For the stakes of this season, and our goal for this season, we got to have this one."
In order to win on Saturday, the 'Bows would have to get past a stingy San Diego State defense, one of the country's top units. The Aztecs have given up just 10 points per game in 2025, pitching three shutouts. Cornerback Chris Johnson was on the Associated Press midseason All-America team, joining UH kicker Kansei Matsuzawa.
"Solid. They're a Top 10 defense in the country," Chang said. "It shows on film, the way they fly around the ball, and they're very alert about their responsibility and their jobs. They're really good. It's going to take a really group effort for us to continue to move the ball, move the chains, and then get in the end zone."
Saturday's game, which kicks off at 6 pm. in Mānoa, was previously announced by UH as a sellout. Due to Hawai‘i's unique time zone, it will also be the final game in the country to kick off, giving fans of the sport one last game to partake in. The Rainbow Warriors hope that those who tune in will see their conference title hopes still alive when the action wraps up on Saturday.
"It's exciting. We've been talking about this. It's one of the games that you dream of growing up just having," Alejado said. "Being able to have the situation, and having San Diego State, one of the top dogs in the country. So, having that situation, sold out crowd, it'll be fun. In front of the state. ... It helps us and makes us want to play even better coming out. I think it'll be a fun environment."
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
