Better late than never.
In its first ever meeting against Northern Illinois, the University of Hawai‘i football team kept its bowl hopes alive with a dominant 56-21 victory on Saturday, improving to 2-6 overall for the 2026 season and 1-4 in Mountain West Conference. NIU, meanwhile, fell to 0-7 overall and 0-3 in conference games.
Northern Illinois, a new member of the Mountain West Conference, hosted the Rainbow Warriors in DeKalb. The Rainbow Warriors traveled 4,255 miles, the longest road trip for a conference game in college football history. Somewhere along the way, the 'Bows rediscovered the same offensive philosophies that made them successful in 2025. A balanced offensive attack in which it racked up 504 yards and five rushing touchdowns lifted the Rainbow Warriors to victory on Saturday. In recent Hawai‘i losses, a common criticism of the 'Bows was that the team was too reliant on the pass.
A methodical 12-play, 75-yard opening drive that shaved 5:47 off the clock and ended with a 2-yard DeVon Rice rush got the scoring started for the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. The Rainbow Warriors and Huskies appeared poised to exchange touchdowns when NIU tied the game at 14 with 13:46 in the second quarter on the second score of the day between quarterback Taron Dickens and receiver DeAree Rogers.
From there, the Rainbow Warriors pulled away with a 35-0 run, a relentless stretch that began in the second quarter and by the time it ended in the fourth quarter, the damage was more than done. In all, the Rainbow Warriors scored eight touchdowns on offense and forced four turnovers on defense, an overpowering performance on both sides of the ball. Even special teams got in on the action with a fumble recovery on a Northern Illinois punt return.
The Rainbow Warriors broke out of their four-game skid in a big way on Saturday. (Photo by Ryan Littlejohn) 
Frank Abreu hauled in two touchdowns for the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. (Photo by Ryan Littlejohn) 
Elijah Palmer (4) had a team-high eight tackles and a fumble recovery on Saturday. (Photo by Ryan Littlejohn) 
Audric Harris hauled in two deep passes from Micah Alejado for a total of 90 yards on Saturday. (Photo by Ryan Littlejohn)
As a team, the 'Bows ran the ball 42 times, led by Rice's three scores on 12 carries for 71 yards. Meanwhile, Cam Barfield added 58 yards on 16 carries for an additional score. True freshman TJ Fo'ilefutu carried the ball four times for 20 yards, including his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter for the game's final score, a touchdown that helped the 'Bows eclipse 50 points for the first time during Timmy Chang's tenure as head coach. UH's 56 points were the most the Rainbow Warriors have scored since a 59-41 victory over Navy on Sept. 1, 2018.
Hawai‘i's efforts in the run game freed up the team's aerial attack, a return to form for quarterback Micah Alejado, who completed 22 of his 32 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. Two of his touchdowns went to Frank Abreu, who added to his team lead of three receiving touchdowns. No other player has hauled in more than one for the Rainbow Warriors in 2026. Additionally, sophomore receiver Josiah Fetui scored his first career touchdown on a 44-yard reception in the third quarter. Alejado threw an interception in the fourth quarter, but by then, the game was well in hand with the 'Bows up 49-14. He was promptly subbed out in favor of backup Bjorn Jurgensen as Chang called off the dogs.
Defensively, the Rainbow Warriors had fumble recoveries from Elijah Palmer and Wynden Ho‘ohuli in addition to interceptions from Jeremiah Hughes and true freshman Kydel Stone. Palmer also finished with a team-high eight tackles.
Just as the Rainbow Warriors appeared to find their groove, they will be idle next week with a bye. Hawai‘i will next take the field on Nov. 7 for a road contest at UTEP.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
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