The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors kicked off the 2025 college football season with an exhilarating 23-20 victory against the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday, marking the end of Week 0. A dramatic 38-yard field goal by kicker Kansei Matsuzawa sealed Hawaii's first win against a Power Four team since 2019, breaking a nine-game losing streak against such opponents. This victory is particularly significant as Hawaii had previously struggled against Stanford, holding a 0-4 record prior to this match-up.
Stanford started strong, taking a quick 10-0 lead in the first quarter, which included a defensive touchdown by Wilfredo Aybar. However, Hawaii's quarterback Micah Alejado emerged as a standout player, throwing for 210 yards and two touchdowns in his second career start. Despite suffering an ankle injury early in the third quarter, Alejado demonstrated resilience by remaining in the game and leading his team to victory.
Alongside Alejado, Stanford's running back Micah Ford also made headlines with an impressive performance, rushing for 113 yards on 26 carries and scoring a rushing touchdown. This was noteworthy as Stanford's running backs had not scored a rushing touchdown during the previous season, marking a significant turnaround for the team.
Pofele Ashlock, a wide receiver for Hawaii, was another key contributor, finishing the game with nine receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown. Alejado effectively spread the ball, connecting with eight different receivers throughout the match. His second touchdown pass, a 19-yarder to Jackson Harris, came just 42 seconds before halftime, allowing Hawaii to take a narrow lead into the break.
As the game progressed, Hawaii managed to tie the score at 20-20 with a field goal from Matsuzawa in the closing minutes. The excitement continued as Stanford had the opportunity to reclaim the lead, but Hawaii's defense stepped up, culminating in a critical interception by Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen with just over five minutes remaining in the game.
With the victory, Hawaii improved its record to 1-0 for the season, while Stanford fell to 0-1. Notably, Stanford's current losing streak extends to six consecutive road games, the longest since 2002. Hawaii's win also marks a significant milestone, as they had not defeated Stanford since their last meeting in 2023, where they lost 37-24.
This victory is a tremendous morale booster for Hawaii's head coach Timmy Chang, who is looking to build momentum after a challenging start to his tenure. Since taking over in 2022, Chang had been 0-6 against Power Four teams, making this win a pivotal moment in his coaching career. Meanwhile, Stanford, now under the leadership of general manager Andrew Luck and interim coach Frank Reich, will look to regroup as they aim to turn around their struggling program.
As both teams move forward in the 2025 season, fans can expect more thrilling match-ups and pivotal moments. Hawaii will seek to build on this win, while Stanford aims to bounce back and regain its competitive edge in the coming weeks.
