HAWAII vs. SAN DIEGO ST.
RWP: Rainbow Warrior Perspective
Location: Honolulu, Oahu (Clarence T.C. Ching Complex)
Date/Time: Saturday, November 8th at 6:00 p.m. (Hawaii Time)
Television: Spectrum Sports
Streaming: For fans on the mainland, the game should be free on the Mountain West app. Here are the instructions.
Radio: ESPN Honolulu
Head-to-Head: San Diego State leads the series 26-11-2. Hawaii hasn’t beaten the Aztecs since 2019, the 14-11 win at Aloha Stadium that propelled Hawaii to its only ever Mountain West championship
game. Nick Rolovich shoved a photographer. It’s been all Aztecs since, winning five straight. The “Rainbow Killer” Marshall Faulk used to plague Hawaii back in the day.
Three things to look for:
1. Unfamiliar territory for the defense
Let’s not get carried away: Dennis Thurman’s defense has been pretty darn solid for the Warriors these last two seasons, which made this past Saturday’s game all the more shocking. Craig Stutzmann’s offenses have always been good, quarterback Walker Eget is a stud. Hawaii knew this would be a tough task, but conceding 630 total yards and 458 passing yards was uncharacteristic for a defense that typically holds its own. Danny Scudero had 215 yards by himself! Hawaii’s secondary was absolutely scorched.
San Diego State’s offense utilizes more of a measured approach than San Jose State does, although wide receiver Jordan Napier does have 610 receiving yards on 45 catches. The secondary will be tested again. Was the performance in San Jose an aberration, or something to be concerned about? Hawaii’s defense will need to come up big this weekend against the Aztecs, keeping Napier and running back Lucky Sutton in check. Cause I’m not expecting the Warrior offense to look its usual self this weekend…
2. The Aztec defense is terrifying
It would be difficult to blame Saturday’s loss on the offense. Micah Alejado and his array of weapons are thriving right now, but this upcoming Saturday’s test will be the most difficult of the 2025 season. San Diego State’s defense is absolutely dominating right now.
The Aztecs rank 6th-nationally in total defense, 11th-nationally in rushing defense, and 9th-nationally in passing yards allowed. The Aztecs have shut out three different opponents this year, and held three others to 10 points or less. Only Colorado State (random, I know) and Washington State have managed success against them. Even Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was dominated by this unit.
There is no weakness in this defense. Cornerbacks Chris Johnson and Bryce Phillips make up the best CB tandem in the Group of 5. Pass rushers Trey White, Niles King, and Ryan Henderson have combined for 13 sacks this season. Linebacker Owen Chambliss is everywhere all at once. Hawaii fans need no introduction to how good Malachi Finau can be.
I’ll be curious to see how Timmy Chang and company approach the game plan this week, cause SDSU is flat out sucker punching offenses this season.
3. It’s now or never in the Mountain West race
There is no sugarcoating the damage of the loss to San Jose State. Earlier in the day, Boise State lost in convincing fashion to Fresno State and lost their only startable quarterback in the process. UNLV lost to New Mexico. Hawaii, with only one conference loss, was sitting pretty in the Mountain West championship race. Only to then concede that ground gained immediately.
All is not lost, the Broncos are in trouble with Maddux Madsen out and UNLV’s defense is a mess, but Hawaii cannot afford anymore missteps. They’ll need to upset the best team in the Mountain West at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex and then beat UNLV in Vegas in a shootout. It’s not impossible by any means, but there is no margin for error.
The Hawaii Bowl is all locked up for this team, but anything more than that? Hawaii will have to go earn it.
Prediction:
San Diego State opened up as a 5.5-point favorite against Hawaii on FanDuel, the over/under a low 50.5. Over the course of the week, that point spread has moved up to 6.5. Understandably, the money is on the Aztecs.
This is it for Hawaii. In front of a sold-out crowd, Hawaii cannot afford any more missteps and remain in the conference race. San Diego State’s defense is legit, but I think Hawaii’s offense is the best they’ll have played in months. The Aztecs get caught looking ahead to the Boise State game. Give me Hawaii 24, San Diego State 16.
