Week 0 college football rolls into Honolulu on Saturday night as the Stanford Cardinal square off with the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in a nonconference showdown.
It’s been anything but a smooth offseason on The Farm. Former head coach Troy Taylor was dismissed in the spring following allegations surrounding his staff, prompting program legend Andrew Luck—now serving as GM—to make a bold move by handing the reins to Frank Reich on an interim basis. Reich inherits a program mired in four straight 3-9 campaigns and looking to snap a postseason drought that stretches back to 2018.
Hawaii, meanwhile, is also no stranger to turbulence. The Rainbow Warriors finished 5-7 last season, parted ways with athletic director Craig Angelos in the offseason, and continue to face hurdles in their ongoing stadium renovations. On the field, however, Timmy Chang returns for his fifth year as head coach and has reason for optimism as his squad officially settles in as a full-time Mountain West member.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Hawaii vs Stanford NCAAF game, plus plenty more.
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Hawaii vs Stanford: Date and kick-off time
Hawaii will take on Stanford in a highly anticipated NCAAF game on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET or 4:30 pm PT, at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu, Hawaii.
| Date | Saturday, August 23, 2025 |
| kick-off Time | 7:30 pm ET or 4:30 pm PT |
| Venue | Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex |
| Location | Honolulu, Hawaii |
How to watch Hawaii vs Stanford on TV & stream live online
- TV channel: CBS
- Streaming service: Paramount+,Fubo
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Hawaii vs Stanford team news & key players
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors team news
Hawaii fans are eager to see what Micah Alejado can do with the starting job. The redshirt freshman impressed in limited action late last year, capping the season with 469 yards and five touchdowns in a thrilling 38-30 win over New Mexico. He'll have plenty of help, with dynamic wideouts Pofele Ashlock and Nick Cenacle both returning. Chang is steering the offense toward more of a "run-and-shoot" look, though an inexperienced offensive line could mean some early growing pains.
Defensively, Hawaii’s strength lies in the secondary, which helped the Warriors finish 49th nationally in pass defense last year. Safety Peter Manuma and corners Elijah Palmer and Virdel Edwards II headline a group that should once again be difficult to throw against. The linebackers bring back experience as well, with Wynden Ho’ohuli, Jamih Otis, and Jalen Smith all returning. The major concern? The defensive line. With all four starters from 2024 gone, Hawaii will need to find answers quickly if it hopes to replicate the pressure that fueled last year’s defense.
Injury note: None to report for Hawaii.
Stanford Cardinals team news
For Stanford, Reich has his work cut out with a roster that’s still finding its footing. Sophomore quarterback Elijah Brown is expected to lead an offense that was plagued by giveaways last year, though prized freshman Bear Bachmeier could be waiting in the wings.
With the top two receivers from 2024 gone, Wisconsin transfer CJ Williams is likely to become the go-to target. In the backfield, Micah Ford and Chris Davis—last season’s No. 2 and No. 3 rushers—are expected to shoulder the load behind a line returning three starters and shored up with transfer talent.
Defensively, the Cardinal were among the worst units in the ACC last season, particularly against the pass. Losing star edge rusher David Bailey to Texas Tech doesn’t help, putting pressure on the linebacking corps to step up. Matt Rose is the leader inside, while Tevarua Tafiti could develop into a disruptive force on the edge. Stanford also retooled its struggling secondary, though Reich will need that unit to come together quickly.
Injury note: WR David Pantelis remains sidelined.