(BCSNN) — Hard to believe, but college football is back with the 2025 season kicking off on Saturday with Week Zero. One of the early clashes we're excited about, just happens to be the last one of the day, featuring Stanford and Hawai‘i at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. The matchup, set for 1:30 p.m. local time (7:30p ET) and nationally televised on CBS and Paramount+, marks the fifth meeting between the programs—all in Honolulu—with Stanford holding a 4–0 edge in the series.
Both teams enter the season with tempered expectations but renewed optimism. Stanford, now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, begins a new chapter under interim head coach Frank Reich and general manager Andrew Luck. The Cardinal are coming off four consecutive 3–9 seasons and are seeking stability and identity in their first year in the ACC.
Reich has tabbed Oregon State transfer Ben Gulbranson as the starting quarterback. Gulbranson brings experience and a steady hand, having thrown for 2,648 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career. He’ll lead a Stanford offense that ranked 120th nationally in total yards last season and will rely on a revamped receiving corps featuring South Carolina State transfer Caden High and Wisconsin transfer CJ Williams.
Hawai‘i, meanwhile, returns 14 starters and enters Year Four under head coach Timmy Chang. The Warriors finished 5–7 in 2024 and narrowly missed a bowl berth, but excitement is building around redshirt freshman quarterback Micah Alejado. The Las Vegas native threw for 469 yards and five touchdowns in his lone start last season, earning national freshman honors and sparking hope for a breakout campaign.
Alejado will be supported by one of the Mountain West’s top receiving duos in Pofele Ashlock and Nick Cenacle, both of whom have surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards. Seven defensive starters return, including standout safeties Peter Manuma and Elijah Palmer, giving Hawai‘i a veteran presence on the back end. The Warriors are projected to finish in the middle tier of the Mountain West but could contend if Alejado delivers on his promise.
Stanford’s defense, which allowed 414.1 yards per game last season, will be tested early by Hawai‘i’s run-and-shoot attack. The Cardinal lost top pass rusher David Bailey to the transfer portal but return linebacker Tevarua Tafiti and safety Collin Wright to anchor a unit that must improve on third downs and in coverage.
The game also serves as a litmus test for both programs’ broader ambitions. Stanford hopes to prove it belongs in the ACC after years of decline, while Hawai‘i aims to reestablish itself as a Mountain West contender and end a four-year bowl drought. For both, Saturday’s opener offers a chance to set the tone for a pivotal season.
Oddsmakers favor Hawai‘i by 2.5 points, citing home-field advantage and continuity on offense. But Stanford’s physicality and transfer-laden roster could make for a tightly contested game. “We’re excited to be here and ready to compete,” Reich said. “This is a fresh start for our program.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.As the sun sets over the Pacific, two programs in transition will look to rise—one play at a time. Yup, it's gonna be that kind of over-dramatic season, folks. Let's go.
