Hawaii stuns Stanford with walk-off FG: Rainbow Warriors rally late for thrilling win to open 2025 season

FINAL: Hawaii 23, Stanford 20

Hawaii opened the 2025 season with a thrilling 23-20 win over Stanford on Saturday to cap off Week 0. Hawaii kicker Kansei Matsuzawa drilled a 38-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the Rainbow Warriors their first win over a Power Four team since 2019. 

Hawaii (1-0) had lost its last nine games against Power Four opponents and was 0-4 prior to this weekend all-time against Stanford (0-1). The Cardinal jumped out to a 10-0 advantage midway through the first quarter, highlighted by a defensive touchdown by Wilfredo Aybar.

The star of the show was Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado, who finished with 210 yards and two touchdowns in his second career start. Alejado appeared to injure his ankle during the opening minutes of the third quarter but stayed in the remainder of the game.

Stanford running back Micah Ford also had a day to remember. He ran for 113 yards on 26 attempts and scored that touchdown to cap off the drive that stretched nearly 10 minutes. The rushing touchdown by Ford was quite significant, as Stanford's running backs last season scored zero touchdowns on the ground.

Quick hitters

• Stanford has now lost six consecutive road games dating back to last season, the most since 2002.
  
• Hawaii recorded its first win over Stanford after dropping the last four games. That included a 37-24 loss in 2023.
• Stanford dropped to 13-5 in its last 18 season-openers, while Hawaii improved to 22-5 in its last 27.
• Hawaii WR Pofele Ashlock finished with nine catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Alejado connected with eight different pass catchers and finished 27 of 39 on the day.
• Hawaii WR Jackson Harris hauled in the second touchdown pass of the day from Alejado with 42 seconds remaining in the first half. Harris played at Stanford during the 2024 season.

Late 4Q: Hawaii 20, Stanford 20

Hawaii took advantage of the Stanford turnover and tied the game at 20 after Matsuzawa drilled a 37-yard field goal with 2:01 remaining. Stanford will get the football with all three timeouts with a chance to win the game.

LATE 4Q: Stanford 20, Hawaii 17

Hawaii has life after defensive back Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen intercepted a pass intended for Sedrick Irvin. Hawaii will take over deep into its own territory with just over five minutes remaining.

EARLY 4Q: Stanford 20, Hawaii 17

After a handful of offensive drives that went nowhere, Stanford just put together its best drive of the entire game. The 20-play, 85-yard drive that lasted 9:37 resulted in a 2-yard touchdown run by Micah Ford. This is a big development because Stanford did not record a rushing touchdown (by a running back) during the 2024 season. Ford has 22 carries for 85 yards so far.

END 3Q: Hawaii 17, Stanford 13

Hawaii leads Stanford 17-13 heading into the final quarter of the final game on the Week 0 slate. The Rainbow Warriors kicked a field goal with 6:25 remaining in the quarter to stretch their lead to four. Since putting together an impressive opening drive, Stanford has struggled to find a rhythm on offense.

A scary moment happened during the opening minutes of the second half when Alejado went down with an ankle injury. After going into the medical tent, Alejado returned to the game with heavy tape on the ankle. The fact that he's staying in the game should be a sigh of relief for Hawaii fans.

Stanford will open up the fourth quarter in Hawaii territory.

MID 3Q: Hawaii 17, Stanford 13

Despite Alejado suffering what visibly appears to be an ankle injury, he's staying in the game. He just helped cap an 11-play drive, which resulted in a 40-yard field goal by Kansei Matsuzawa. Big drive coming up for Stanford.

Hawaii's star quarterback was down on the field for an extensive period of time after that last play. Alejado was sacked with 12:39 remaining in the third quarter and went down with an injury. He walked off the field on his own power. Hawaii's backup quarterback is Luke Weaver, who signed with the Rainbow Warriors this past offseason.

HALF: Hawaii 14, Stanford 13

Hawaii leads Stanford 14-13 at halftime of the final FBS game on the Week 0 slate. The Cardinal jumped out to an early 10-0 advantage after a balanced 16-play opening drive. Hawaii was able to put together an impressive drive of its own to take the lead into halftime after quarterback Micah Alejado connected with Jackson Harris for a 19-yard touchdown in the final minute of the first half.

Alejado, who is making his second career start, had an impressive opening half. He finished 13 of 16 for 87 yards and two touchdowns, which included a 3-yard touchdown pass to Pofele Ashlock in the first quarter to open up the scoring for the Rainbow Warriors.

Moments after Stanford scored the first points of the day, its defense made a huge play. Hawaii's return man called for a fair catch after the ball already bounced, which set up less-than-ideal field position for the home team. On the next play, Stanford defender Clay Patterson forced a fumble and Wilfredo Aybar picked it up in the end zone for a touchdown.

Hawaii will get the ball to open the second half.

Late 2Q: Hawaii 14, Stanford 13

Hawaii just took its first lead of the game with 42 seconds remaining in the first half. The Rainbow Warriors went on a nine-play, 75-yard drive, which resulted in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Alejado to Jackson Harrison. Hawaii will also get the ball to open the second half. Hawaii's drive was aided by three Stanford penalties, which resulted in three first downs.

Hawaii will take over on Stanford's 46-yard line when we return from the 2-minute warning.

Early 2Q: Stanford 10, Hawaii 7

Stanford wasn't able to come away with points after putting together another impressive drive. Stanford's third offensive possession of the day lasted over six minutes and stretched to 12 plays. However, Hawaii made a play on special teams by blocking a 34-yard field goal attempt. If you're Hawaii, that has to feel good after the special teams mishap that happened earlier in the game.

END 1Q: Stanford 10, Hawaii 7

The first quarter of the final FBS game on the Week 0 slate is in the books. Stanford leads Hawaii 10-7 after jumping out to a quick 10-point lead in the opening minutes of the game. After Stanford put together an impressive 16-play drive on its first offensive series of the 2025 season, the defense made a play. 

After the ball took an initial bounce, Hawaii signaled for a fair catch, which resulted in the ball being placed inside their own 1-yard line. On the first dropback by Alejado, Patterson forced a fumble and Aybar picked it up for a touchdown.

The Cardinal ran the ball 10 times during the first 15 minutes, while Gulbranson attempted 11 passes. Stanford will begin the second quarter near midfield.

Late 1Q: Stanford 10, Hawaii 7

After two offensive drives with nothing to show for it, Hawaii strung together its best drive of the day, highlighted by a 30-yard scramble by Alejado. Two plays later, Alejado connected with Pofele Ashlock for a 3-yard touchdown to get the Rainbow Warriors on the board to cap the six-play, 58-yard drive that lasted just over two minutes.

Hawaii wasn't able to do much on its second offensive possession of the game. On third-and-12, Hawaii dialed up a screen play, which resulted in a 10-yard gain by Cam Barfield. Hawaii will have to punt. Stanford will get the ball back, already up 10-0 with 5:29 remaining in the opening quarter.

Early 1Q: Stanford 10, Hawaii 0

Hawaii made a mental mistake when returning the ensuing kickoff. After the ball took an initial bounce, Hawaii signaled for a fair catch, which resulted in the ball being placed inside their own 1-yard line. On the first dropback by Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado, Stanford defender Clay Patterson forced a fumble and Wilfredo Aybar picked it up for a touchdown.

Stanford leads 10-0 with 7:08 remaining in the first quarter.

Early 1Q: Stanford 3, Hawaii 0

What a start by Stanford in this Week 0 clash against Hawaii. The Cardinal opened the season with a near-perfect opening drive that lasted 16 plays and stretched just under eight minutes. Stanford capped its opening drive with a 23-yard field goal by Emmet Kenney to take a 3-0 lead over Hawaii.

Stanford was very balanced during that series. New starting quarterback Ben Gulbranson completed 5 of 8 attempts for 25 yards and Micah Ford ran five times for 28 yards. It will be Hawaii up next in its first offensive drive of the 2025 campaign.

Hawaii wins the toss and will elect to defer. Stanford will get the ball first.

Andrew Luck is back at Stanford, not just as a former player basking in past glories, but as the general manager of the football program that once revolved around him as the school's star quarterback. After walking away from a seven-year NFL career, he eventually returned to his alma mater with a mission to modernize the program while preserving the traditions and developmental opportunities that shaped him as an athlete.

Andrew Luck back at Stanford as GM: Ex-Colts star aiming to return Cardinal football to relevance in new era

Cody Nagel

Since Chang took over his alma mater in 2022, Hawaii has an 0-6 record against Power Four programs. Hawaii last beat a Power Four team in 2019 when the program opened the season with back-to-back wins over Arizona and Oregon State, who at the time were both members of the Pac-12. Chang has a 13-25 career record heading into his fourth season. Starting the season off with a win over Stanford would be a great momentum builder for the 2025 season.

The 2025 season will look very different for Stanford. The program welcomes a new (interim) coach in Reich, who most recently served as the coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2023. Reich has extensive experience as an assistant and position coach in the NFL, but he has never coached at the college level. Luck was also hired as the program's general manager last fall, and he will look to lead the charge in resurrecting a once-proud program.

After Ashton Daniels and Justin Lamson received the bulk of the reps at quarterback last season, Stanford will have a new signal caller in 2025. Insert Gulbranson, who transferred in this offseason after spending the previous four years at Oregon State. He threw for 943 yards and four touchdowns in his four appearances. Gulbranson notably beat out former highly touted recruit Elijah Brown for the starting job.

Both programs enter this game and season in desperate search of some positive momentum. Stanford's bowl game drought is approaching seven years, while Hawaii is looking to take the next step under Chang to become bowl eligible for the first time in his coaching tenure at his alma mater. Stanford is 4-0 all-time against Hawaii. Stanford covers and wins outright in Reich's first game. With a tough game on the road against BYU looming next month, this is a game Stanford has to win to take the next step. 

Stanford vs. Hawaii live stream, where to watch, TV channel, odds, spread, prediction, pick

Cameron Salerno