Hawaii Football Schedule 2026: Full Rainbow Warriors Slate, Dates, and Key Games

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Hawaii opens its most anticipated season in years on the road: the Rainbow Warriors visit Stanford in Week 0 on Saturday, August 29, the launch of Timmy Chang’s fifth year and the program’s first in the rebuilt Mountain West. Fresh off a 9-4 season and a Hawaii Bowl win over Cal — the program’s best finish since 2020 — Hawaii gets six home dates in Honolulu, a Week 1 showdown with league favorite UNLV, and a schedule full of the conference’s new-look membership.

Kickoff times for many games are announced closer to game week based on TV selections, so check back weekly — this page is updated as times, networks, and results come in.

2026 Team Schedule
Hawaii Football Schedule
Mountain West · Ching Athletics Complex · Timmy Chang (5th year)
9-4
2025 Record + Bowl Win
6
Home Games
Aug 29
Week 0 Opener at Stanford
Sept 5
Circle It: UNLV
Date Opponent Time (ET) / TV Result
Sat, Aug 29 at Stanford 7:00 PM · ACCN L 27-37
Sat, Sept 5 vs UNLV TBA —
Sat, Sept 12 vs New Mexico State TBA —
Sat, Sept 19 Bye Week — —
Sat, Sept 26 at Wyoming TBA —
Sat, Oct 3 vs San Jose State TBA —
Sat, Oct 10 at Arizona State TBA —
Sat, Oct 17 vs New Mexico TBA —
Sat, Oct 24 at Northern Illinois TBA —
Sat, Oct 31 Bye Week — —
Sat, Nov 7 at UTEP TBA —
Sat, Nov 14 vs North Dakota State TBA —
Sat, Nov 21 at Nevada TBA —
Sat, Nov 28 vs Sacramento State TBA —

Games That Will Decide Hawaii’s Season

Aug 29 at Stanford A Week 0 shot at a Power Four win against a first-year Stanford staff. Hawaii teams rarely get a better opening statement opportunity on the mainland.
Sept 5 vs UNLV The Mountain West opener at home against one of the league favorites. In the rebuilt conference, an early head-to-head win could decide who plays for the title in December.
Oct 3 vs San Jose State The Dick Tomey Legacy series in Honolulu — a winnable rivalry date in the middle of the home-heavy stretch that will decide bowl position.
Nov 14 vs North Dakota State The 10-time FCS champion’s first trip to Honolulu as an FBS program — and thanks to a June NCAA rule change, the Bison are immediately eligible for the conference title game, so this one carries real standings stakes.
Momentum From 2025
Hawaii went 9-4 and beat Cal in the Hawaii Bowl — the program’s first winning season since 2020, with the run-and-shoot humming under Timmy Chang.
A New Mountain West
With Boise State, Fresno State, and San Diego State gone to the Pac-12, the 2026 Mountain West adds Northern Illinois, UTEP, and North Dakota State — and the title path runs wide open.
Six in Honolulu
UNLV, New Mexico State, San Jose State, New Mexico, North Dakota State, and Sacramento State all make the trip to the Ching Complex.

How the Schedule Sets Up

The Stanford opener is a free swing, and then the season gets real fast: UNLV in Week 1 is arguably Hawaii’s biggest home game of the year. The travel map is brutal even by island standards — Wyoming, Tempe, DeKalb, El Paso, and Reno — but the byes are well-placed and the November home dates give Chang’s team a closing runway. Win the Honolulu games and the Rainbow Warriors are in the mix for the league title game and the Group of Six playoff bid; here’s how the College Football Playoff works for what that bid means. The FBS structure is governed by the NCAA.

The Bottom Line

A Power Four opener, UNLV in Week 1, and six home dates in a wide-open Mountain West — Hawaii’s 2026 schedule is a genuine contender’s calendar. Bookmark this page — times, networks, and results are updated throughout the season.