Opening the offensive campaign, Stanford encounters Hawaii in an early match-up
In the opening game of the 2025 football season, Stanford University faced off against Hawaii, marking an early test for the team's new head coach, Frank Reich. Despite a strong start with a 10-0 lead, Stanford ultimately fell to Hawaii, losing 23-20 [3][4].
Frank Reich, who joined Stanford as an interim coach without prior college coaching experience but with extensive NFL coaching experience, made his debut in this highly anticipated matchup. General Manager Andrew Luck, a former NFL quarterback who previously played under Reich, played a crucial role in bringing him to Stanford [2][3].
Reich aims to build both short-term success and lay a foundation for long-term growth during his single season with Stanford [2]. The defeat to Hawaii raised some early concerns about the Cardinal’s chances of improving on the previous 3-9 season, despite the team’s evident hard work in the offseason [3][4].
Ben Gulbranson, an Oregon State transfer, was named the starting quarterback for Stanford's opening game. Gulbranson demonstrated his potential in the postgame press conference, showcasing his ability to lead the team's offensive efforts [4].
Stanford's offense, which ranked No. 106 nationally in scoring last season with 22.8 points per game, is crucial in the mission to revive the team's fortunes. The Cardinal aims for its first winning season since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign and its first postseason appearance since 2018 [1].
Hawaii, on the other hand, has made history by opening its college football season earlier than ever before. The Rainbow Warriors' pass-catching corps includes Kentucky transfer Brandon White, preseason All-Mountain West picks Pofele Ashlock and Nick Cenacle, and Jackson Harris, a former Stanford wide receiver who transferred to Hawaii and caught a touchdown pass for the team last season [1].
Timmy Chang, Hawaii's coach, adds an extra layer of intrigue to this matchup. Chang set the NCAA career passing record as the Rainbow Warriors' quarterback in 2004 [5].
As the season progresses, Stanford and Hawaii will continue to face off against each other, with both teams hoping to make significant strides towards their respective goals.
References:
- Stanford University Athletics
- Stanford Daily
- San Jose Mercury News
- Hawaii News Now
- Sports Reference
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