Location: Stanford Stadium — Stanford, California
Kickoff: Saturday, August 29 at 4 p.m. PT on ACC Network
DraftKings line: Stanford -5.5
Over/under: 49.5

The Setup

Hawai‘i beat Stanford 23-20 last season for its first win in the five-game series. All five previous meetings were played in Honolulu, making this the first matchup at Stanford.

The Rainbow Warriors return quarterback Micah Alejado and receiver Pofele Ashlock. Stanford enters with another offensive transition and Michigan transfer Davis Warren competing at quarterback.

What I’m Watching

Can Stanford pressure Alejado and keep the score around 20?

Hawai‘i’s passing game is built to score. Stanford’s best path is to control possession with Micah Ford, avoid a shootout and prevent Alejado from sitting comfortably in the pocket. If Stanford cannot generate pressure, Hawai‘i has enough continuity to attack a changing secondary.

Three Stats to Know

1. Alejado returns after a 3,106-yard season.
He completed 66.3% of his passes with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions, earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors.

2. Ashlock is already one of the country’s most experienced receivers.
He enters with 220 career catches, 2,288 yards and 23 touchdowns.

3. Hawai‘i wants to throw.
The Rainbow Warriors passed on approximately 63% of their plays last season, the fifth-highest rate among FBS teams.

How the Game Is Decided

Stanford has to run effectively, shorten the game and pressure Alejado without leaving Ashlock isolated against favorable coverage. If Hawai‘i forces Stanford to chase points, Warren will have to create more explosive passes than he did during his last full season at Michigan.

Prediction

This is one of Week 0’s most interesting games and should be far more competitive than the programs’ recent reputations suggest. Is Hawaii can push the tempo, Stanford will have to keep up. Can they? I like getting Hawaii and not even needing the Rainbow Warriors to win.