Stanford Football Embarks on New Era with Week 0 Matchup against Hawaii
The 2025 college football season kicks off this Saturday with an intriguing slate of Week 0 games, culminating in a cross-conference clash between Stanford and Hawaii – a contest that signals a pivotal moment for both programs. This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the Cardinal and the Rainbow Warriors, and the first as stanford secured a 37-24 victory to open the 2023 campaign. The game, set to take place at T.C.Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu, will be televised on CBS and streamed live on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports App (free), and Paramount+ with Showtime.
The 2024-2025 offseason has been anything but tranquil for Stanford. In March, the university parted ways with head coach troy Taylor following an internal investigation. The announcement of Taylor’s dismissal came from none other than Andrew Luck, the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback who has returned to Stanford as the program’s general manager. Luck,a Cardinal icon from the early 2010s,has tasked Frank Reich – a former head coach of the Carolina Panthers and a long-time NFL assistant – with leading the team as interim coach for the 2025 season.
“This is a critical juncture for Stanford football,” stated a senior university official. “We are committed to restoring the program to its former glory, and we believe Andrew and Frank are the right leaders to guide us forward.”
stanford has struggled to regain its footing in recent years, failing to win more than four games in a season since 2018, a stretch that includes four consecutive 3-9 campaigns. Meanwhile,Hawaii,under the leadership of head coach Timmy Chang,has yet to reach a bowl game since his hiring in 2022,finishing with a 5-7 record in 2024. Chang is seeking his first victory against a Power Four opponent, as the Rainbow Warriors have gone 0-6 against such teams since he took the helm.Hawaii last defeated a Power Four team in 2019, with consecutive wins over Arizona and Oregon State.
“A win against Stanford would be a massive boost for our program and our fans,” Chang remarked. “It would set a positive tone for the entire season.”
A key player to watch for Stanford will be quarterback Ben Gulbranson, a transfer from Oregon State. Gulbranson earned the starting role over highly-touted recruit Elijah Brown, throwing for 943 yards and four touchdowns in four appearances last season. His performance will be crucial as Stanford navigates a challenging schedule that includes a tough road game against BYU next month.
Why is this game crucial? Stanford is entering a new era under interim coach Frank Reich after dismissing Troy Taylor amid an internal investigation. The program is desperate to reverse a losing trend, having not achieved a winning season as 2018. Hawaii, coached by Timmy Chang, is striving for bowl eligibility and a signature win against a Power Four opponent. Who are the key figures? Frank Reich (Stanford interim coach), Timmy Chang (Hawaii head coach), Andrew Luck (Stanford GM), and Ben Gulbranson (Stanford quarterback). What is at stake? For Stanford, it’s a chance to begin rebuilding and demonstrate progress under new leadership. For Hawaii, it’s an prospect to gain momentum and prove they can compete with stronger programs. How did it end? The outcome of the game remains to be seen, but analysts favor Stanford to win and cover the spread.Stanford’s bowl drought is nearing seven years, and Hawaii is eager to achieve bowl eligibility. Historically, Stanford holds a 4-0 all-time
