The University of Hawai‘i football team will open Mountain West Conference play Saturday with a rivalry matchup against Fresno State at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
The Rainbow Warriors (3-1) welcomed back redshirt freshman quarterback Micah Alejado as a full-participant at practice this week after he missed the last two games with a right foot injury. Alejado, who took first-team reps Tuesday, said he feels close to full strength heading into the 57th meeting between the schools.
“The two weeks off, it was hard because I didn’t do anything really. I was in the training room all day, seeing different people trying to help me get better,” Alejado said. “I feel great and excited to go again.”
Head coach Timmy Chang said Alejado showed no signs of rust in his return.
“Love what I saw. He’s very intentional, very detailed in his manner,” Chang said. “It felt like he didn’t miss a beat. It was really good to see.”
The matchup marks the final scheduled meeting between the longtime rivals as conference opponents. Fresno State, which will join the Pac-12 at the end of the season, has faced Hawai‘i every year from 1992 to 2022 as members of the Western Athletic Conference and later the Mountain West. The rivalry began in 1938.
“Now it’s really uptempo for sure, a lot of attention to detail and urgency,” Alejado said. “It’s a big rivalry for the state of Hawai‘i. We want to get the win on them.”
Fresno State (3-1) enters the game as a three-point favorite.
For more on the matchup, watch Hawai‘i Football Final on-demand at KHON2.com and on the KHON+ app.