Man, if you missed the latest clash between the Spartans and the Rainbow Warriors, you basically missed a track meet disguised as a football game. San Jose State vs Hawaii football has always been one of those "West Coast after dark" treats, but the 2025 edition felt like something else entirely. High stakes. Massive yardage. A trophy that means more than just silver and wood.
It’s about the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy. Most people outside the Mountain West don't realize how deep this goes. Dick Tomey didn't just coach these teams; he built the foundations they stand on. He’s the winningest coach in Hawaii history and a legend at San Jose State. When these two schools meet, they aren't just playing for a conference win. They’re playing for the ghost of the man who defined what football in the Pacific and the South Bay should look like.
Honestly, the energy at CEFCU Stadium on November 1st was electric. Even with a crowd of about 16,012, it sounded like double that. People were there to see if Hawaii could finally break the curse. They couldn't.
Why San Jose State vs Hawaii Football is a Scoreboard Nightmare
If you’re a defensive coordinator, you probably want to look away. San Jose State walked away with a 45-38 victory, but that score barely tells the story of the 1,126 combined yards of total offense. It was a literal air raid.
Walker Eget was out there playing Madden on rookie mode. He finished with 458 passing yards. Think about that for a second. That's the most yards a Hawaii opponent has surrendered in four years. He wasn't even that efficient, completing only 20 of 40 passes, but when he hit, he hit big. He was throwing haymakers all night.
Then there’s Danny Scudero.
Kid is a problem.
He caught seven passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. That’s an average of over 30 yards per catch. Every time he touched the ball, the Hawaii secondary looked like they were running in sand. It wasn’t just a bad night for the 'Bows defense; it was a historic dismantling by a kid who is arguably the best slot receiver in the country right now.
Hawaii didn't just roll over, though.
Micah Alejado is the real deal. He threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns, marking his fourth straight game with at least 300 yards. You’ve gotta respect the grit. Even when they were down 17 points in the first half, they kept clawing back. They actually cut it to 38-35 in the fourth quarter after a 20-yard strike to Jackson Harris. But every time Hawaii got close, Steve Chavez-Soto would rip off a run. He finished with three rushing touchdowns, including the one-yard plunge that basically sealed the deal with five minutes left.
The Stutzmann and Niumatalolo Connection
You can't talk about San Jose State vs Hawaii football without mentioning the coaching staff. It's almost weird how intertwined these two programs are.
San Jose State head coach Ken Niumatalolo is a Hawaii alum and a Laie native. Their offensive coordinator, Craig Stutzmann, is a former Hawaii player and coach. In fact, there were 10 different coaches or players on the San Jose State sideline with direct ties to the Islands.
Stutzmann actually said before the game that while you want to treat every game the same, there’s "a little bit of extra oomph" when you're facing your alma mater. You could see that "oomph" in the play-calling. The Spartans scored on six consecutive possessions in a stretch that spanned from the end of the first quarter to the end of the third. That's not just luck; that's a coordinator who knows exactly how to exploit the weaknesses of a system he grew up in.
Breaking Down the "DTO" Legacy
The Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy has stayed in San Jose since 2020. That’s five straight wins for the Spartans. For a rivalry that started back in 1936, this is one of the more dominant stretches we've seen. Hawaii still leads the series in San Jose (9-8-1), but the overall record has tilted 24-22-1 in favor of the Spartans.
It’s kinda tragic for Hawaii fans. They had a three-game winning streak coming into this game. Timmy Chang had the boys humming. But the road is a different beast in the Mountain West. Hawaii is now 16-37 all-time on the road in conference play. That’s a stat that’ll keep you up at night if you’re a Rainbow Warrior supporter.
One bright spot for Hawaii? Kansei Matsuzawa.
The guy is a machine. He went 21-for-21 on the season after a late field goal in this game. He tied the school record for field goals in a single season. If only the rest of the team was that clinical.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
There’s this misconception that Hawaii is just a "fun" team that throws the ball around and doesn't play physical.
Wrong.
They were physical. They forced a turnover on downs on the very first drive. They had a 13-play, 71-yard drive to start the game. They just couldn't sustain it against the depth of San Jose State.
Also, people think the "home field advantage" is huge for San Jose State. Truthfully? The home team has only won four of the last twelve meetings. This rivalry is weirdly comfortable for road teams, or at least it used to be before the Spartans started this five-game heater.
The Future of San Jose State vs Hawaii Football
Looking ahead to 2026, the landscape is shifting.
The transfer portal is already doing its thing. Just recently, Hawaii quarterback Luke Weaver announced he's transferring to... San Jose State. Yeah. You can’t make this up. It’s becoming a "pipeline" that Hawaii fans definitely didn't ask for. First Chevan Cordeiro, now Weaver.
The Spartans are also heading back to the Hawaii Bowl for the second year in a row (this time to face South Florida). It seems like San Jose State is more at home in the Islands than the actual Rainbow Warriors are lately.
If Hawaii wants to take the Tomey Trophy back in 2026, they have to figure out how to stop the explosive play. Giving up nine plays of 20+ yards is a death sentence. Dennis Thurman has done wonders with that defense, but the Spartans' "Spread-N-Shred" offense (as Stutzmann calls it) is specifically designed to punish the aggressive nature of Hawaii’s secondary.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Bettors
- Watch the Slot: Danny Scudero isn't going anywhere. If he's on the field, the Spartans are going to target him 10+ times. He is the engine of that offense.
- Bet the Over: These two teams have combined for over 1,100 yards of offense. Unless there’s a hurricane in San Jose or Honolulu, the points are going to fly.
- Follow the Staff: Keep an eye on Craig Stutzmann. He’s becoming one of the most sought-after offensive minds in the G5. If he stays at San Jose State, the Spartans will remain a nightmare for Hawaii.
- Recruiting the Islands: SJSU has five players from Hawaii high schools. This isn't a coincidence. Niumatalolo is essentially recruiting his backyard, and it's paying off in the win column.
The series is closer than the recent five-game streak suggests. But right now, the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy is staying in the South Bay, and Hawaii has a long offseason to figure out how to get it back across the Pacific.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, focus on the development of Hawaii’s young secondary and whether the Spartans can find a consistent replacement for the graduating talent on their offensive line. Monitoring the transfer portal moves between these two specific schools is also mandatory, as the "island-to-valley" pipeline is clearly the new normal in the Mountain West.