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Delaware State Hornets vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors: Week 1 College Football Preview
This Saturday, college football fans are in for an exciting Week 1 matchup as the Delaware State Hornets take on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu, Hawaii. The game kicks off at 11:59 p.m. ET and marks the start of a new season for both teams with plenty to prove.
Delaware State University head coach Lee Hull with some of his Hornets at Tuesdays media day. GARY EMEIGH/SPECIAL TO THE DELAWARE STATE NEWS
Delaware State Hornets: Aiming for Redemption
The Delaware State Hornets are looking to turn things around after a challenging 2023 season that saw them finish with a disappointing 1-10 record. The Hornets struggled in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), where they went winless in five conference games. The program has not had a winning season since 2012, when they finished 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the MEAC.
The Hornets’ offense, which averaged just 18 points per game last year, will need to improve significantly if they hope to compete against a strong Hawaii team. New head coach Lee Hull, who took the reins at Delaware State, has been hard at work during the preseason, focusing on revitalizing both sides of the ball. The Hornets will be eager to make a statement on Saturday and set the tone for the rest of the season.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors: Building on Past Success
The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, on the other hand, are coming off a 5-8 season in 2023, where they finished eighth in the Mountain West Conference with a 3-5 conference record. The Rainbow Warriors have been a formidable force against FCS opponents, boasting a 20-game winning streak in such matchups.
Quarterback Brayden Schager led the Mountain West in passing yards (3,542) and touchdowns (26) last season and will be a key player to watch in this game. Schager’s experience and skill make the Rainbow Warriors a tough opponent for the Hornets. Hawaii is eager to return to the form they showed in 2020 when they finished with a winning record and earned a bowl game appearance.
What to Expect in This Matchup
With the Rainbow Warriors listed as 39.5-point favorites, the odds are certainly stacked against Delaware State. However, the start of a new season brings with it a sense of hope and unpredictability. The Hornets, under new leadership, will look to defy the odds and put up a strong fight against a Hawaii team that has shown consistency in these types of matchups.
How to Watch
Fans of both teams can catch the action live. For local audiences in Hawaii, the game will be broadcast on Spectrum Sports pay-per-view. Fans outside of Hawaii can stream the game via the Team1 Sports app by searching for “Hawaii football” in the channels tab.
As the Delaware State Hornets and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors prepare to clash in this Week 1 showdown, both teams have a lot on the line. Whether it’s Hawaii looking to maintain their dominance over FCS teams or Delaware State striving for a fresh start under new leadership, this game promises to be an intriguing start to the college football season.