UH to kickoff season with back-to-back nationally ranked opponents
The University of Hawaii football team opens the season against the University of Southern California. This file photo is from the Sept. 12 game at the Coliseum.
The University of Hawaii will open its football season against back-to-back Top 25-ranked opponents this year for the first time in its 100-year history.
Southern California, the Aug. 29 foe at Aloha Stadium is No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches poll released today and the following opponent, Oregon State on Sept. 7 in Corvallis, is No. 25.
Eight times previously the Rainbow Warriors have started a season against a nationally-ranked opponent but have never made it two in a row.
Boise State is ranked No. 19 but does not play UH in 2013 or ’14.
Overall, four of UH’s first five opponents are either ranked or received votes in the poll.
Fresno State (Sept. 28) and San Jose State (Oct. 5) received votes, as did Utah State (Nov. 2).
The USA Today Top 25:
| 1 | Alabama (58) | 0-0 | 1545 |
| 2 | Ohio State (3) | 0-0 | 1427 |
| 3 | Oregon | 0-0 | 1397 |
| 4 | Stanford | 0-0 | 1262 |
| 5 | Georgia | 0-0 | 1250 |
| 6 | Texas A&M (1) | 0-0 | 1215 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 0-0 | 1136 |
| 8 | Clemson | 0-0 | 1047 |
| 9 | Louisville | 0-0 | 1010 |
| 10 | Florida | 0-0 | 930 |
| 11 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | 872 |
| 12 | Florida State | 0-0 | 844 |
| 13 | LSU | 0-0 | 797 |
| 14 | Oklahoma State | 0-0 | 726 |
| 15 | Texas | 0-0 | 622 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 0-0 | 620 |
| 17 | Michigan | 0-0 | 589 |
| 18 | Nebraska | 0-0 | 426 |
| 19 | Boise State | 0-0 | 420 |
| 20 | TCU | 0-0 | 400 |
| 21 | UCLA | 0-0 | 202 |
| 22 | Northwestern | 0-0 | 186 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 0-0 | 172 |
| 24 | USC | 0-0 | 165 |
| 25 | Oregon State | 0-0 | 135 |
Others receiving votes: Kansas State 113, Miami (FL) 101, Michigan State 89, Baylor 80, Virginia Tech 65, Fresno State 62, Arizona State 51, Ole Miss 32, Vanderbilt 29, Utah State 23, Brigham Young 20, North Carolina 19, Northern Illinois 19, Tulsa 9, San Jose State 8, Ohio 8, Arizona 5, Cincinnati 3, East Carolina 3, Mississippi State 3, Kent State 3, Washington 3, UCF 2, Tennessee 1, Toledo 1, Rutgers 1, Arkansas 1, Arkansas State 1.
