Reading time: 2 minutes
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Rainbow Warrior football team is drawing early national attention heading into the 2026 college football season, with ESPN projecting the program as a potential participant in the next College Football Playoff.
In its preliminary outlook released January 22, ESPN projected UH as the top-ranked Group of Six conference champion, a designation that would currently earn an automatic berth in the playoff field. The projection places the Rainbow Warriors in the No. 12 spot and among teams from the nation’s power conferences in the sport’s most high-profile postseason format.
“This is a nice acknowledgment for our players and the work they’ve put in, but we realize that it’s just a projection. It doesn’t change what we have to do day to day,” Head Coach Timmy Chang said. “We know there’s a lot of work ahead, and everything still has to be earned on the field.”
2025 breakthrough season
The early recognition follows a breakthrough 2025 campaign under Chang. UH Mānoa finished 9-4, earned a thrilling Hawaiʻi Bowl victory and posted wins against power-conference opponents, helping elevate the program’s national profile.
ESPN’s projection cited the Rainbow Warriors’ challenging schedule as a potential advantage in the Group of Six race. UH Mānoa is scheduled to face Stanford and Arizona State during the 2026 regular season, matchups that could bolster its postseason résumé against Power Four opponents while competing for a conference title in a reconfigured Mountain West Conference.
The playoff projection envisions UH Mānoa opening the postseason on the road against USC, a matchup that would pair the Rainbow Warriors with one of college football’s most recognizable brands. Final playoff selections remain subject to on-field results, conference championships and committee rankings.
“This kind of early attention brings visibility to our University and reflects the momentum we’re building,” Athletics Director Matt Elliott said. “We understand there are still countless hours of preparation ahead of the team before a down is played next season, but it speaks to the growing excitement surrounding Hawaiʻi’s football program and UH Mānoa Athletics overall.”
The Rainbow Warriors are scheduled to begin spring practice in February. UH Mānoa opens the 2026 season on the road at Stanford out of the Atlantic Coast Conference on August 29.