Bearkat Bites: Way-Too-Early Game Preview @ Hawaii

Plus, Kickoff Times and TV Platforms Announced

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4 Takeaways From Sam Houston’s TV Times
We have kickoff times AND TV platforms for Sam Houston! Check them out down below, as well as my five thoughts on the schedule

8/23 @ WKU: 6 p.m. CT on CBSSN
8/29 vs. UNLV: 8:30 p.m. CT on CBSSN
9/6 @ Hawaii: TBD
9/20 v Texas: 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+/SEC Network+
10/2 @ NMSU: 8 p.m. CT on CBSSN
10/9 vs. Jax State: 7 p.m. CT on CBSSN
10/15 vs. UTEP: 6 p.m. CT on CBSSN
10/31 @ LA Tech: 7 p.m. CT on CBSSN
11/8 @ Oregon St.: 9 p.m. CT on CW
11/15 vs. Delaware: 12 p.m. CT on *ESPN Platforms*
11/22 @ MTSU: 2 p.m. CT on *ESPN Platforms*
11/29 vs. FIU: 12 p.m. CT on *ESPN Platforms*

*Announced 12 Days Prior*

1. The Most National Exposure Ever for Sam Houston Football?
   Last season, the Bearkats had 6 national TV games. That number goes up to 7 this year, with CBS Sports Network leading the way with the most Sam Houston matchups. There could be more added, depending on how the season goes.

2. The Freaks Come Out At Night
   We don’t have the Hawaii start time yet, so as it stands now, Sam Houston does not play a day game until the middle of November. This means the game vs. Texas will be under the bright lights of DKR Stadium (and that means I’ll have to find a hotel in Austin that evening). Your only chances to see the ‘Kats during daylight hours at home are vs. Delaware and vs. FIU

3. Oregon St. The Most High-Profile Contest?
   Without knowing which “ESPN Platform” will carry the November matchups, the away game against Oregon St. on the CW looks to be the main game on the schedule, from a TV platform standpoint. Do they still air Vampire Diaries?

4. The Network TV Elite
   With their game against Oregon St. on the CW, Sam Houston is one of just three CUSA teams playing on network TV this year. The other matchups are LaTech at Washington St. (also on the CW) and Delaware at Coach PrimeERRRR “Colorado” on big Fox.

Overall, a solid TV lineup for Sam Houston. This is the type of exposure the program sought by making the move to FBS and that side of the gambit is starting to pay dividends. I do wish we had a day game or two mixed in before November, but that just means fans have more time to drinkERRRR “get properly acclimated” before kickoff.

Hawaii Preview
Our game-by-game breakdown of Sam Houston’s 2025 opponents continues with Hawaii. Will a changes around the edges help the Rainbow Warriors? Will I be able to convince one of you to fund a trip to Hawaii for me to cover the game (PLEAAASE?! hahaha). Let’s dive in to the ‘Kats’ third opponent on the year.

For those who missed it, you can read all about Sam Houston’s first opponents at the links down below down below.

Western Kentucky
UNLV

The Opponent
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
2024 Record
(5-7, 3-4 in Mountain West)
The Coach
Timmy Chang, the NCAA record setter who enters year four as the head man at his alma mater. He was given a one year extension this offseason to help avoid any lame duck status questions. Both offensive and defensive coordinators were with the team 2024, so there is continuity on the coaching staff.

The Quarterback
Despite the additions of UCLA’s Demarcus Davis and a host of others, all eyes are on Micah Alejado, who filled in nicely for the injured Brayden Schrager with 469 passing yards and 5 touchdowns in the Warrior’s season finale against New Mexico St. Schrager is gone now, and the 5’10, 180lb Alejado looks like the front runner to be handed the keys to Hawaii’s run and shoot offensive scheme. While he doesn’t have the size or the traditional big arm, Chang likes Alejado’s ability to make quick decisions on the field.

Offseason Guide
Will this be the year Chang and Hawaii put it all together and make a bowl game? That’s the big question hovering over this program after falling a game short of the postseason each of the last two years.

There are reasons for optimism. Hawaii lost to BigTen member UCLA (still odd to type!) and Mountain West runner up UNLV by just three points apiece. A flipped play here or there would have had them in a bowl in 2024.

The issue, as always, with the Rainbow Warriors will be the defense, where the team saw it’s most losses during the offseason. The defensive line and defensive backs, in particular, took a big hit but Hawaii brought in a few transfers of their own, most notably, Ka’eo Akana, who returns home to the islands after a stint at Utah. Size matters, however, and while Hawaii’s D-line does play with skill, the rotation is a mix of guys who are under 270lbs. The best prospect on this unit may be Minnesota transfer Luther McCoy, who checks in at 6-5, 290lbs.

There is hope for the defensive backs, however, as Virdel Edwards and Peter Manua (pictured above) return. Hawaii also added a bevvy of JuCo talent, including Blinn CB and Klein Oak grad TJ Jones. Guys like C-Bo Brown, who have been with the program, will also get a shot at more snaps. In the pass-happy Mountain West, this would be the group I’d keep an eye on if the Warriors expect to have a successful 2025.

Chang’s calling card is offense and that side of the ball will need to be more consistent in order to compete. They were not good on third down and key mistakes cost them in games. However, QB Alejado has pieces to work with. Pofele Ashlock returns healthy at wide receiver, and will be joined by Stanford transfer Jackson Harris and Kentucky transfer Brandon White. Veteran center Ethan Spencer returns to the island.

It would also help if Hawaii gets it going on the ground. RB Landon Sims returns but the rushing game averaged just 3.45 yards per carry. Sims’ lone touchdown last season was the only one on by a running back in 2024.
Who Will Beat Who?
For all the new names, this will essentially be the same Hawaii team that visited Sam Houston in 2024. It should be the same run and shoot offense and the same undersized defense. The only major change is the game’s location (swap Huntsville for Hawaii).

That said, it will be a completely different Bearkats team that invades O’ahu. This will be just the third game where Phil Longo gets to break in his new offensive scheme and the third game where the nametags needed defense will be together.

This is the first “tossup game” I have on the season for Sam Houston. I have been hard on the team the past couple of game previews, but here, I have Longo and company leaving paradise with a nice W.

Georgia Tech D-Lineman Picks ‘Kats

Sam Houston’s defensive line got a boost recently, with the addition of Georgia Tech transfer, Cade Adams. A walk-on during his time in Atlanta, Adams will be on scholarship when he arrives in Huntsville.

He’s not the biggest d-lineman at 6-0, 285lbs, but he brings depth to a unit that still needs it.

Sam Houston Coaches Are “In The Game”
EA Sports dropped a trailer for it’s College Football 2026 video game this week, and you’ll be able to see head coach Phil Longo along with offensive coordinator Zack Patterson and defensive coordinator Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay (who, for brevity, we refer to as FAL around here).

I’m not the biggest gamer in the world, but this is pretty cool. I do wonder will EA will use Bowers Stadium or Shell Energy as the ‘Kats home turf for this version of the game?

Sam Houston Is Somebody’s Homecoming Opponent
The picture for the Sam Houston season is a bit clearer, as their October 31st road against LaTech has been announced for a 7pm start time. This will also be the Bulldogs’ Homecoming game.

A Friday night homecoming game on Halloween is a bit odd, and choosing to have the game against Sam Houston is even odder. The Bearkats hammered LaTech 42-27 during their 2023 homecoming game.

So now, we know the LaTech start time and the Oregon St. start time (9pm central on November 8)