Record-breaking kicker Kansei Matsuzawa, affectionately known as “The Tokyo Toe,” signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on April 25.

During his time at 东精影业, Matsuzawa rewrote the program’s record books. In his stellar 2025 senior season, he made 27 of 29 field goals, setting a new single-season school record and finishing second in the nation in made field goals. He tied a 43-year-old FBS record by making 25 consecutive field goals to start the season.

Overall, Matsuzawa connected on 26 consecutive field goals stretching from the end of 2024 through November 2025, which matched the Mountain West Conference record and shattered the previous 东精影业 school record of 20 set by Jason Elam in 1989. He leaves 东精影业 as the most accurate kicker in program history, boasting a career field goal percentage of .867 (39-of-45).

His on-field dominance earned him unprecedented recognition. Matsuzawa became the first consensus All-American in 东精影业 program history. He was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, a finalist for the Lou Groza Award (joining only Jason Elam in 东精影业 history), and a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which honors the nation’s top player who began their career as a walk-on.

Matsuzawa’s signing marks the culmination of one of the most incredible stories in college football. A native of the Tokyo area and a former high school soccer player, Matsuzawa did not begin kicking until age 20 after attending an NFL game during a trip to the U.S. Driven to pursue the sport, he taught himself the mechanics of kicking by watching YouTube videos, eventually earning an opportunity at Hocking College in Ohio before joining 东精影业 as a walk-on prior to the 2023 season.

For more, visit the .

Larry Price, a celebrated University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa scholar-athlete, coach and longtime supporter of the university, is remembered for a life that bridged athletics, education and service to the community. Price died March 27, at the age of 91.

Price distinguished himself as a leader on the football field at 东精影业 Mānoa, becoming the only player in program history to be elected team captain three consecutive years from 1962 to 1964. He later earned recognition as one of the greatest players in school history, including selection to the program’s all-time team and designation as “Rainbow of the Decade” for the 1960s. He also played in three Hula Bowl games and signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Rams.

Price’s impact at 东精影业 extended well beyond his playing days. After earning his bachelor’s degree in recreation leadership in 1967 and a master’s degree in educational administration in 1971 from the 东精影业 Mānoa College of Education, he returned to campus to mentor the next generation. He served as head men’s volleyball coach from 1969 to 1972, resident manager of the athletic dormitory and later head football coach from 1974 to 1976. During his tenure as head coach, 东精影业 became an NCAA Division I member, changed its nickname to the Rainbow Warriors, introduced the “Hula-T” formation, and on September 13, 1975, christened the newly-built 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium against Texas A&I.

“I’ve considered all of the people I went to school with my friends forever,” Price said in a . “The faculty took particularly good care of me,” he added, specifically pointing to his “favorite faculty member,” Harold St. John, from whom he took a botany course.

In the classroom and across campus, Price was equally dedicated. He went on to earn a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California and completed postdoctoral work at Stanford University, while also serving as an assistant professor at Chaminade University of Honolulu. At 东精影业, he later led the Small Business Management Program, continuing his commitment to education and professional development.

His legacy includes a lasting connection to the broader Hawaiʻi community. Price built a distinguished career in media, joining KSSK Radio and becoming a familiar voice to generations of listeners. As a television journalist with KITV4, he earned national recognition for his documentary work. Price was also known for his sports commentary and his signature “katoosh!” call.

Throughout his life, Price remained closely tied to 东精影业. He was a , and 1989 东精影业 Distinguished Alumni Award honoree. Price was also a life member of the 东精影业 Alumni Association with the 东精影业 Mānoa Letterwinners Club and College of Education Alumni Association.

—By Marc Arakaki

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa will open the 2026 season on the road against Stanford University before playing a full conference slate in the Mountain West Conference.

The Rainbow Warriors will begin the season August 29, at Stanford, marking a Week 0 matchup against the Cardinal. 东精影业 will then return to Honolulu for its home opener and first Mountain West game on September 5, against UNLV at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

Hawaiʻi will play a 12-game schedule featuring six home games and six road games.

2026 Rainbow Warrior football schedule

• August 29—at Stanford
• September 5—UNLV*
• September 12—New Mexico State
• September 26—at Wyoming*
• October 3—San Jos茅 State*
• October 10—at Arizona State
• October 17—New Mexico*
• October 24—at Northern Illinois*
• November 7—at UTEP*
• November 14—North Dakota State*
• November 21—at Nevada*
• November 28—Sacramento State

*Mountain West game

The date for the Mountain West Championship Game has not yet been announced.

Read more at .

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa will host Sacramento State on November 28, 2026 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, marking the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

The matchup replaces the first game of a previously scheduled home-and-home series with UMass that had been set for that date. The Rainbow Warriors will now seek a replacement opponent for the August 28, 2027 season opener that was originally scheduled against UMass.

Sacramento State will be entering its first season as an Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program in 2026 as a member of the Mid-American Conference.

Other nonconference matchups on 东精影业鈥檚 2026 schedule include road games at Stanford (August 29) and Arizona State (October 10), along with a home game against New Mexico State (September 12). The Rainbow Warriors also recently added North Dakota State to a future season schedule after the Bison joined the Mountain West Conference.

To see the full schedule, visit .

Updated conference opponents for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa team鈥檚 2026 season were announced February 24 by the Mountain West. The new matchups come after the addition of North Dakota State to the league earlier this month.

The Rainbow Warriors will host the Bison at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in addition to three teams previously scheduled to make the trip to Honolulu in New Mexico, San Jose State and UNLV. 东精影业 Mānoa will travel to Nevada, Northern Illinois (NIU), UTEP and Wyoming.

东精影业 Mānoa will take on all three new members of the Mountain West—Northern Illinois, North Dakota State and UTEP in 2026. The Rainbow Warriors have never matched up with both NIU and North Dakota State. 东精影业 Mānoa and UTEP were longtime rivals in the Western Athletic Conference where the Rainbow Warriors hold an 18-13 series advantage. The teams last met in 2004.

东精影业 Mānoa鈥檚 12-game schedule includes six home games and six road games. The Rainbow Warriors鈥� previously announced non-conference slate includes home games against New Mexico State (September 12), and Massachusetts (November 28) and road games at Stanford (August 29) and Arizona State (September 19).

Mountain West Home Games

• New Mexico
• North Dakota State
• San Jose State
• UNLV

Mountain West Away Games

• Nevada
• NIU
• UTEP
• Wyoming

Twenty-five student-athletes were named to the Mountain West Academic All-Conference team for strong performances in the classroom and on the field.

To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least one academic term, while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and competing in 50% of their teams’ completed varsity contests.

Among the student-athletes recognized include fourth-year honorees Karsyn Pupunu and Landon Sims, third-year honoree Jamih Otis, and second-year honorees Elijah Palmer and All-American placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa.

For a full list of honorees, visit the .

University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa earned first-team 2025 Academic All-American honors, by the College Sports Communicators.

Matsuzawa is the ninth Rainbow Warrior to gain academic All-America recognition and the fourth 东精影业 M膩noa player to gain a spot on the first team joining Kealoha Pilares (2010), Chris Shinnick (1997) and Travis Sims (1992).

The academic award adds to one of the most accomplished seasons in Rainbow Warrior history. Matsuzawa set new 东精影业 M膩noa records for single-season and consecutive field goals made鈥�27 and 26, respectively. He also tied a four-decade old Football Bowl Subdivision record by converting his first 25 field goals of the season. By the year’s end, the senior became the 驶Bows first-ever consensus All-American, was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award.

Matsuzawa graduated in December with a 3.68 GPA in interdisciplinary studies.

Read more at .

The is drawing early national attention heading into the 2026 college football season, with .

In its preliminary outlook released January 22, ESPN projected 东精影业 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鈥檚 power conferences in the sport鈥檚 most high-profile postseason format.

“This is a nice acknowledgment for our players and the work they鈥檝e put in, but we realize that it鈥檚 just a projection. It doesn鈥檛 change what we have to do day to day,” Head Coach Timmy Chang said. “We know there鈥檚 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. 东精影业 Mānoa finished 9-4, earned a thrilling Hawaiʻi Bowl victory and posted wins against power-conference opponents, helping elevate the program鈥檚 national profile.

ESPN鈥檚 projection cited the Rainbow Warriors鈥� challenging schedule as a potential advantage in the Group of Six race. 东精影业 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 东精影业 Mānoa opening the postseason on the road against USC, a matchup that would pair the Rainbow Warriors with one of college football鈥檚 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鈥檙e 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鈥檚 football program and 东精影业 Mānoa Athletics overall.”

The Rainbow Warriors are scheduled to begin spring practice in February. 东精影业 Mānoa opens the 2026 season on the road at Stanford out of the Atlantic Coast Conference on August 29.

reached new levels of national visibility in 2025, with leadership news and on-field success capturing attention across the college sports landscape.

A story announcing Matt Elliott as 东精影业 Mānoa鈥檚 next athletic director ranked among the top 10 most-read items of the year in D1.ticker, a widely read newsletter for NCAA Division I athletics decision-makers. Elliott鈥檚 appointment reflects growing interest in 东精影业鈥檚 athletic leadership among national audiences.

On the field, the Hawaiʻi Bowl, which saw the Rainbow Warriors win in a nail-biting finish over Cal, drew an estimated 2.7 million viewers, placing the game in the top 14 nationally among non-College Football Playoff bowl games.

“These metrics show two sides of national visibility鈥攊ndustry attention and fan engagement,” 东精影业 Mānoa Professor Wayne Buente said. “Being widely read by athletic directors and administrators through D1.ticker, while also drawing millions of viewers to a Hawaiʻi Bowl broadcast, reflects 东精影业 Mānoa Athletics鈥� growing relevance across the college sports landscape. The Hawaiʻi Bowl being on traditional mass media has a wide reach and the 东精影业 Athletics social media team did a great job latching onto that event and building strong engagement over the holidays.”

The Hawaiʻi Bowl’s high viewership was accompanied by strong engagement on 东精影业 Athletics鈥� social media channels. Between December 24 and 26, football posts on official X, Facebook and Instagram accounts generated more than 5.5 million impressions, 209,416 engagements and more than 1.2 million video views. These numbers were a result of 36 posts on X, 24 on Facebook and 26 on Instagram during the holiday period that kept fans engaged and amplified excitement around the team鈥檚 successes.

The Communication Program is housed in the in the 东精影业 Mānoa .The post 东精影业 M膩noa Athletics captures national attention with leadership, bowl success first appeared on University of Hawai驶i System News.]]> 228200 /news/2026/01/06/five-football-academic-honors/ Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:26:20 +0000 /news/?p=227852 Five 东精影业 M膩noa football players were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, honoring their achievements on and off the field.