Stanford University opened its 2025 football season with a 23-20 loss to Hawai’i in Honolulu. The game was decided by a 38-yard field goal from Kansei Matsuzawa as time expired.
Micah Ford led Stanford (0-1) with 113 rushing yards on 26 carries, including a two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. This marked Ford’s second career game with over 100 rushing yards and ended a streak of 20 consecutive games without a rushing touchdown by a Cardinal running back since 2023.
Hawai’i (1-0) achieved its first win against Stanford after four previous attempts and recorded its first victory over a power conference opponent since defeating Arizona and Oregon State at the start of the 2019 season.
Hawai’i quarterback Micah Alejado completed 27 of 39 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 36 rushing yards. He left the field briefly after being sacked by Matt Rose but returned to finish the game. Pofele Ashlock caught nine passes for 69 yards and one touchdown.
Stanford took an early lead after Emmet Kenney’s field goal, followed by a defensive touchdown when Wilfredo Aybar recovered a fumble in the end zone. Jackson Harris scored for Hawai’i late in the first half, giving them their first lead at halftime.
Matt Rose led Stanford’s defense with a career-high 13 tackles, which is the most by any Cardinal player since Malik Antoine had 14 tackles against UCLA in December 2020, and the highest for a linebacker since Bobby Okereke recorded as many against California in December 2018.
Ben Gulbranson started at quarterback for Stanford, completing 15 of his 30 pass attempts for 109 yards and one interception. CJ Williams led Stanford receivers with three catches totaling 30 yards.
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