Hawai'i beats New Mexico State 29-19

New Mexico State1-219
Hawai'i1-229Final
Sat, Sep 12 · Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, Hawaii · Crowd 12,905MW+

Hawai'i beat New Mexico State 29-19.

We had Hawai'i favored. It won.

Top comment in the game thread

If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, does the ground make a catch?

Q4 12:20 · r/CFB game thread · Sat, Sep 12

How it swung

Before kickoff, our ratings gave Hawai'i a 74% chance, and the closing betting line (Hawai'i was a 7.5-point favorite) put it at 73%.

Favored the whole way: Hawai'i never fell below 68%.

New Mexico State never had better than a 32% chance.

Non-QB touchdown passHawai'i · Q4 5:41
FinalHawai'i 29-19 New Mexico StateHawai'i wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q489% at halfHawai'iWon29-1912+11−14ScoresNon-QB touchdown passChatter0 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute7 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute5 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute5 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute6 comments a minute4 comments a minute8 comments a minute4 comments a minute5 comments a minute8 comments a minute7 comments a minute5 comments a minute2 comments a minute5 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q489% at halfHawai'iWon29-1912ScoresNon-QB touchdown passChatter0 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute7 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute5 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute5 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute6 comments a minute4 comments a minute8 comments a minute4 comments a minute5 comments a minute8 comments a minute7 comments a minute5 comments a minute2 comments a minute5 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q411% at halfHawai'iLost19-2912−11+14ScoresNon-QB touchdown passChatter0 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute7 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute5 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute5 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute6 comments a minute4 comments a minute8 comments a minute4 comments a minute5 comments a minute8 comments a minute7 comments a minute5 comments a minute2 comments a minute5 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q411% at halfHawai'iLost19-2912ScoresNon-QB touchdown passChatter0 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute4 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute2 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute0 comments a minute0 comments a minute3 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute0 comments a minute1 comments a minute1 comments a minute7 comments a minute1 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute4 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute3 comments a minute5 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute1 comments a minute2 comments a minute3 comments a minute5 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute4 comments a minute6 comments a minute4 comments a minute8 comments a minute4 comments a minute5 comments a minute8 comments a minute7 comments a minute5 comments a minute2 comments a minute5 comments a minute3 comments a minute2 comments a minute2 comments a minute

The two plays that swung it

  1. 1Q1 12:18FumbleHedden 3-yd run, fumblesHawai'i 68% → 79% (+11)
  2. 2Q3 13:15FumbleAlejado fumbles, Peters returns it for a TD, blocked, ties it 19-19Hawai'i 89% → 75% (−14)

The two plays that swung it

  1. 1Q1 12:18FumbleHedden 3-yd run, fumblesNew Mexico State 32% → 21% (−11)
  2. 2Q3 13:15FumbleAlejado fumbles, Peters returns it for a TD, blocked, ties it 19-19New Mexico State 11% → 25% (+14)

What fans said, play by play

The line in bold above each quote is written by our model from the thread’s comments and the play-by-play.

  1. Q4 12:20Officials overturn fumble ruling on Stanley catch, sparking debateQuoted at the top of the page.I strongly disagree with overturning thatr/CFB game thread
  2. Q4 5:41Hawaii fans celebrate Uiliata's touchdown pass to AbreuNice one gg hawaiir/CFB game thread
Hawai'i’s chance to win after every play.
How to read this chartStarts from the pregame line (Hawai'i -7.5), at 75% for Hawai'i (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores. Outlined diamonds mark rare plays. The gray band is r/CFB game-thread activity, its loudest stretches in gold.

Every drive

Hawai'i scored on 6 of its 12 drives; New Mexico State on 2 of its 12.

Hawai'i’s drives are teal, New Mexico State’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.

own goalgoal lineQ1New Mexico State: Fumble, from 89 yards out to 36FumbleHawai'i: Touchdown, from 64 yards out to 0TouchdownNew Mexico State: Punt, from 75 yards out to 62PuntHawai'i: Field goal, from 73 yards out to 14Field goalNew Mexico State: Punt, from 75 yards out to 68PuntHawai'i: Touchdown, from 71 yards out to 0TouchdownQ2New Mexico State: Touchdown, from 65 yards out to 0TouchdownHawai'i: Punt, from 75 yards out to 54PuntNew Mexico State: Punt, from 84 yards out to 68PuntHawai'i: Punt, from 69 yards out to 66PuntNew Mexico State: Touchdown, from 81 yards out to 0TouchdownHawai'i: Field goal, from 75 yards out to 24Field goalNew Mexico State: End of half, from 95 yards out to 97End of halfQ3Hawai'i: Fumble returned for a touchdown, from 31 yards out to 100Fumble TDHawai'i: Field goal, from 71 yards out to 14Field goalNew Mexico State: Interception, from 75 yards out to 60InterceptionHawai'i: Punt, from 77 yards out to 60PuntNew Mexico State: Punt, from 82 yards out to 63PuntHawai'i: Punt, from 78 yards out to 71PuntQ4New Mexico State: Turned over on downs, from 92 yards out to 54DownsHawai'i: Touchdown, from 46 yards out to 0TouchdownNew Mexico State: Interception, from 75 yards out to 37InterceptionHawai'i: Punt, from 62 yards out to 52PuntNew Mexico State: Uncategorized, from 84 yards out to 38Uncategorized

From New Mexico State’s side

New Mexico State’s best moment: Alejado fumbles, Peters returns it for a TD, blocked, ties it 19-19 (Q3 13:15). It lifted New Mexico State’s win chance by 14 points.

“Everything popped off him like sonic rings”
A fan of another team

How fans reacted

Quiet

It was the fourth quarter that had fans talking the most.

Jump to the loudest stretch

The jump was quiet; the crowd was quiet.

FirstSecondThirdFourthHawai'i fansNew Mexico State fansusual

Box score

Hawai'i 29, New Mexico State 19

Hawai'i covered −7.5 by 2.5. The total, 48, stayed under 50.5.

New Mexico StateHawai'iTotal yardsNew Mexico State 380Hawai'i 420380420Passing yardsNew Mexico State 256Hawai'i 353256353Rushing yardsNew Mexico State 124Hawai'i 6712467First downsNew Mexico State 23Hawai'i 212321TurnoversNew Mexico State 3Hawai'i 131Time of possessionNew Mexico State 27:47Hawai'i 32:1327:4732:13
Team totalsNew Mexico StateHawai'i
Total yards380420
Passing19 of 35, 256 yds34 of 46, 353 yds
Rushing31 for 124 yds26 for 67 yds
First downs2321
Third down4 of 105 of 15
Fourth down0 of 11 of 1
Turnovers31
Penalties5 for 40 yds4 for 37 yds
Time of possession27:4732:13

New Mexico State leaders

  • Passing Trey Hedden 19 of 35, 256 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
  • Rushing James Jones 13 for 78 yds, 1 TD; Terrell Washington Jr. 6 for 30 yds
  • Receiving Tyler King 4 for 67 yds, 1 TD; AJ Williams III 3 for 54 yds

Hawai'i leaders

  • Passing Micah Alejado 33 of 45, 346 yds
  • Rushing Devon Rice 16 for 59 yds, 2 TD; Sitani Mikaele 7 for 12 yds
  • Receiving Tama Uiliata 10 for 107 yds; Audric Harris 4 for 105 yds

No rain through the game

82° at kickoff · no rain recorded

Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Hawai'i favoredNew Mexico State favored100%Win chanceHawai'iRaininches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWindmph, average and gusts20 mph40 mphHourly wind only at this airport
Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Hawai'i favoredNew Mexico State favoredRain · inches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWind · miles per hour2040Hourly wind only at this airport

Drag along the chart, or step through the game.

First quarter, 14:45 left6:07 p.m.
New Mexico State 0, Hawai'i 0 · Hawai'i 75% to win
no rain · 82°
Hedden 18-yd pass to Jones
Where this weather comes fromMeasured at Honolulu airport, 6.8 miles away. Wind and rain are airport readings near the stadium, not on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Before kickoff

Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.

Recent games

Last two games

New Mexico State · 1-1

Rated 150th in our preseason ratings, 148th now.

1-1 in its last two — but nothing on this résumé beats a top-40 team yet.

Last two games

Hawai'i · 0-2

Rated 59th in our preseason ratings, 62nd now.

Two straight losses.

Week by week

Hawai'i

Wk 1: L 27-37 at Stanford▼10StanfordWk 1: L 6-21 vs UNLV▼15UNLV
  • Wk 1Lat Stanford27-37
  • Wk 1Lvs UNLV6-21

New Mexico State

Wk 1: L 17-34 at Florida State▼17Florida StateWk 1: W 51-14 vs Mercyhurst▲37Mercyhurst
  • Wk 1Lat Florida State17-34
  • Wk 1Wvs Mercyhurst51-14

Matchups

Biggest mismatch: Hawai'i’s explosive plays against New Mexico State, 61 points

Each row ranks the two sides among all teams. The longer the line, the bigger the mismatch.

  1. Hawai'i’s explosive plays against New Mexico State’s defense

    61 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Hawai'i offense, 13th percentile · New Mexico State defense, 74th

  2. Hawai'i’s passing EPA against New Mexico State’s defense

    54 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Hawai'i offense, 14th percentile · New Mexico State defense, 68th

  3. Hawai'i’s EPA/play against New Mexico State’s defense

    37 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Hawai'i offense, 13th percentile · New Mexico State defense, 50th

Season profile, all the rows

Season profile

New Mexico StateHawai'i
EPA/play, offense
New Mexico State ·…Hawai'i · 13
EPA/play, defense
New Mexico State · 50Hawai'i · 12
Success rate, offense
New Mexico State · 31Hawai'i · 18
Success rate, defense
New Mexico State · 53Hawai'i · 16
Explosive-play rate, offense
New Mexico State · 88Hawai'i · 13
Explosive-play rate, defense
New Mexico State · 74Hawai'i · 65
Rush EPA, offense
New Mexico State · 39Hawai'i · 13
Rush EPA, defense
New Mexico State · 44Hawai'i · 11
Pass EPA, offense
New Mexico State · 20Hawai'i · 14
Pass EPA, defense
New Mexico State · 68Hawai'i · 34

The series

Hawai'i leads the series 11-1

12 meetings since 1978 · Hawai'i won the last meeting

Hawai'i wonNew Mexico State won1978: Hawai'i by 152005: Hawai'i by 212006: Hawai'i by 192007: Hawai'i by 372008: Hawai'i by 122009: Hawai'i by 182010: Hawai'i by 352011: Hawai'i by 112021: Hawai'i by 142021: Hawai'i by 202022: New Mexico State by 192023: Hawai'i by 319782023
  • 2023Hawai'i 20-17Hawai'i won 20-17 vs New Mexico State. Chance to win started at 56%, low 5%, high better than 99%.
  • 2022New Mexico State 45-26
  • 2021Hawai'i 41-21Hawai'i won 41-21 at New Mexico State. Chance to win started at 88%, low 75%, high better than 99%.
  • 2021Hawai'i 48-34Hawai'i won 48-34 vs New Mexico State. Chance to win started at 45%, low 43%, high 99%.
  • 2011Hawai'i 45-34

Each line is Hawai'i’s chance to win through that meeting. Older meetings have no play by play, so no line.

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

New Mexico State fans are in a better mood than Hawai'i fans (91st vs 43rd among FBS fanbases), even with Hawai'i favored.

50-50Model 74% · Line 73%Hawai'i fans · 43rdNew Mexico State fans · 91stNew Mexico StateHawai'i

Hawai'i favored by 7.5 · Total 50.5

How games like this usually go

Hawai'i by 7.5, and it went to form

50%90%Q1Q2Q3Q450%90%Q1Q2Q3Q4

Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game

The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 385 games since 2025 with a favorite of 7.5 to 14.5 points.

The market

The spread moved 4 points toward New Mexico State.

opened −11.5now −7.5

The total fell 1 point.

opened 51.5now 50.5

Spread: −11.5 → −7.5 · Total: 51.5 → 50.5

The books’ cut: 4.3%, the margin built into the odds

Home field

Hawai'i is worth +5.9 points (±3.7) more at home than on the road since 2018 — top third of FBS, 80th percentile.

58% at home, 27% on the road against FBS opponents (29-21 home, 13-35 away).

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads +4.5 at home vs. away over 105 games — inside the ±6.4 noise, so the flat number is the honest one here.

The visitors travel about 3,210 miles to get here.

Last meeting in our History pages

Where next