Oregon opponent early scouting report: Hawaii

An early look at Oregon’s opponents for the 2023 regular season.
Hawaii
Game date & time: Autzen Stadium, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.
2022 record: (3-10)
Coach: Timmy Chang, second year (3-10)
Returning starters: 5 offense, 9 defense
Most important returning players: QB Brayden Schager, RB Tyland Hines, WR Jalen Walthall, DL Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, LB Logan Taylor
Most critical departures: RB Dedrick Parson, WR Zion Bowens, TE Caleb Phillips, LB Penei Pavihi, DB Malik Hausman
Oregon storylines:
Wrapping up nonconference play
Oregon’s third and final nonconference game will be played at dusk. If the Ducks are coming off a win at Texas Tech there’s a chance they could be in the top 10 and have a sellout crowd as students begin arriving back in Eugene. At this point, personnel decisions should start to become clearer, roles more defined and answers to a lot of questions, especially on defense and special teams, have to be had.
Starting Hawaii series
A three-game series was supposed to begin in 2020 will instead have its first installment this season, the first meeting of the teams in 29 years. The Ducks have eight players from Hawaii, including running back Kilohana Haasenritter, who played at UH in 2021.
Hawaii storylines:
Win streak vs. UO
Hawaii has won three straight against Oregon, from 1988-94, with a 24-21 win at Autzen in 1992.
Third Power 5 opponent
The Warriors will have played three games, including against Vanderbilt and Stanford, before taking on the Ducks. Hawaii is amid a massive rebuild and lost most of its top players in terms of production from last season, but quarterback Brayden Schager is back. However, Oregon’s defense will be the most talented group he’s faced to date.
An Oregon win would mean:
Entering Pac-12 play either 3-0 or 2-1. Similar to the season opener, the outcome isn’t in question here, it’s more in the details and methodology.
An Oregon loss would mean:
Though Hawaii has won the last three meetings, that was from a bygone era for both programs. There’s no way an upset is possible right now.