The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Ninth Island Showdown

Hawai'i16-17UNLV
Regional Program IV#107 of 138–Regional Program II#93 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

UNLV leads the all-time series 17-16. They've met 33 times since 1974. UNLV has won the last 4.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Hawai'i
Transfer portal
+16
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +30
What fans are saying · scheme identity
One fan believes the team throws too many short passes
It seems like we can put together a string of short passes but there are like 3 passes completed and it's third down so less than 3.3 yards per pass.
Verified verbatim
UNLV
Win total
7.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +5
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe UNLV's offensive line is struggling to protect the quarterback
Some fun offense to see in the opening weekend, but sad to see the UNLV o-line struggle so much at basic protection at the end
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1974–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeHawai'iUNLVevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Hawai'i won, gray: UNLV won)198020002020

The identity war

Hawai'i has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Hawai'i led 21 and UNLV led 2.

more passmore runHawai'iUNLV2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262011Hawai'i 31.5 ptsUNLV won 40-202004Hawai'i 28.4 pts2024Hawai'i 25.4 ptsUNLV won 29-27
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Hawai'i once won 7 in a row. The biggest win was Hawai'i by 38 in 2010. The biggest crowd, 38,125, was in 2007.

The coaching duels

Dick Tomey vs Tony Knap2-2
Nick Rolovich vs Tony Sanchez2-2
Norm Chow vs Bobby Hauck2-1
Dick Tomey vs Harvey Hyde2-0
Fred Vonappen vs Jeff Horton1-1
June Jones vs John Robinson0-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
47-32
Hawai'i leads
1st-rounders
1-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Hawai'iUNLV
1970s4-7
1980s11-6
1990s4-6
2000s20-11
2010s7-1
2020s1-1

Best picks, either side

2002Ashley Lelie Wide Receiver · Denver BroncosRd 1, pick 19#19 overall
1985Randall Cunningham Quarterback · Philadelphia EaglesRd 2, pick 9#37 overall
2004Travis LaBoy Defensive End · Tennessee TitansRd 2, pick 10#42 overall
2019Jahlani Tavai Inside Linebacker · Detroit LionsRd 2, pick 11#43 overall
2003Pisa Tinoisamoa Linebacker · St. Louis RamsRd 2, pick 11#43 overall
1986Walter Murray Wide Receiver · Washington RedskinsRd 2, pick 18#45 overall
1973Golden Richards Wide Receiver · Dallas CowboysRd 2, pick 20#46 overall
2000Adrian Klemm Offensive Tackle · New England PatriotsRd 2, pick 15#46 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Hawai'i1.15×its own average home crowd
UNLV1.09×its own average home crowd
2026UNLV21-6
2025UNLV38-10
2024UNLV29-27
2023UNLV44-20
2022Hawai'i31-25UNLV — UNLV favored by 11.0
2021UNLV27-13Hawai'i — Hawai'i routed by 14
2020Hawai'i38-21
2019Hawai'i21-7
2018Hawai'i35-28
2017UNLV31-23
2016UNLV41-38Hawai'i — Hawai'i favored by 10.0
2015UNLV41-21
2014Hawai'i37-35
2013UNLV39-37

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Hawai'i’s chance to win through that meeting. Hawai'i is 2-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2026: firestorm.

2026UNLV 21-6Hawai'i lost 6-21 vs UNLV. Chance to win started at 50%, low under 1%, high 55%.Firestorm
2025UNLV 38-10Hawai'i lost 10-38 at UNLV. Chance to win started at 35%, low under 1%, high 56%.Steady
2024UNLV 29-27Hawai'i lost 27-29 vs UNLV. Chance to win started at 19%, low 2%, high 32%.
2023UNLV 44-20Hawai'i lost 20-44 at UNLV. Chance to win started at 22%, low 1%, high 30%.
2022Hawai'i 31-25Hawai'i won 31-25 vs UNLV. Chance to win started at 21%, low 8%, high 97%.
2021UNLV 27-13Hawai'i lost 13-27 at UNLV. Chance to win started at 76%, low under 1%, high 80%.
2020Hawai'i 38-21Hawai'i won 38-21 vs UNLV. Chance to win started at 88%, low 87%, high 99%.
2019Hawai'i 21-7Hawai'i won 21-7 at UNLV. Chance to win started at 70%, low 36%, high better than 99%.
2018Hawai'i 35-28Hawai'i won 35-28 vs UNLV. Chance to win started at 78%, low 3%, high 95%.
“Jackson Arnold the power back. 😍🥳”
A UNLV fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “Jackson Arnold the power back. 😍🥳”
    A UNLV fan
  • 2025
    “Alejado's QB rating is 575.8 right now...”
    A Hawai'i fan

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