The Super Bowl concluded Sunday evening, signaling the end of the 2018-2019 football calendar, but the Mountain West already has their eye on fall 2019. The Mountain West announced the complete schedule, mostly the conference schedule details that were previously unknown. Hawaii is coming off of a surprising 2018 season, in which Hawaii finished 8-6 despite outside expectations being low. According to SB Nation’s own Bill Connelly, Hawaii ranks 9th nationally in returning production. Are expectations on the rise? Here is the schedule:

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2019 Hawaii Warriors Schedule

Aug. 24 - Arizona

Aug. 31 - Bye

Sept. 7 - Oregon State

Sept. 14 - @Washington

Sept. 21 - Central Arkansas

Sept. 28 - @Nevada*

Oct. 5 - Bye

Oct. 12 - @Boise State*

Oct. 19 - Air Force*

Oct. 26 - @New Mexico*

Nov. 2 - Fresno State*

Nov. 9 - San Jose State*

Nov. 16 - @UNLV*

Nov. 23 - San Diego State*

Nov. 30 - Army

*conference game

-home games in bold

Early Observations:

I’ll be doing a deeper dive into this schedule in the coming months, but early glance points to obvious details. The biggest one being three Pac-12 opponents in the first three games. Hawaii will open up in Week 0 again, a seemingly new tradition, with the Arizona Wildcats. Oregon State, Fresno State (ranked in 2018), San Diego State, Army (ranked in 2018) are also on the home slate, and there has never been a better time to buy season tickets for Hawaii home games. This team will have ample opportunity to prove themselves. You’ll also notice Hawaii plays 8 home games. No need to wash your screen, you read that correctly. 8 home games (!!).

Another shocker: Hawaii will only play 5 road games, and all 5 of them have direct flights from Honolulu to the game city location. That has to be the first time in a long time that’s happened, and Rolovich and his team have to be thrilled about that. No more sitting around for connecting flights. Eight home games, five road games, not required to have connecting flights: the opponents are tougher than 2018’s, but Hawaii couldn’t ask for a better logistical situation, assuming that moving the islands closer to California isn’t an option.

The cross-divisional slate changes in 2019. Out goes Colorado State, Utah State, and Wyoming, in comes Air Force, Boise State, and New Mexico. Difficulty wise, feels like a near straight swap. In divisional play, all the California opponents come to Hawaii this year, highlighted by Fresno State’s arrival on November 2nd.

It’s easy to miss it, but Hawaii will get a return game from Army at the very end of the 2019 regular season. Those not-to-be-taken-too-seriously, way-too-early Top 25 rankings, are all including the Black Knights, so that might be another big opportunity for the Warriors, who nearly stunned Army at West Point in 2018.

We’ll dig deeper in the coming months, but fans can officially flip the sports calendar and start thinking about the 2019 season. Hawaii should begin spring practice in late March/early April.