2021 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team

2021 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football
Hawaii Bowl vs. Memphis, Canceled
ConferenceMountain West Conference
Record6–7 (3–5 MW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBo Graham (1st season)
Offensive schemeRun and gun
Defensive coordinatorTrent Figg (de facto) (1st season)
Base defense4–2–5 hybrid "War Dog"
Captains
Home stadiumClarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Mountain Division
No. 24 Utah State xy$   6 2     11 3  
Air Force x   6 2     10 3  
Boise State   5 3     7 5  
Wyoming   2 6     7 6  
Colorado State   2 6     3 9  
New Mexico   1 7     3 9  
West Division
No. 25 San Diego State xy   7 1     12 2  
Fresno State   6 2     10 3  
Nevada   5 3     8 5  
Hawaii   3 5     6 7  
San Jose State   3 5     5 7  
UNLV   2 6     2 10  
Championship: Utah State 46, San Diego State 13
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rainbow Warriors played their home games on the campus at the Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex as members of the West Division of the Mountain West Conference.[1] They were led by second-year head coach Todd Graham.

Despite losing three straight games en route to finishing the regular season 6–7 overall, the team was invited to play in the Hawaii Bowl as a conditionally eligible team after the NCAA added an extra bowl game to the schedule.[2] The team accepted the bid on December 3, 2021,[3] marking the team's fourth consecutive postseason appearance, a new program record. However, due to a COVID-19 outbreak, season-ending injuries, and transfers, the team was forced to withdraw the day before the game, marking the Hawaii Bowl’s second consecutive cancellation.[4]

On January 14, 2022, Graham announced his resignation as head coach after reports surfaced of player unrest with his coaching style, along with a report that an apparent players-only vote to not play in the Hawaii Bowl had taken place without his knowledge. He finished 11–11 with two bowl appearances in two seasons, winning the New Mexico Bowl in 2020.

  1. ^ "UH Athletics Prepares to Play Football On-Campus in 2021". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "Waiver approved for replacement bowl game". bowlseason.com. December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021. Hawaii is an alternate ahead of any 5-7 teams because it participated in 13 regular-season contests and finished the season with six wins that count toward meeting the definition of a 'deserving team.'
  3. ^ Kenerly, Matthew (December 2, 2021). "Hawaii Football: Warriors To Face Memphis in EasyPost Hawaii Bowl". Mountain West Wire. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "Hawaii has pulled out of the Hawaii Bowl game against Memphis because of COVID-19, season-ending injuries and transfers". ABC News. AP. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.