The Nevada football team's game at Hawaii began at 9 p.m. Pacific time Saturday night, and the Wolf Pack sleepwalked through the first half. The second half wasn't much better.

Nevada, beaten on offense, defense and special teams, trailed 17-0 at halftime and was unable to recover in Hawaii's 34-31 victory, continuing Timmy Chang's dominance over the Wolf Pack.

Chang, who was an assistant at Nevada from 2017 to 2021, has a 3-0 record against the Wolf Pack since becoming Hawaii's head coach in 2022. He is just 4-23 against all other non-Nevada FBS programs this term.

Nevada was dominated by a much more physical Hawaii team that had its way with the Wolf Pack, who made a big play early in the second half but never really threatened Hawaii before succumbing to penalties, injuries and ultimately a much better Rainbow Warriors team . It was Nevada's most discouraging game of the season, as Hawaii was 0-5 against FBS opponents this season, scoring just 13.4 points per game in those contests, never more than 24.

But Hawaii's offense was nearly unstoppable Saturday night against Nevada, allowing Rainbow Warriors quarterback Brayden Schager four touchdowns, including two 1-yard tushes, a 3-yarder that led to a melee in the end zone, as well five unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and a 6-yard touchdown. Schager only had four rushing touchdowns in his first 38 college games.

Schager completed 14 of 25 passes for 153 yards and one interception, a first-half pick by Michael Coats Jr., who had his fourth interception of the season. But Hawaii got going early, rushing for 132 yards and 242 total yards before halftime, including a career-high 120 from Schager. The Rainbow Warriors entered the game averaging just 84 rushing yards per game, but for the third straight game, Hawaii crushed Nevada with its physical play, leading to numerous injuries.

Hawaii defeated Nevada 34-17 in 2022, marking Chang's first win over an FBS opponent. This was followed by a 31-16 victory over the Wolf Pack in Reno in 2023, which remains Chang's only road win as head coach of the Rainbow Warriors. The dominance continued Saturday as Hawaii built a 17-point halftime lead and Nevada collapsed in the second half despite a rushing touchdown after halftime.

Chubba Purdy got his first start at quarterback for Nevada after Brendon Lewis didn't suit up after failing to finish last week's game. On the second play of the second half, Purdy took advantage of a failed coverage by hitting Marcus Bellon with a 63-yard touchdown pass to pull Nevada within 17-10. The Wolf Pack then forced a punt, but Nevada was unable to capitalize on it. Hawaii responded with consecutive touchdowns around Nevada and failed to convert a fourth down on its own 28-yard line when Purdy was stopped without a quarterback keeper having any advantage. Schager's fourth rushing score came four plays later for a 31-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Maui native AJ Bianco, who played a few series while subbing in and out for Purdy, engineered a touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter in his home game in Hawaii, completing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Bellon met. Nevada recovered the ensuing onside kick. But it was too little, too late when Cortez Braham Jr. fumbled inside Hawaii's 20-yard line on the next drive with less than six minutes remaining in the Rainbow Warriors' game-winning play.

Purdy completed 13 of 18 passes for 155 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In his first long season with the Wolf Pack after two years each at Florida State and Nebraska, he had eight carries for 41 yards. Bianco was 13 of 21 for 131 yards and a score and added six carries for seven years. Nevada's ground game was held under 100 yards for the second straight day, with 29 carries for 94 yards.

Nevada entered Hawaii territory on all three drives in the first half but was unable to score on any of them as two fourth-down conversions failed and Matthew Killam missed a 46-yard field goal. Hawaii had no such trouble finishing drives, finishing 6 of 6 chances in the red zone with four touchdowns and two short field goals. Hawaii had a total advantage of 395-380 yards.

After improving on the penalty kill in recent games, Nevada returned to its early season form in that area on Saturday. The Wolf Pack received several unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and was flagged twelve times for 108 yards, with many penalties declined or offset by Hawaii flags.

Adding insult to injury, Nevada took a hit during the game. The Wolf Pack was already playing without Lewis and only got one carry from lead running back Savion Red, who suffered a toe injury on Nevada's second possession. DE Kaden Johnson also suffered a potentially serious knee injury, while DL Kristopher Ross was evaluated for an ankle injury and TE Andrew Savaiinaea dislocated his shoulder. Bianco, Braham and DT Thomas Witte all left the game with isolated complaints. Additionally, Chad Brown was called for helmet-to-helmet targeting in the second half, which will force him out of the first half of Nevada's game next Saturday at Colorado State.

The Wolfpack fell to 3-6 overall, nearly ending their bowl aspirations. Nevada also fell to 0-3 in Mountain West play, making it one of two teams in the conference without a league win (Air Force is 0-4 in the MW). After suffering its second-worst loss of the season – Nevada lost 27-0 to Minnesota – the Wolf Pack will look to bounce back next Saturday against Colorado State and its former head coach Jay Norvell, whose Rams are 5-3 and 3-0 overall the MW is one of three undefeated teams in league play. Colorado State is one win away from its first bowl berth since 2017.