Mountain West Media Days are here, but this year comes with a twist: no preseason poll, even as Hawaiʻi quarterback Micah Alejado was named the conference’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. We talk about Alejado’s rise, Timmy Chang’s long-awaited extension, and what the new season could mean for UH football.

Then we ask the uncomfortable question: what if Hawaiʻi took $1 million from football and gave it to Wahine Volleyball? UH may never reach the new $5 million revenue-sharing cap for mid-majors, and even if it did, football still feels far away from national-title contention — but with more investment, Wahine Volleyball could realistically chase championships every year like it used to.

We also get into how NIL was supposed to distribute TV money more fairly to players and coaches, but has instead turned into fans being asked to fund the gap.

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University of Hawaiʻi athletics took an important step forward by securing new NIL funding, but the bigger question remains: is it enough to keep UH competitive in the modern college sports landscape? We break down what the funding means, why NIL support matters more than ever, and why Hawaiʻi still faces major challenges compared to bigger-budget programs. From recruiting and retention to travel, facilities, and conference positioning, we discuss what UH needs next if it wants to truly level up. Plus, we go team-by-team through every active UH program and catch you up on the latest around Mānoa athletics.

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Hawaii Men’s Volleyball is chasing the biggest prize in the sport, and we ask whether this is the team that can finish the job and win it all. Along the way, we look at the success of the program’s jersey auctions, including the attention-grabbing “unwashed” twist, and why Hawaii should lean even harder into creative fan engagement. We also discuss Jordan Lucas and the national buzz he brought into Hawaii after turning heads last week. Championship pressure, smart marketing, and star power all collide in this episode. (And we beat the 13th Game drum for UH Football. Again.)