It’s not unusual for Hawaii and Fresno State to meet in the San Joaquin Valley in late October. The contest representing the season opener? Yet another oddity during the 2020 pandemic.
Few teams entered the altered 2020 season with more hurdles to clear than Hawaii and Fresno State. Hawaii lost their head coach to the mainland in January, then had spring ball canceled and summer workouts scaled back. Fresno State wasn’t allowed to meet in their team facility from March-September. The circumstances were not ideal, but there is no other option but to make lemonade out of lemons.