Getty AJ Swann and the Vanderbilt Commodores will take on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in the season opener.
The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0-0) and the Vanderbilt Commodores (0-0) will kick their respective 2023 seasons off on Saturday, August 26 at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.
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The game will be televised on SEC Network, but if you don’t have cable or don’t have that channel, you can watch a live stream for free on FuboTV or DirecTV Stream.
Here’s how:
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of SEC Network and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch Hawaii vs Vanderbilt live on the FuboTV app or FuboTV website.
Compatible devices for the FuboTV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch live on the ESPN app or ESPN.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Fubo credentials to do that.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” SEC Network is included in “Choice” and up, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch Hawaii vs Vanderbilt live on the DirecTV Stream app or DirecTV Stream website.
Compatible devices for the DirecTV Stream app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch live on the ESPN app or ESPN.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials to do that.
Sling TV
If you’ve used up all your free trials for other streaming services, Sling TV is the cheapest long-term streaming service that includes this game. SEC Network is included in the “Sling Orange + Sports Extra” bundle, which is just $31 for your first month:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch Hawaii vs Vanderbilt live on the Sling TV app or Sling TV website.
Compatible devices for the Sling TV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch live on the ESPN app or ESPN.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Sling credentials to do that.
Hawaii vs Vanderbilt Preview
The wildfires in Maui that have left thousands displaced, over 100 people dead and hundreds yet unaccounted for will no doubt loom large over this game, the first one of the season for the Rainbow Warriors.
“They’re a hungry team,” Commodores defensive lineman Nate Clifton said about Hawaii. “They went through the same experience we went through a couple of years ago. They started with a rough first season with their new coach, but I know they’re gonna come in hungry. They’re traveling a long way to get here, so they’re not coming here for no reason.”
“Their hearts are heavy, just as my heart is heavy, for the people of Maui,” Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang said about his team. “But my guys know the best way to go and do their part is to make these people of Maui proud, and make the state proud, by winning football games. They’ve been really focused on that.”
The Rainbow Warriors finished with a 3-10 mark last season, netting 19.8 points a game on offense and 34.7 points per contest on defense.
Hawaii quarterback Brayden Schager, who threw for 2,300 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season, will be back, as will running back Tylan Hines. They led an offense that averaged 216.8 passing yards and 137.2 yards on the ground last year.
On the other side, Vanderbilt finished with a 5-7 record last year, averaging 24.6 points a game on offense and surrendering 36.0 points a game on defense. AJ Swann will be under center for the Commodores.
Swann threw for 1,274 yards, 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in nine games in 2022 and should have a better statistical season this year. In 2022, Vandy averaged 194.6 yards passing and 159.9 yards rushing per game. Considering the offense is returning seven starters, those numbers could be even higher this season.
The Commodores and Rainbow Warriors met the first week of the college football season last year, with Vanderbilt winning handily on the road, 63-10.
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How to Watch Hawaii vs Vanderbilt Football Game for Free