The 2023 Hawaii Bowl features the 7-5 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers against the 7-5 San Jose State Spartans. Here is the 2023 Hawaii Bowl Preview.
Coastal Carolina won seven games to make their fourth straight bowl game. They won six games against bowl-eligible teams: Jacksonville State, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Marshall, Old Dominion and Texas State. All five of their losses came to teams that went at least .500 on the season.
The Chanticleers score 28 points per game, which ranks them 61st in the country. They pass for 266.9 yards (ranked 33rd) and rush for 156.1 yards per game (ranked 70th).
Grayson McCall was the starting quarterback for Chanticleers this season, but he is in the transfer portal. That means Ethan Vasko will likely start at quarterback after passing for 580 yards and four touchdowns this season. Five players have over 200 receiving yards on the season. Sam Pinckney leads the team with 64 catches for 904 yards and seven touchdowns. The second-leading target, Jared Brown, is in the transfer portal.
Two of the top running backs, Braydon Bennett and CJ Beasley, are in the transfer portal. That means most of the work out of the backfield will go to Reese White, who rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Defensively, Coastal Carolina allows 24.7 points per game, ranking them 56th in the country. They give up 168.5 rushing yards (ranked 97th) and 211.5 passing yards per game (ranked 44th). Safety Clayton Isbell has led the team with 86 total tackles. He also has five passes defended and three interceptions, which cornerback Keonte Lusk has matched. Micheal Mason leads the team with 4.5 sacks.
San Jose State won seven games to qualify for their second-straight bowl game. The Spartans defeated three bowl-eligible teams: Utah State, Fresno State and UNLV. All five of their losses were to bowl-eligible teams.
The Spartans score 33.3 points per game, ranking them 31st in the FBS. They pass for 219.8 yards (ranked 74th) and rush for 186.2 yards per game (ranked 28th).
Chevan Cordeiro has had a good season for the Spartans at quarterback. He has passed for 2,558 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions on 62.2 percent completion. Six receivers have over 200 yards on the season. Top receiver Nick Nash has hauled in 47 passes for 704 yards and eight touchdowns. The second-leading receiver, tight end Dominick Mazotti, is in the transfer portal.
Two players have done most of the damage on the ground for the Spartans. Kairee Robinson has been a star with 1,127 yards and 18 touchdowns. Behind him, Quali Conley rushed for 809 yards and eight touchdowns.
On defense, the Spartans give up 25.8 points per game, ranking 61st in the country. They allow 172.9 rushing yards (ranked 102nd) and 181.7 passing yards per game (ranked 14th). Linebacker Bryun Parham leads the team with 94 total tackles. Tre Smith has the team high with 5.5 sacks. Jay’Vion Cole has been great in the secondary with 10 passes defended and three interceptions.
Coastal Carolina has too many key players in the transfer portal. San Jose State’s offense has too many playmakers and the Chanticleers won’t be able to keep up.
San Jose State Spartans 28 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 21
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