Overview
- The Hawaii Bowl kicks off on Christmas Eve at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu, matching Hawaii (8-4) against Cal (7-5).
- Cal’s coaching change frames the game, with Justin Wilcox fired Nov. 23, Rolovich guiding the Bears now, and Lupoi hired Dec. 4 to take over after Oregon’s College Football Playoff run.
- Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang faces Cal interim Nick Rolovich, his former teammate and fellow ex-Rainbow Warriors quarterback from 2000–01.
- Both offenses lean on young left-handed passers from Oahu, with Cal freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele at 3,117 passing yards and Hawaii’s Micah Alejado at 2,832 and 22 total touchdowns.
- Hawaii will be without top receiver Jackson Harris after he re-entered the transfer portal, while both starting quarterbacks are set to play.