The University of Hawai’i football team will play in the 2025 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl on December 24 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex in Honolulu. The Rainbow Warriors, with a season record of 8-4, have accepted an invitation to face California from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
This appearance marks Hawai’i’s 11th time competing in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl and its first bowl bid since 2021, when the game was cancelled due to the pandemic. It is also the program’s first bowl under head coach Timmy Chang.
Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., and ESPN will broadcast the game nationally. Tickets are available online at etickethawaii.com and at the UH Ticket Office during regular business hours, with prices ranging from $30 to $75.
Timmy Chang commented on the upcoming matchup: “There’s nothing more fitting than Hawai’i in the SHERATON HAWAI’I BOWL,” Chang said. “I’ve been fortunate to play in the game during my playing career and it truly is one of the best bowl games in the country. It’s the only game on Christmas Eve and everyone is watching which will showcase not only our program but our university and the state of Hawai’i. I can’t wait for our players to experience the game and the bowl week activities and what better opponent than the Cal Bears.”
California enters with a 7-5 record after winning two of their last three games, making them bowl eligible and tying for seventh place in their conference. The Golden Bears are led by interim head coach Nick Rolovich, who previously served as both head coach and quarterback at Hawai’i. Rolovich coached Cal to a win over No. 21 SMU (38-35) to end their regular season.
Chang and Rolovich were teammates on Hawaii’s football team during 2000 and 2001 seasons.
The upcoming contest will be sixth meeting between Hawai’i and California; Cal leads their all-time series 3-2. Their most recent matchup took place in Sydney, Australia, in 2016—Rolovich’s debut as Hawaii’s head coach—which Cal won 51-31.
Rolovich led Hawai’i to three Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl appearances during his four years coaching there.
Hawai’i is one of seven Mountain West teams eligible for postseason bowls this year.
