The University of Hawaii football team has historically enjoyed the perk of playing most of its bowl games at home, with 23 out of 26 games held in Hawaii. Despite this home-field advantage, their overall bowl record is 10-13. This season, Hawaii (8-4) faces California (7-5) in the 2025 Hawaii Bowl on Wednesday at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu. Hawaii has a strong history in local bowl games such as the Poi Bowl, Pineapple Bowl, Aloha Bowl, and Oahu Bowl, and has appeared in the Hawaii Bowl nine times, winning five of those games, including a recent 38-34 victory over BYU in 2019. Their overall bowl record stands at 12-14 following a 28-14 win against Houston in the 2020 New Mexico Bowl. California, which went 12-13-1 in bowls after a 24-13 loss to UNLV last year, will also be making its second bowl appearance in Hawaii, having lost the 1996 Aloha Bowl to Navy.
With basketball and other major sports on hiatus for the day, the Hawaii Bowl takes center stage Wednesday night. Current college football predictions favor Hawaii by 1.5 points, with a total score set at 51.5. The Rainbow Warriors come off a solid 27-7 win over Wyoming, and California recently upset top-ranked SMU 38-35. Hawaii, playing effectively at home all season, is led by QB Micah Alejado, who ranks ninth nationally with 283.2 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, Cal’s Hawaiian native QB Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele ranks 18th nationally in passing yards at 259.8 per game and has thrown over 300 yards in their last two games, including four touchdowns in the season finale. Simulation models slightly favor California to win, while an expert leans toward Hawaii covering the spread.
Looking ahead to the NFL, the Detroit Lions host the Vikings in a crucial game Thursday at 4:30 p.m., with Lions needing a win to keep playoff hopes alive. In another NFL matchup, the Broncos face a struggling Chiefs team Thursday night at 8:15 p.m., as Denver seeks to clinch the AFC West title. The NBA also features a key Christmas Day game with the San Antonio Spurs visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder, where the Thunder are favored to cover a wide point spread.
Fan Take: This Hawaii Bowl matchup highlights the rising talent and excitement in college football in the Pacific region, giving basketball fans a chance to appreciate the crossover athleticism and competitive spirit often translating between football and basketball. The spotlight on this game during a quiet sports day could boost local enthusiasm and increase national attention on Hawaii’s athletic programs, contributing to the growth of sports culture in the islands.
