California vs. Hawai’i: Time, Date, TV Channel, 2025 Hawai’i Bowl Preview
It's time for a tropical excursion!
It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship.
NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest bringing us to the tropics:
2025 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl
Matchup: California Golden Bears vs. Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Stadium: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex — Honolulu, Hawai’i
TV: ESPN
Game Overview
The Hawai’i Bowl is not affiliated with other bowl games previously staged in Hawaii: the Poi Bowl (1936–1939), Pineapple Bowl (1940–1941, 1947–1952), Aloha Bowl (1982–2000), and O’ahu Bowl (1998–2000).
It’s better!
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex is host to one of the more unique games of bowl season, which has featured such luminaries as Timmy Chang, Colt Brennan, Brandon Marshall, Chris Johnson, Golden Tate and Davante Adams to win MVP.
Team Overviews
California Golden Bears
Conference: ACC
Head Coach: Nick Rolovich (Interim)
Record: 7–5
California is on the way up, having already decided to hire Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupo to become the school’s next head coach and pair him with quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.
The Golden Bears will enter this game in a state of flux, though, as Nick Rolovich will stand in for the fired Justin Wilcox — facing the same team who he coached from 2016-2019.
Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Conference: Mountain West
Head Coach: Timmy Chang
Record: 8-4
Hawai’i also has the arrow pointing up, winning their most games (8) since 2019 (10) and finishing with their best conference winning percentage (.625) since 2010 (875).
Timmy Chang, the club’s former starting quarterback and current head coach, has gotten them on the right path and can win his first ever bowl game as head coach.
Players to Watch
Cal
QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele
RB Kendrick Raphael
WR Jacob De Jesus
TE Mason Mini
LB TJ Bush
LB Cade Uluave
DB Hezekiah Masses
Hawai’i
QB Micah Alejado
RB Landon Sims
RB Cam Barfield
WR Pofele Ashlock
DL Jackie Johnson III
DL De’jon Benton
Key Notes
Hawai’i, quite naturally, is making its game-leading 10th appearance in 2025.
Timmy Chang will coach the Rainbow Warriors, looking to win his third Hawai’i Bowl — a game in which he won MVP in both 2003 and 2004.
Betting Lines
DraftKings Sportsbook: Hawai’i -1.5 | O/U 52.5
FanDuel Sportsbook: Hawai’i -1.5 | O/U 52.5
BetMGM Sportsbook: Hawai’i -1.5 | O/U 52.5
The Pick: California ML
