Christmas Eve Comes Full Circle for Hawaii Football in the 2025 Hawaii Bowl
If you’re looking for a college football game that feels bigger than just wins and losses, this year’s Sheraton Hawaii Bowl checks every box. On Christmas Eve, the spotlight shifts to Honolulu, where Hawaii football once again takes center stage, and the storyline feels almost scripted. The Rainbow Warriors are set to face California in a matchup filled with history, emotion, and a little bit of destiny.
This bowl game stands out immediately because it’s the only college football game scheduled on Christmas Eve, and it’s being played in the Aloha State. Hawaii enters the matchup with an 8–4 record, coming off a convincing 27–7 win over Wyoming, while Cal arrives at 7–5 after edging SMU 38–35. It’s been noted that Cal has struggled recently in bowl season, having dropped three straight bowl games, while Hawaii holds a respectable 5–4 all-time record in its namesake bowl. Even the betting odds reflect how close this game is expected to be, with Hawaii installed as a slim favorite.
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What truly elevates this matchup, though, is the personal connection on the sidelines. California head coach Nick Rolovich is returning to Manoa, a place that helped shape his entire football journey. His head coaching debut in college football came at Hawaii, and his final game with the Rainbow Warriors back in 2019 also happened to be in the Hawaii Bowl. Now, years later, he’s back on the islands, but this time leading the opposing team. It’s been described by Rolovich himself as something that “was not in the cards,” yet somehow feels perfectly timed.
Across the field stands Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang, a former quarterback who once shared a quarterback room with Rolovich in the early 2000s. Their shared history has added another emotional layer to this game. Both men credit those competitive days for shaping their success, and the mutual respect between them has been openly acknowledged. This isn’t just coach versus coach; it’s two former teammates whose paths have unexpectedly crossed again on one of college football’s most unique stages.
The game will also be played at the renovated Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, bringing old memories into a new setting. For Rolovich, it’s a chance to reconnect with the islands, former teammates, and a program he still deeply admires. It’s been said that college football is simply better when Hawaii football is thriving, and this bowl appearance feels like proof of that belief.
As kickoff approaches, this Hawaii Bowl isn’t just about predictions or point totals. It’s about history, relationships, and the powerful way football can bring everything full circle under the island lights on Christmas Eve.
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