Hawaii Bowl Preview: Cal and Hawaii Set for High-Octane Showdown in Honolulu
The Hawaii Bowl is serving up more than just a tropical backdrop this year-it’s giving us a matchup between two teams with something to prove and plenty of firepower to do it. Cal (7-5) and Hawaii (8-4) will square off Wednesday evening at Clarence T.C.
Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. PT on ESPN.
This one has the makings of a shootout, and with both teams leaning heavily on the pass, fans should buckle up for a high-flying affair under the island lights.
Cal’s Bowl Journey and a Changing of the Guard
For Cal, this game is about closing the chapter on one era and opening another. The Bears are playing in their third straight bowl game and aiming for their first eight-win season since 2019. But the bigger storyline is what’s ahead.
Tosh Lupoi, a former Cal standout and longtime assistant coach at the college and NFL levels, is set to take over as head coach following the dismissal of Justin Wilcox after a tough 31-10 loss to Stanford in the Big Game. But before Lupoi officially takes the reins, interim head coach Nick Rolovich-yes, the same Rolovich who once led Hawaii to a 10-win season-will guide the Bears one final time.
He helped Cal close the regular season with a statement win over then-No. 21 SMU, 38-35.
At quarterback, Cal’s got a rising star in freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. The young gunslinger has thrown for 3,117 yards this season-second only to Davis Webb’s 4,295-yard campaign in 2016 among Cal QBs. Sagapolutele’s poise and production have been a revelation, and he’ll be key if Cal wants to light up the scoreboard in Honolulu.
On the ground, junior running back Kendrick Raphael has quietly put together a strong season. He’s just 118 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark and has 13 touchdowns to his name.
That puts him in elite company-only Jahvid Best, Justin Forsett, and J.J. Arrington have scored more in a single season among Cal backs this century.
Hawaii’s Resurgence Under a Familiar Face
Timmy Chang knows what it means to wear a Rainbow Warriors jersey. The former record-setting Hawaii quarterback is now in his fourth year as head coach, and he’s got his alma mater trending in the right direction. This is Hawaii’s best season since 2019, when they went 10-5 under-ironically-Nick Rolovich.
Hawaii has already knocked off San Diego State and Stanford this season, two teams that beat Cal. And they’ve done it behind the arm of redshirt freshman Micah Alejado, a Honolulu native who’s quickly becoming a hometown hero.
Alejado has thrown for 2,832 yards and 21 touchdowns, including a five-game stretch where he tossed three TDs in each contest. He’s not the biggest quarterback out there at 5-foot-10, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in precision. At Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, he racked up 125 touchdown passes to just four interceptions over four years-those are video game numbers.
While Alejado’s top target, Jackson Harris, has entered the transfer portal and won’t be available, junior receiver Pofele Ashlock has stepped up with 62 catches, 704 yards, and six touchdowns this season. Expect him to be heavily involved again.
Key Matchups and Stats to Watch
This game could turn into an air raid on both sides. Cal ranks dead last in the nation in rushing (76.5 yards per game), and Hawaii isn’t much better at 125th (104.0). Translation: this one’s going to be decided through the air.
Keep an eye on Cal wide receiver Jacob De Jesus. He’s already had a monster year and needs just one more catch to tie the program’s single-season reception record of 100, set by Dameane Douglas in 1998. De Jesus has been a do-it-all weapon for the Bears, earning All-ACC honors at three positions and ranking third nationally in receptions with 99.
On the other side, Hawaii’s got a secret weapon in the kicking game. Senior placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa-nicknamed the “Tokyo Toe”-has been nearly automatic.
He’s nailed 25 of 26 field goal attempts, including a perfect 11-for-11 from 40 yards and beyond, earning him a spot on the AP All-America first team. If this game comes down to special teams, Hawaii’s got a major edge.
A Bit of History Between the Two
These programs don’t meet often, but there’s some history here. Cal leads the all-time series 3-2, including a 51-31 win in their last meeting back in 2016-played all the way in Sydney, Australia.
That game was Davis Webb’s Cal debut, where he threw for 441 yards and four touchdowns. Chad Hansen caught 14 of those passes for 160 yards and two scores.
But the very first meeting between these two? That was way back on New Year’s Day in 1935, also in Honolulu. Hawaii came out on top in that one, 14-0.
Final Thoughts
This Hawaii Bowl isn’t just a reward for two solid seasons-it’s a launching pad. For Cal, it’s a chance to finish strong before turning the page to a new coaching era. For Hawaii, it’s a statement opportunity on their home turf, led by a quarterback who grew up just miles from the stadium.
With both teams leaning on young quarterbacks and dynamic offenses, don’t be surprised if this one turns into a track meet. And with records on the line, coaching transitions in motion, and island pride at stake, there’s more than enough intrigue to make this a must-watch on Wednesday night.