HONOLULU – The University of Hawai‘i of the Mountain West and the University of California of the Atlantic Coast Conference will meet in the 2025 SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL. The 22^nd edition of the bowl game will be played Wednesday, Dec. 24 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus. The game will kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. HT) and will be televised on ESPN and broadcast on ESPN Radio. Tickets are currently on sale both online at etickethawaii.com and at the UH Ticket Office (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. HST, closed holidays). Prices range from $30-75. The Rainbow Warriors (8-4) will make their 11^th SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL appearance while the Golden Bears (7-5) will make their first appearance. "We are honored to welcome both of our 2025 SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL teams to Honolulu, where elite college football takes center stage alongside world-class hospitality,” said Daryl Garvin, Executive Director of the SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL. “Our bowl week showcases the aloha spirit that makes competing in Hawai‘i a truly memorable postseason experience.” Under fourth-year head coach Timmy Chang, the Warriors posted their highest win total since 2019 and tied for fifth place in the Mountain West with a 5-3 league mark. Hawai‘i did not lose back-to-back games all season and featured wins over Stanford and San Diego State. Placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa was named the Mountain West’s Special Teams Player of the Year and is one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award while quarterback Micah Alejado was the league’s Freshman of the Year. “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.” During his playing career, Chang competed in the SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL twice and was the game’s Most Outstanding Player both times. In 2003, he threw for 475 yards and five touchdowns in UH’s triple overtime 54-48 win over Houston. The following year, he amassed 405 yards and four TDs in a 59-40 win over UAB, capping a decorated career in which he finished as the NCAA’s all-time passing leader. The Golden Bears, who are looking for their first eight-win season since 2019, finished in a tie for seventh in the ACC standings. Former UH head coach and Rainbow Warrior quarterback Nick Rolovich is Cal’s interim head coach and led the Golden Bears to a thrilling 38-35 victory over SMU in the regular season finale, which was one of two wins over Top 25 ranked teams this season. Hawai‘i native Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is among the nation’s top quarterbacks while top target Jacob De Jesus was one of three first-team all-ACC performers and ranks third in FBS in receptions. “We are excited to accept an invitation from the SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL and continue our season in Honolulu,” Cal football general manager Ron Rivera said. “This is a reward for the hard work our student-athletes put in during the season, and we are looking forward to competing against an excellent Hawai‘i team in front of a nationally televised audience.” Rolovich led Hawai‘i to three SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL appearances during his four-year stint as head coach (2016-19) with wins over Middle Tennessee in 2016 and BYU in 2019. Mountain West teams have appeared in every SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL since 2012 with a 4-7 mark. The ACC will be making its first appearance. The SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL is known for its high-scoring, thrilling offenses, and close games with two overtime contests and seven games decided by one touchdown or less. In addition to promoting the island way of life by sponsoring events intrinsic to Hawai‘i, the bowl supports many non-profit organizations through the Hawai‘i Bowl Foundation. More than $1.8 million has been awarded to local charities since the inception of the Hawai‘i Bowl Foundation. Additionally, through the Extra Yard for Teachers program, the SHERATON HAWAI‘I BOWL has partnered with Teach for America Hawai’i to support teachers, schools and students. The bowl game was created in 2002 after the hometown Rainbow Warriors finished the 2001 season with a 9-3 record and were not invited to a bowl game.   About ESPN Events ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In the 2025-26 academic year, the 35-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premiere regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. Follow ESPN Events on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube pages.   About the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is the state agency responsible for representing the Hawaiian Islands around the world — and for holistically managing tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with community desires, economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources and visitor industry needs. HTA works with the community and industry to mālama Hawaiʻi — care for our beloved home. For more information about HTA, visit hawaiitourismauthority.org or follow @HawaiiHTA on Instagram, Threads and Facebook. Support provided by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through the Signature Events Program.   About Marriott Bonvoy®  Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel platform, connects travelers to the people, places, and passions they love through an extraordinary collection of hotels and experiences worldwide. The platform features over 30 hotel brands and 10,000 destinations, including the largest collection of luxury offerings, distinctive boutique properties, premium home rentals, and more, providing renowned hospitality across the globe. With unrivaled access to the best in entertainment, culinary, sports, outdoor adventure, arts, culture, and more, Marriott Bonvoy offers transformative travel experiences that leave a lasting impression. Marriott Bonvoy membership is free and unlocks unique benefits, including the ability to earn points through travel and everyday activities, like purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for free stays, experiences, and more. Visit marriottbonvoy.com for more information, and download the Marriott Bonvoy App here. Travelers can connect with Marriott Bonvoy on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. About Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort is an oceanfront resort located steps from renowned Waikiki Beach, and moments away from the area's top attractions, upscale shopping, family activities and exotic natural destinations, including Diamond Head crater. After a day spent exploring, relax in one of the resort's beautifully designed outdoor pools, pamper yourself with soothing spa treatments or dine at one of four on-site restaurants. In the evening, retreat to spacious newly-renovated beachfront accommodations, an open-air lanai and spectacular views. If visiting for event-planning reasons, take advantage of our resort's 16 contemporary meeting rooms featuring state-of-the-art audiovisual technology. About Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, LP Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, LP is a long-standing owner and steward of six landmark hotels and resorts across Hawai‘i and California. Its portfolio includes some of the most iconic properties in hospitality: the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa – the first hotel in Waikiki; The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort – affectionately known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific”; and San Francisco’s Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, celebrating 150 years of timeless elegance. Kyo-ya also owns the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Waikiki Beach, which recently completed a major renovation of its Ainahau Tower. The company has invested more than $150 million in recent years to enhance and preserve its Waikiki portfolio. Deeply committed to honoring the legacy of its properties, Kyo-ya continues to invest in the future of hospitality, preserving cultural integrity, supporting local communities through the Kyo-ya Hotels Foundation, and helping ensure Hawaii and San Francisco remain world-class destinations for generations to come. About Collections of Waikīkī Collections of Waikīkī is a thoughtfully-curated boutique shopping center featuring over 60 retailers and spas spanning four iconic resorts-- Sheraton Waikīkī, Royal Hawaiian, Moana Surfrider, and Princess Kaiulani. Just steps away from the shoreline, this shopping experience encapsulates what it feels like when world-class resort destinations meet vibrant culture, couture, and charm. For more information, visit https://collectionsofwaikiki.com/