Hawaii receiver Pofele Ashlock catches a touchdown pass. Photo courtesy Hawai‘i Athletics

Hawaii will face California at 3 p.m. Dec. 24 in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, marking the Rainbow Warriors’ 16th bowl bid and 11th appearance in the annual bowl game in Honolulu.

Including Hawaii, that gives the Mountain West Conference seven teams in bowl games this year, marking the 18th time in the last 19 years with at least five Mountain West teams competing in the postseason. The lone exception was the 2020 COVID-affected season.

Other Mountain West teams to make bow games this season include Boise State, Fresno State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV and Utah State.

This is also Hawaii’s first bowl bid under coach Timmy Chang, who played in the game twice as the Rainbow Warriors’ quarterback, earning Most Outstanding Player honors in 2003 and 2004.

Hawaii (8-4, 5-3 MW) will face a Cal team that finished 7-5 overall and whose interim coach, Nick Rolovich, is a former Hawaii head coach and Rainbow Warrior quarterback and Chang’s teammate from 2000-01.

Hawaii and Cal have met five times previously, with the Golden Bears holding a 3-2 series lead. The teams last met in 2016 in Sydney, Australia, which was Rolovich’s debut as Hawaii’s head coach and resulted in a Cal win.

Hawaii comes into the game with the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year in kicker Kansei Matsuzawa and Mountain West Freshman of the Year Micah Alejado.

Bucked Up LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk

Boise State vs. Washington

Dec. 13 in Inglewood, Calif.

2025 Mountain West champion Boise State (9-4, 6-2 MW) will take on Washington (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten).

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop

Dec. 27 in Tucson, Ariz.

Fresno State (8-4, 5-3 MW) will play Mid-American Conference runner-up Miami (Ohio) (7-6, 6-2 MAC).

Rate Bowl

New Mexico vs. Minnesota

Dec. 26 in Phoenix, Ariz.

Winner of six straight games entering the postseason, New Mexico (9-3, 6-2 MW) will face Minnesota (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten).

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

San Diego State vs. North Texas

Saturday, Dec. 27 in Albuquerque, New Mexico

San Diego State (9-3, 6-2 MW) will take on American Conference runner-up North Texas (11-2, 7-1 American).

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl

UNLV vs. Ohio

Dec. 23 in Frisco, Texas

Receiving votes in both The Associated Press and AFCA polls, UNLV (10-3, 6-2 MW) will square off against Ohio (8-4, 6-2).

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Utah State vs. Washington State

Monday, Dec. 22 in Boise, Idaho

Utah State (6-6, 4-4 MW) will play Washington State (6-6, 1-1 Pac-12).