Honolulu, December 25, 2025 — The University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Warriors closed out their most successful campaign in years with an inspiring 8-4 regular season record, culminating in a highly anticipated home appearance in the Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl on Christmas Eve against the California Golden Bears.
Under fourth-year head coach Timmy Chang — a former Rainbow Warrior quarterback and two-time Hawaiʻi Bowl MVP as a player — the program achieved its first true winning season since 2020 and earned bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019 (excluding COVID-era adjustments). Chang, named the American Football Coaches Association’s Region 5 Coach of the Year, guided UH to notable victories, including a season-opening upset over Stanford and a dominant 27-7 regular-season finale win over Wyoming, where quarterback Micah Alejado and wide receiver Cam Barfield each accounted for two touchdowns.
The Rainbow Warriors hosted the 22nd edition of the Hawaiʻi Bowl at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on December 24, marking their 11th all-time appearance in the event and the first since 2020. Facing Cal (7-5) from the ACC, with interim head coach Nick Rolovich — Chang's former teammate and ex-UH coach — added a special full-circle storyline to the matchup. The game, broadcast on ESPN, kicked off at 8 p.m. ET (3 p.m. HST), bringing holiday aloha to college football as the only bowl played outside the continental U.S.Here are some electrifying moments from the Rainbow Warriors' action-packed 2025 season:
The 2025 season marked a significant turnaround for the program under Chang, who has rebuilt the team with local talent and a focus on "playing for each other." As UH looks ahead to 2026 — with non-conference games against Stanford, Arizona State, New Mexico State, and Massachusetts — the foundation is stronger than ever.
The Rainbow Warriors hosted the 22nd edition of the Hawaiʻi Bowl at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on December 24, marking their 11th all-time appearance in the event and the first since 2020. Facing Cal (7-5) from the ACC, with interim head coach Nick Rolovich — Chang's former teammate and ex-UH coach — added a special full-circle storyline to the matchup. The game, broadcast on ESPN, kicked off at 8 p.m. ET (3 p.m. HST), bringing holiday aloha to college football as the only bowl played outside the continental U.S.Here are some electrifying moments from the Rainbow Warriors' action-packed 2025 season:
The 2025 season marked a significant turnaround for the program under Chang, who has rebuilt the team with local talent and a focus on "playing for each other." As UH looks ahead to 2026 — with non-conference games against Stanford, Arizona State, New Mexico State, and Massachusetts — the foundation is stronger than ever.