Imagine this: a bowl game that’s not just a showdown on the field, but a deeply personal homecoming for the coach leading the charge. That’s exactly what could be in store for Cal’s interim head coach, Nick Rolovich, as the Golden Bears gear up for their postseason journey. But here’s where it gets intriguing—several college football experts are predicting that Cal’s bowl game might land them in the Hawaii Bowl, pitting them against none other than the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, Rolovich’s former team. Talk about a full-circle moment!
According to projections from 10 respected analysts, five of them foresee Cal heading to the Hawaii Bowl, scheduled for December 24 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu. For Rolovich, this wouldn’t just be another game—it would be a return to the place where he once thrived as both a player and a coach. Back in 2000 and 2001, Rolovich was a standout quarterback for Hawaii, tossing an impressive 34 touchdown passes in 2001. Later, he took the reins as the Rainbow Warriors’ head coach from 2016 to 2019, leading them to the Hawaii Bowl three times and securing two victories. And this is the part most people miss—while the stadium has changed since his days there, the emotional weight of this potential matchup remains undeniable.
It’s worth noting that the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex wasn’t even the home stadium for Hawaii during Rolovich’s tenure. That honor belonged to Aloha Stadium, which is now slated for demolition in early 2026. Still, the prospect of Rolovich returning to Hawaii, even in a different venue, adds a layer of nostalgia and drama to the game.
Rolovich’s stint as Cal’s interim head coach has already been memorable. He guided the Bears to a thrilling 38-35 upset over SMU, securing Cal’s first winning season since 2019 and their best conference performance since 2009. Now, the question on everyone’s mind is: could this bowl game be the perfect capstone to his interim role?
But here’s where it gets controversial—while the Hawaii Bowl feels like a storybook scenario, it’s not the only possibility. Two other experts predict Cal could face TCU in either the Liberty Bowl or the Independence Bowl. What’s the twist? TCU’s head coach, Sonny Dykes, was Rolovich’s predecessor at Cal, adding another layer of intrigue to the postseason narrative.
Let’s not forget the broader context: Cal, as a former Pac-12 member, still has ties to six Pac-12-affiliated bowls. However, with an excess of bowl-eligible teams from the 2023 Pac-12, some schools will inevitably end up in non-affiliated games. The Hawaii Bowl, for instance, isn’t part of that group, but it remains a strong contender for Cal’s postseason destination.
So, what do you think? Is the Hawaii Bowl the perfect stage for Rolovich’s homecoming, or would a matchup against TCU and his former boss add even more spice to the story? Let us know in the comments—this is one postseason plotline that’s sure to spark debate!
Cal Bowl Projections from 10 Experts:
1. ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Hawaii Bowl – Cal vs. Hawaii (December 24, 5 p.m. ESPN)
2. CBS Sports (Brad Crawford): Hawaii Bowl – Cal vs. Hawaii (December 24, 5 p.m. ESPN)
3. Athlon Sports (Steven Lassan): Hawaii Bowl – Cal vs. Hawaii (December 24, 5 p.m. ESPN)
4. The Athletic (Scott Lochterman): Hawaii Bowl – Cal vs. Hawaii (December 24, 5 p.m. ESPN)
5. College Football News (Pete Fiutak): Hawaii Bowl – Cal vs. Hawaii (December 24, 5 p.m. ESPN)
6. ESPN (Kyle Bonagura): Liberty Bowl – Cal vs. TCU (January 2, 1:30 p.m. ESPN)
7. The Sporting News (Bill Bender): Las Vegas Bowl – Cal vs. Missouri (December 31, 12:30 p.m. ESPN)
8. SI (Bryan Fischer): Texas Bowl – Cal vs. Iowa State (December 27, 6:15 p.m. ESPN)
9. USA Today (Erick Smith): First Responder Bowl – Cal vs. North Texas (December 26, 8 p.m. ESPN)
10. Pro Football Network: Independence Bowl – Cal vs. TCU (December 30, 11 a.m. ESPN)
Pac-12 Affiliated Bowls:
- LA Bowl (December 13, 6 p.m. PT, SoFi Stadium, ESPN)
- Independence Bowl (December 30, 11 a.m. PT, Independence Stadium, ESPN)
- Las Vegas Bowl (December 31, 12:30 p.m. PT, Allegiant Stadium, ESPN)
- Sun Bowl (December 31, 11 a.m. PT, Sun Bowl Stadium, CBS)
- Alamo Bowl (December 30, 6 p.m. PT, Alamodome, ESPN)
- Holiday Bowl (January 2, 5 p.m. PT, Snapdragon Stadium, Fox)
