HONOLULU (KHON2) — With a solidifying win in the last game of the season, the ‘Bows and Bears battle hit the limelight jackpot of 2025, the most-viewed Hawaiʻi Bowl game since 2013.
Hawaii Football Final – UH vs. Cal Hawaii Bowl announcement reaction
According to television viewership numbers, the 2013 Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl drew 2.73 million viewers on ESPN. The matchup featured two well-known programs, Oregon State from the Pac-12 and Boise State, a team that became nationally recognized for its winning tradition.
With a big stage, a holiday audience and a bowl setting in Honolulu, the game delivered one of the strongest viewership totals on the list. In the 2025 Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl, 2.7 million viewers tuned in, marking the highest viewership in over a decade.
On Dec. 24, 2025, the Rainbow Warriors took on the Cal Bears in a tight match-up, battling every which way to come out with the win. The Bears took the defeat as the ‘Bows came out victorious with an epic finish.
Cenacle caps UH career with dramatic game-winner in Hawai’i Bowl
The ‘Bows were down 21-10 before the end of the first half, but flipped the switch soon after the second half had arrived. At the beginning of the 4th quarter, the ‘Bows tied the game at 21 apiece, making it even tougher for the Bears to answer back and keep the lead.
4th-quarter quarrel:
The final score came down to the relentless effort from both sides of the field, biting for every inch that could get any team as close to the goal as they could…