The California Golden Bears football team lost to Hawai’i 35-31 in the 2025 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl, held Wednesday evening at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu.
California built a 21-0 lead in the second quarter but could not hold off a comeback by the Rainbow Warriors. After falling behind 28-24 midway through the fourth quarter, Cal regained the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele with under two minutes left. However, Hawai’i scored a touchdown with just 10 seconds remaining to secure the win.
Wide receiver Jacob De Jesus set a new program record for single-season receptions, finishing the game with nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. His season total of 108 receptions also ties him for second place all-time among ACC receivers.
Sagapolutele, from Ewa Beach, Hawai’i, completed 28 of 39 passes for a career-high 343 yards and one touchdown. He ended his freshman year with 3,460 passing yards, ranking sixth on Cal’s single-season list. Senior Trond Grizzell contributed eight catches for 105 yards.
This was Cal’s third straight bowl appearance and their first winning season since 2019.
“We jumped on them, which was a great start for us,” Cal interim head coach Nick Rolovich said. “We talked about it – they were not going to give up. This meant too much to them midway through that game. And they came back and fought hard.”
De Jesus opened scoring for Cal with a 41-yard touchdown reception from Sagapolutele in the first quarter. Kendrick Raphael followed with a 19-yard rushing touchdown early in the second period, and true freshman Anthony League added an eight-yard run for his first career score before halftime to put Cal ahead by three touchdowns.
Hawai’i responded with three unanswered touchdowns before Chase Meyer kicked a field goal to give Cal another lead late in the game. Both teams exchanged touchdowns in the closing minutes before Hawai’i secured victory in the final seconds.
