Hawaii football concluded its 2020 regular season by defeating UNLV 38-21 at Aloha Stadium on Saturday night. Many, including myself, figured that meant Hawaii’s season had come to a close. After all, Hawaii has qualified for a bowl game 13 times in their history, and only twice have they gone to the mainland to do so. 1992 in San Diego, and 2007 in Louisiana. Surely with the Hawaii Bowl canceled, the Warriors are done, right?
Wrong.
The Mountain West shockingly announced that Hawaii will play Houston in the New Mexico Bowl. The New Mexico Bowl will actually be played in Frisco, Texas on December 24th, Christmas Eve. The game will be on ESPN at 3:30 EST. Albuquerque cannot host the game due to COVID-19 restrictions.
...and of all opponents, Hawaii will take on the 3-4 Houston Cougars. Hawaii and Houston played in one of the best bowl games I’ve ever watched in 2003, a 54-48 4 OT thriller. There was a huge brawl at the end too.
Congrats to Hawaii football and UH fans. Put on your bowling shoes.
We are excited to announce that @HawaiiFootball and @UHCougarFB will be making the trip to Frisco-querque to face off in the 15th Annual New Mexico Bowl on December 24th at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX! pic.twitter.com/tDVSCX4qbB
— New Mexico Bowl (@NMBowl) December 13, 2020
@HawaiiFootball will face Houston in the @NMBowl in Frisco, Texas on Dec 24.#AtThePeak | #WinEveryDay pic.twitter.com/2n33S8whYm
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) December 13, 2020
Sure Buddy, you tell'em! #bowlbound #HawaiiFB #WinEveryDay pic.twitter.com/amQlQ4w46t
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) December 13, 2020
It's not really Christmas unless #HawaiiFB plays in a bowl game! @NMBowl
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) December 13, 2020
Bowl Bound ➡️ https://t.co/35d7vPi01w pic.twitter.com/zKLFPdCVtJ