Cal vs. Hawaii College Football Showdown: Key Stats, Players, and Matchup Preview
Cal (7-5) will face off against Hawaii (8-4) on December 24 at 8 p.m. EST. The opening line from BetMGM College Football Odds is Cal by 1.5, with Cal having a 5-7 record against the spread and Hawaii holding an 8-4 record. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Key stats for Cal show that their offense averages 347.3 yards per game, with 270.2 passing yards and 77.2 rushing yards. They score an average of 24.8 points per game. On the defensive side, Cal allows 359.0 yards per game, with 197.3 passing yards and 161.7 rushing yards. They give up an average of 26.5 points per game.
Hawaii's offense averages 393.7 yards per game, with 289.7 passing yards and 104.0 rushing yards. They score an average of 28.5 points per game. Defensively, Hawaii allows 351.3 yards per game, with 218.0 passing yards and 133.3 rushing yards. They give up an average of 23.5 points per game.
Cal struggles on third down defense, ranking 92nd in the FBS with a 41.1% conversion rate for opponents. Hawaii's offense excels on third downs, ranking 33rd with a 44.8% conversion rate. Both teams face penalty issues, with Cal averaging 62.9 penalty yards per game (112th) and Hawaii averaging 66.6 penalty yards per game (125th).
In the red zone, Cal's defense ranks 57th, allowing opponents to score on 82.5% of trips. Hawaii's offense ranks 2nd, scoring on 94.6% of red zone opportunities. Hawaii also boasts a strong time of possession average, ranking 21st in the FBS with 32:05.
Key players for Cal include Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in passing, Kendrick Raphael in rushing, and Jacob De Jesus in receiving. For Hawaii, Micah Alejado leads in passing, Landon Sims in rushing, and Jackson Harris in receiving.
In their last games, Cal defeated SMU 38-35, with Sagapolutele throwing for 330 yards and four touchdowns. Raphael rushed for 111 yards and one touchdown, while De Jesus had 97 receiving yards and one touchdown. Hawaii won 27-7 against Wyoming, with Alejado passing for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Barfield and Harris also contributed with rushing and receiving touchdowns, respectively.
The upcoming matchup between Cal and Hawaii promises to be an exciting game with both teams showcasing their strengths and key players. Be sure to tune in on December 24 to catch all the action.