Today marks the beginning of 41 bowl games over the next 23 days ending with the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 8. Read more
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Today marks the beginning of 41 bowl games over the next 23 days ending with the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 8. Forty-six percent of those bowl games (19) include a team with at least one player listed on the roster who graduated from high school in Hawaii. Here’s a look at those 19 games and the players involved (All times Hawaii time):
TODAY
Las Vegas Bowl
>> No. 25 Boise State (10-3) vs. Oregon (7-5)
>> Las Vegas
>> 10:30 a.m., KITV
BSU: DB Kekaula Kaniho, 5-10, 175, Fr. (Kahuku); DB Ma’a Tanuvasa, 6-1, 197, Fr. (Mililani). UO: DL Scott Pagano, 6-4, 294, Sr. (Moanalua); TE Matt Mariota, 6-2, 224, Soph. (Saint Louis); LB Kaulana Apelu, 5-11, 200, Jr. (Kamehameha); LB Isaac Slade-Matautia, 6-0, 225, Fr. (Saint Louis); K/P Adam Stack, 6-2, 177, Fr. (Kamehameha).
Notes: Kaniho has played in all 13 games this year and earned his first start at linebacker in his eighth game and ended the season starting four of the last six … He scored his first career TD on a 34-yard fumble return against San Diego State and has made 29 tackles this year with 41⁄2 for loss … Tanuvasa has not played this year … Pagano has started only one game (Stanford) since transferring from Clemson and has four tackles in limited action … Apelu played in five games and made three starts before suffering a season-ending ankle injury … Apelu earned a scholarship before the start of the season and finished with 20 tackles and three tackles for loss … Slade-Matautia redshirted this season … Stack is the backup kicker and starting punter and averaged 38.0 yards on 54 punts with a long of 50 and 13 inside the 20-yard line.
TUESDAY, DEC. 19
Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
>> Akron (7-6) vs. Florida Atlantic (10-3)
>> Boca Raton, Fla.
>> 2 p.m., ESPN
FAU: DL Jeremiah Taleni, 6-1, 285, Sr. (Kailua).
Notes: Taleni, a Pittsburgh transfer, started all 13 games for the Owls and made 28 tackles while tying for a team high with five sacks.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20
DXL Frisco Bowl
>> Louisiana Tech (6-6) vs. SMU (7-5)
>> Frisco, Tex.
>> 3 p.m., ESPN
SMU: DL Pono Davis, 6-2, 282, Soph. (KS-Hawaii).
Notes: Davis has played in all 12 games with 11 starts and made 24 tackles with three for a loss and a sack.
FRIDAY, DEC. 22
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
>> Central Michigan (8-4) vs. Wyoming (7-5)
>> Boise, Idaho
>> 11 a.m., ESPN
UW: DB Tim Kamana, 5-11, 213, Sr. (Punahou).
Notes: Kamana has played in all 12 games as the backup strong safety and made six tackles.
SATURDAY, DEC. 23
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
>> San Diego State (10-2) vs. Army (9-3)
>> Fort Worth, Tex.
>> 10:30 a.m., ESPN
SDSU: LB Andrew Aleki, 6-3, 220, Fr. (Kamehameha); LB Ronley Lakalaka, 6-0, 225, Jr. (Punahou); DL Dakota Turner, 6-3, 250, Sr. (Mililani); LB Seyddrick Lakalaka, 6-1, 220, Fr. (Punahou). Army: RB Calen Holt, 6-0, 230, Jr. (Kamehameha).
Notes: Aleki has missed only one game (illness) and had 15 tackles as the No. 2 middle linebacker on the depth chart … Ronley Lakalaka made the All-MWC second team at outside linebacker and leads the team with 67 tackles … Turner missed his first four games (knee) but has made four starts and has 15 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery … Seyddrick Lakalaka is redshirting … Holt is fifth on the Knights with 207 rushing yards and a TD.
SUNDAY, DEC. 24
Hawaii Bowl
>> Fresno State (9-4) vs. Houston (7-4)
>> Honolulu
>> 3:30 p.m., ESPN
FSU: LB Tainoa Foster, 6-2, 200, Fr. (Kamehameha); OL Netane Muti, 6-3, 310, Fr. (Leilehua).
Notes: Foster played in his first three games before suffering a season-ending injury … Muti has started every game at left guard this season and was All-MWC honorable mention.
TUESDAY, DEC. 26
Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
>> Utah (6-6) vs. West Virginia (7-5)
>> Dallas
>> 8:30 a.m., ESPN
Utah: OL Jordan Agasiva, 6-4, 245, Jr. (Mililani); DE Bradlee Anae, 6-3, 259, Soph. (Kahuku); LB Kavika Luafatasaga, 6-4, 235, Sr. (Farrington); DE Mika Tafua, 6-3, 228, Fr. (Kamehameha); OL Mo Unutoa, 6-5, 280, Fr. (Kapaa).
Notes: Agasiva has started nine games at right guard, missing three with an injury … Anae has started nine games at defensive end and is tied for second in the Pac-12 with three forced fumbles and sixth with seven sacks. He leads the Utes with 10 tackles for loss … Luafatasaga was All-Pac-12 honorable mention and leads the Utes with 76 tackles … Tafua recently joined team after returning from a mission … Unutoa is redshirting.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27
Foster Farms Bowl
>> Arizona (7-5) vs. Purdue (6-6)
>> Santa Clara, Calif.
>> 3:30 p.m., KHON
UA: OL Michael Eletise, 6-3, 318, Fr. (Kaiser).
Notes: Eletise is the No. 2 left guard on the depth chart.
THURSDAY, DEC. 28
Military Bowl Pres. by Northrop Grumman
>> Virginia (6-6) vs. Navy (6-6)
>> Annapolis, Md.
>> 8:30 a.m., ESPN
Navy: WR Keoni-Kordell Makekau, 5-11, 170, Fr. (‘Iolani); DE Alema Kapoi, 6-0, 275, Fr. (Kamehameha); OL Adam Amosa-Tagovailoa, 6-2, 268, Jr. (Campbell).
Notes: Makekau got his first action this season and is 10th on the team with 98 rushing yards, finishing with a career-high 49 yards on seven carries against Notre Dame … Kapoi has not played this season … Amosa-Tagovailoa is listed No. 3 at left tackle.
Valero Alamo Bowl
>> No. 13 Stanford (9-4) vs. No. 15 TCU (10-3)
>> San Antonio, Tex.
>> 4 p.m., ESPN
Stan: OL Nate Herbig, 6-4, 339, Soph. (Saint Louis); K Jet Toner, 6-4, 200, Soph. (Punahou). TCU: FB Pakamiaiaea Davis, 6-2, 240, Sr. (KS-Hawaii).
Notes: Herbig was named All-Pac-12 first team and started all but one game at left guard this season … Toner is 20-for-24 on field goals this season with a long of 46 yards … Davis has appeared in two games.
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
>> No. 18 Washington State (9-3) vs. No. 16 Michigan State (9-3)
>> San Diego, Calif.
>> 4 p.m., KHON
WSU: DL Kingston Fernandez, 6-2, 276, Jr. (Kapolei); DL Hercules Mata’afa, 6-2, 252, Jr. (Lahainaluna); WR Kainoa Wilson, 5-11, 169, Soph. (Mililani); OL Niisson Gaisoa, 6-5, 318, Fr. (Kailua); DE Christian Mejia, 6-3, 223, Fr. (Kailua).
Notes: Fernandez is a backup defensive tackle who has made two tackles in four games … Mata’afa won the Polynesian College Football player of the year award and was named first-team All-American and Pac-12 defensive player of the year by the Associated Press. He has 43 tackles with 21.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks … Wilson, Gaisoa, Mejia have not played this season.
FRIDAY, DEC. 29
Hyundai Sun Bowl
>> No. 24 NC State (8-4) vs. Arizona State (7-5)
>> El Paso, Tex.
>> 10 a.m., KGMB
ASU: DB Joey Bryant, 6-1, 180, Jr. (Saint Louis); LB Parker Higgins, 5-11, 223, Fr. (Kaiser); TE Josh Pokraka, 6-0, 233, Jr. (Kaiser).
Notes: Bryant started at cornerback before suffering a season-ending knee injury in his fourth game after making 15 tackles, including a sack, and intercepting a pass … Higgins and Pokraka have not seen significant playing time.
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
>> Kentucky (7-5) vs. No. 21 Northwestern (9-3)
>> Nashville, Tenn.
>> 11:30 a.m., ESPN
NW: RB Chad Hanaoka, 5-6, 188, Sr. (‘Iolani).
Notes: Hanaoka appeared in one game and carried the ball once for 5 yards.
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl
>> Utah State (6-6) vs. New Mexico State (6-6)
>> Tucson, Ariz.
>> 11:30 a.m., CBSSN
USU: OL KJ Uluave, 6-4, 305, Jr. (Kahuku); OL Viliamu McMoore, 6-5, 305, Fr. (Kapolei).
Notes: Uluave has appeared in one game this season after playing in 12 last year with four starts … McMoore is the No. 2 left tackle on the depth chart and has appeared in all 12 games.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
>> No. 8 Southern California (11-2) vs. No. 5 Ohio State (11-2)
>> Arlington, Tex.
>> 3:30 p.m., ESPN
USC: RB Vavae Malepeai, 6-0, 210, Fr. (Mililani); LB Jordan Iosefa, 6-2, 225, Soph. (Saint Louis).
Notes: Malepeai has appeared in 12 games and is third on the team with 259 rushing yards … Iosefa has made 29 tackles in 11 games with three tackles for loss and a sack.
SATURDAY, DEC. 30
Capital One Orange Bowl
>> No. 10 Miami (10-2) vs. No. 6 Wisconsin (12-1)
>> Miami Gardens, Fla.
>> 3 p.m., ESPN
Wisc: OL Micah Kapoi, 6-3, 326, Jr. (Kapolei).
Notes: Kapoi has played in eight games and made two starts at left guard early in the season.
MONDAY, JAN. 1
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
>> No. 12 Central Florida (12-0) vs. No. 7 Auburn (10-3)
>> Atlanta
>> 7:30 a.m., ESPN
UCF: QB McKenzie Milton, 5-11, 177, Soph. (Mililani).
Notes: Milton was the American Athletic Conference offensive player of the year and finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting after setting or tying nine UCF single-game and single-season records. He has thrown for 3,795 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Citrus Bowl Presented by Overton’s
>> No. 14 Notre Dame (9-3) vs. No. 17 LSU (9-3)
>> Orlando, Fla.
>> 8 a.m., KITV
UND: DB Alohi Gilman, 5-10, 200, Soph. (Kahuku); DL Myron Tagovailoa- Amosa, 6-2, 293, Fr. (Kapolei). LSU: DL Breiden Fehoko, 6-3, 298, Jr. (Farrington).
Notes: Gilman had to sit out this season after transferring from Navy … Tagovailoa- Amosa has played in all 12 games in a backup role and has made 12 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss … Fehoko had to sit out this season after transferring from Texas Tech.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
>> No. 4 Alabama (11-1) vs. No. 1 Clemson (12-1)
>> New Orleans
>> 3:45 p.m., ESPN
UA: QB Tua Tagovailoa, 6-1, 219, Fr. (Saint Louis).
Notes: Tagovailoa has played in eight of 12 games as the No. 2 QB on the depth chart and has completed 66 percent (35-for-53) of his passes for 470 yards and eight TDs with one pick. He’s also rushed for 106 yards and two TDs.