The University of Hawaii is headed to the New Mexico Bowl to play the other UH — the University of Houston — on Christmas Eve, officials confimed to the Star-Advertiser today.

“This game is a great chance to showcase our team to the people of Texas and to a national television audience,” UH head coach Todd Graham said. “Houston is a fine program and we can’t wait to compete against them on Christmas Eve.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the site of the New Mexico Bowl will be Frisco., Texas.

Although UH finished the season at 4-4, NCAA rules pandemic-era rules this year allow teams without a winning record to compete in the postseason.

Houston of the American Athletic Conference is 3-4. The two teams met in a brawl-filled 2003 Hawaii Bowl won by Houston, 54-48, in three overtimes.

It marks the third consecutive season UH will appear in a bowl. It is only the third time UH will appear in a mainland bowl, following the 1992 Holiday Bowl and 2008 Sugar Bowl.