Memphis football will face Hawaii in Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24

Evan Barnes, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·1 min read

Memphis' final opponent this season will be Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl. The official bowl pairing was announced Friday and the game will be on Dec. 24 (7 p.m., ESPN) at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu.

According to multiple reports, the NCAA created a 42nd bowl game in Texas with a date to be determined. This will allow all 84 bowl eligible teams to play in a game and Hawaii, despite a losing record at 6-7, can now participate in a bowl game because its won six games.

The Tigers (6-6) have never faced Hawaii nor have traveled to the state in program history.

Memphis Tigers kicker David Kemp (37) celebrates his field goal to send the game into overtime with teammate Preston Brady (42) as they take on the ECU Pirates at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.
Memphis Tigers kicker David Kemp (37) celebrates his field goal to send the game into overtime with teammate Preston Brady (42) as they take on the ECU Pirates at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.

This will be the Tigers' eighth consecutive bowl game, extending a school record. Coach Ryan Silverfield looks to become the second coach in Tigers' history to win two bowl games after Tommy West.

Hawaii, under second-year coach Todd Graham, could be playing with a new quarterback. Sophomore Chevan Cordeiro announced Wednesday that he was entering the transfer portal after passing for 2,793 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

Memphis needs a victory to have an eighth consecutive winning season, which extends a program record.

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You can reach Evan Barnes on Twitter (@Evan_B) or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football will face Hawaii in Hawaii Bowl