HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i football team accepted an invitation to play in the 2019 SoFi Hawai'i Bowl where they will face BYU, who accepted their invitation three weeks ago.
 
The matchup marks for first-ever postseason appearance for the longtime rivals. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 24 will be televised nationally on ESPN. Kick-off is 3:00 p.m. HT at Aloha Stadium.
 
Tickets are currently on sale online at etickethawaii.com, at the Stan Sheriff Center Ticket Office and Aloha Stadium Box Office or on the phone at 808-944-2697.
 
"We are honored to play in the 18^th annual SoFi Hawai'i Bowl," UH Athletics Director David Matlin said. "It is a great reward for our well deserving student-athletes, coaches and staff and a special Christmas Eve matchup against BYU for our local fans. ESPN Events and the Hawai'i Bowl staff are incredible hosts and provide a first rate experience for our student-athletes."
 
The Rainbow Warriors (9-5) are headed to the SoFi Hawai'i Bowl for the second consecutive year and third time under head coach Nick Rolovich (2016 & '18). UH will make its ninth appearance – the most in the bowl's 18-year history – and first back-to-back trips since the program went three straight times from 2002-05.
 
Overall, this marks UH's 13^th all-time bowl appearance. UH is 1-1 in the SoFi Hawai'i Bowl under Rolovich with a win over Middle Tennessee in 2016 and a loss to Louisiana Tech last season.
 
"BYU at Aloha Stadium on Christmas Eve, there may not be a better combination for Hawai'i fans," Rolovich said. "The SoFi Hawai'i Bowl has been a tremendous experience every time we've been in it and we look forward to representing our state and university again on a national stage. The Cougars have had a great season and we're looking forward to our fans coming out to Aloha Stadium to see a battle with a classic rival."
 
Despite trailing the series 23-8, the Warriors consider BYU one of their biggest rivals. The former Western Athletic Conference members played every year but one from 1978-89, including each of the past two seasons. 
 
Some of UH's biggest wins came against the Cougars, including consecutive blowout wins in 1989 & '90, the latter of which occurred on the same day BYU quarterback Ty Detmer won the Heisman Trophy. UH also spoiled the 9^th-ranked Cougars undefeated season in 2001 with a 72-45 rout when then-Warrior signal caller Rolovich passed for a school-record eight touchdowns. 
 
This year marks the third straight season which the teams have met with BYU prevailing 30-20 in 2017 at Aloha Stadium and 49-23 last season in Provo, Utah. The series began in 1930 and the teams played every year but once from 1978-98.
 
The Cougars (7-5) earned their invitation on November 16 following their sixth win of the season. UH and BYU have three common opponents this season – Washington, Boise State, and San Diego State. Both teams lost to UW while UH beat SDSU and lost to BSU, twice, and BYU defeated BSU and fell to SDSU.