If you bet Cal -10.5 last night, I am so sorry. Pour yourself something strong, because what happened in the Hawaii Bowl was one of the most brutal collapses in recent bowl game history.

Cal led 21-0 early in the second quarter. They were rolling. The spread was cashing. Christmas Eve was looking festive.

And then Hawaii outscored them 35-10 the rest of the way, winning 35-31 on a touchdown pass with 10 seconds left. From a backup quarterback. Who entered the game one play earlier because the starter got hurt.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Hawaii completed a 21-point comeback to beat Cal 35-31 on a TD with 10 seconds remaining
• The damage: Cal bettors who had -10.5 watched a cover turn into an outright loss in the fourth quarter
• Why you should care: This is bad beat Hall of Fame material
• The insanity: Hawaii scored 22 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner from a backup QB

How It All Fell Apart

Cal started this game like they wanted to be home by halftime. Anthony League punched in an 8-yard TD run to make it 21-0, and Golden Bears fans were already planning their celebration.

Then Hawaii remembered they were playing at home, in the only bowl game on Christmas Eve, with nothing to lose.

Freshman quarterback Micah Alejado started chipping away. 32 of 46 for 274 yards and three touchdowns. He kept Hawaii in it when they had no business being in the game.

But here's where it gets wild: on what would be the final drive, Alejado got hurt on the play BEFORE the game-winning touchdown. Enter backup Luke Weaver.

First play. 22 yards. Touchdown to Nick Cenacle. 10 seconds left. Ball game.

A backup quarterback, on his first snap of the drive, threw the game-winning touchdown in a bowl game after his team was down 21-0.

The Fourth Quarter From Hell (If You Had Cal)

Cal's collapse in the final frame was spectacular:

• Hawaii scored 22 points in the quarter
• Cal couldn't get a first down when they needed it
• The defense that looked dominant early completely fell apart
• Every time Cal seemed poised to close it out, they couldn't

The final score of 35-31 means Hawaii covered any spread of +3.5 or higher. But for the Cal bettors who watched their 21-0 lead — and their cover — evaporate in real time? That's emotional damage that doesn't heal.

The Stars of the Chaos

Pofele Ashlock was uncoverable for Hawaii, hauling in 14 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Cal had no answer for him in the second half.

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Cal's Hawaii-born freshman quarterback, threw for 343 yards and a touchdown. It wasn't enough. Imagine throwing for 343 yards in a bowl game and losing because your defense forgot how to tackle in the fourth quarter.

Timmy Chang, Hawaii's fourth-year head coach, got his program its first nine-win season since 2019. This is the kind of win that defines a program rebuild.

What This Means

For Cal: This was Justin Wilcox's final game after being fired. He gets to spend Christmas replaying a 21-point blown lead. His replacement, Tosh Lupoi, inherits a team that just collapsed on national television.

For Hawaii: Nine wins. A bowl victory at home. A signature comeback that'll be talked about for years. Chang has this program headed in the right direction.

For bettors: Cal was a 10.5-point favorite. If you took Hawaii +10.5, you won. If you took Hawaii moneyline at +350 or whatever it was, you're a genius. If you took Cal -10.5 and watched a 21-0 lead become a 35-31 loss, please accept my condolences.

The Bottom Line

This is why we watch bowl games. This is why we bet on sports. Because sometimes a team goes down 21-0, their starting quarterback gets hurt on the final drive, and a backup throws a 22-yard game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds left on Christmas Eve.

Cal bettors are waking up on Christmas morning with a hangover that has nothing to do with alcohol. Hawaii bettors are waking up with extra presents under the tree.

College football is chaos. And last night, chaos chose the Rainbow Warriors.