The California Golden Bears and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors will open the 2016 season in Australia, both schools announced on Saturday.
California and Hawaii will meet on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia in a matchup dubbed the “Sydney College Football Cup.” It will be the first ever college football game played in Sydney.
“We are thrilled to open our 2016 football season in Sydney,” Cal Director of Athletics Mike Williams said. “This will be a tremendous cultural and educational experience for our student-athletes, our football program, our university, and our fan base around the world. We are a global university with global alumni and fans, and we are excited to be bringing college football to the great country of Australia.”
Cal and Hawaii received a waiver to play the game on Aug. 27, which is one week prior to the first Saturday of the 2016 college football season.
The Golden Bears were previously scheduled to open the 2016 season at home against South Dakota State, but has canceled that game in order to play Hawaii in Australia.
After facing Hawaii, the Golden Bears return home to play at San Diego State on Sept. 10 and host Texas on Sept. 17.
“The University of Hawai’i is thrilled for this wonderful opportunity to open the 2016 college football season in Sydney against the University of California, Berkeley,” said UH Athletics Director David Matlin. “Our football program has tremendous pride in not only representing the state of Hawai’i, but all of the Pacific region. From a cultural perspective, this game will afford our student-athletes an experience they will always remember and give most of them the chance to travel outside the United States for the first time in their lives. Traditionally, the University of Hawai’i has been fortunate to welcome many student-athletes from Australia and we hope this game opens doors for many more.”
The game against Cal is the fifth non-conference contest for Hawaii in 2016. The Warriors also play at Michigan on Sept. 3, host UT Martin on Sept. 10, visit Arizona on Sept. 17, and host UMass on Nov. 26.
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