Hawaii Bowl Canceled, Memphis Left Without Opponent Hours Before Game

The Hawaii roster and coaching staff has upwards of 30 positive COVID-19 cases.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Dec 24, 2021 7:18 AM EST

CINCINNATI — The AAC is on a great run to start bowl season, but the Memphis Tigers won't have a chance to keep it rolling. According to Adam Rittenberg, the 2021 Hawaii Bowl is off the table due to COVID-19 cases on the Hawaii roster and injuries.

Memphis had already traveled to Honolulu for the game only to have it canceled the day before kickoff.

“We are disappointed our season has to end this way,” Hawaii coach Todd Graham said in a statement. “As competitive as we are and as much as we want to play the game, we cannot put the health and safety of our student-athletes at risk.”

UC's conference as a whole is 2-0 in bowl games thus far. Tulsa took out Old Dominion 30-17 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, and UCF beat Florida 29-17 on Thursday night in the Gasparilla Bowl.

“We are very disappointed to hear that Hawaii will be unable to participate,” Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said in a statement. “We hope that Hawaii players and staff get healthy soon. I’m upset for our seniors and the rest of the team that battled this season to earn this opportunity. We’ve had a terrific time here in Hawaii as a program, and we are sad our trip ended this way.”

The game isn't getting rescheduled. East Carolina, No. 20 Houston, SMU, and No. 4 Cincinnati are waiting to play their bowl games. The AAC is the only undefeated conference in 2021 bowl games (2-0).

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