2023 Hula Bowl


The 2023 Hula Bowl was a postseason college football all-star game played on January 14, 2023, with kickoff at 12:00 noon EST, at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida. It was the first all-star contest of the 2022–23 bowl games and, while not restricted to FBS players, one of the final games of the 2022 FBS football season. Television coverage was provided by CBS Sports Network. This was the second playing of the Hula Bowl outside of Hawaii, due to Aloha Stadium near Honolulu being closed for renovations. The game rostered players into Aina and Kai teams, the words for land and sea in the Hawaiian language. Through sponsorship from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the game was officially named the 2023 Tunnel to Towers Foundation Hula Bowl.

Players

Selected players are listed below. Full roster are available online ; note that a number may be shared by an offensive and defensive player.
Two players from Japan participated in the game: Kento Ogushi and Mikito Itokawa.

Team Aina

Coach: Mike Smith
No.PlayerPositionHT/WTCollegeNotes
17Tim DeMoratQB6'3/224Fordham
16Chase BriceQB6'2/235Appalachian State
11Adrian MartinezQB6'2/219Kansas State
5Isaiah BowserRB6'0/222UCF
3Khalan LabornRB5'9/198Marshall
7Charles McClellandRB5'11/188Cincinnati

Team Kai

Coach: Brian Billick
No.PlayerPositionHT/WTCollegeNotes
10Holton AhlersQB6'3/237East Carolina
12Sean CliffordQB6'2/217Penn State
10Tanner MorganQB6'0/200Minnesota
34Christopher BrooksRB6'0/232BYU
2Elijah DotsonRB5'9/199Northern Colorado
21Toa TauaRB5'8/208Nevada
6Calvin TylerRB5'7/211Utah State

Game summary

Team Kai wore white uniforms and Team Aina wore dark uniforms. The game was played using National Football League rules; however, punt returns were not allowed. In place of kickoffs, teams automatically started possessions at their own 25-yard line.
The game was officiated by an all-female crew, assigned by the NFL "from their development pool of college officials." Referee Amanda Sauer had previously served as the center judge in the 2022 Fenway Bowl.
Note: bowl organizers had the three placekickers rotate through opportunities to kick during the game, regardless of team affiliations.