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Hawaii's disappointing season all comes down to one game.
The Warriors (6-6) need to knock off Armed Forces Bowl-bound Brigham Young (8-3) on Saturday night to earn a berth in their hometown Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24.
''This is what everyone dreams of growing up, ending the season with a must-win,'' Hawaii safety Richard Torres said. ''Playing in a big game against a great opponent, back's against the wall, everything on the line, do or die. It'll bring out the best in everybody.''
Hawaii could be playing for more than just a bowl. With attendance plummeting and fan discontent growing, ending the year with a losing record and failing to reach the postseason would only heighten calls for Warriors coach Greg McMackin to be fired with a year left on a contract that pays him $1.1 million a season.
It's a stark contrast to the start of the season, which was filled with optimism. Coming off a 10-win season, Hawaii was favored to win the Western Athletic Conference in its final year in the league before jumping to the Mountain West Conference. Senior quarterback Bryant Moniz was being touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
The season ended up being marred by poor and inconsistent play that resulted in losses to UNLV, San Jose State, Fresno State and Utah State.
But a win against an old rival could give Hawaii the holiday lift it needs and help preserve McMackin's job.
''If this team really loves each other as much as it says it does, then it should mean everything to them,'' Hawaii offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said. ''Nothing else should matter right now.''
BYU, meanwhile, has won seven of its last eight games. During that stretch, the Cougars have breezed through the WAC, beating Utah State, San Jose State, Idaho and New Mexico State.
The Warriors will have to slow down Cougars playmaker Cody Hoffman. This season, Hoffman has 45 catches for 698 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 778 kickoff return yards and one touchdown.
It's possible BYU and Hawaii both could use two quarterbacks in the game.
The Cougars' Riley Nelson was knocked out of a game Nov. 12 against Idaho with lung and rib injuries, and didn't play the following week against New Mexico State. In his absence, Jake Heaps went a combined 36 of 56 for 423 yards and six touchdowns. The Cougars won both games by scores of 42-7.
BYU had a bye last week, and Nelson has been cleared to play against Hawaii.
Only LSU and Alabama have allowed fewer passing touchdowns than the Cougars this season.
The Cougars, ranked 17th in the nation in total defense, will be looking to slow Hawaii's run-and-shoot offense, which is still trying to deal with the loss of Moniz, who was injured in the game at Nevada last month.
The Warriors started Shane Austin on Nov. 19 against Fresno State, but he was replaced by David Graves in the second quarter with Hawaii down 17-0. The Warriors rallied to take a lead, but Fresno State won 24-21. In last week's 35-23 victory over Tulane, Graves started but was replaced late in the third quarter by Austin, who finished 9 of 10 for 98 yards.
Graves will start against BYU.
''They both better be ready,'' Rolovich said. ''We'll do whatever we have to do to win this game.''
Austin said he looks forward to facing BYU.
''They've been a good program for years. They have a great record and they've beaten some good teams,'' he said. ''We're kind of like being the underdog. It gives us extra motivation.''
BYU leads the all-time series with Hawaii 19-8, including an 11-8 record in Honolulu. BYU was in the Western Athletic Conference from 1962 through 1999 before leaving to form the Mountain West Conference. Hawaii has been a member of the WAC since 1979.
BYU and Hawaii last met in 2002, with the Cougars winning 35-32 in Provo, Utah. The last time they met in Honolulu was 2001, with Hawaii winning 72-45. In that contest, the teams' current offensive coordinators - Rolovich and BYU's Brandon Doman - were the starting quarterbacks.
BYU and Hawaii will play again in 2012 and 2013.
