The similarities end with the one-back formation. Nevada has two wideouts, a flanker who resembles a slotback and a tight end. UH employs two wideouts and two slotbacks.

Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault said his team passes to set up the run. UH passes to set up more passes.

UH's offense was born of envy. June Jones said he borrowed bits and pieces as a player at three colleges and from his tours of duty in three professional leagues.

Ault's offense was born of necessity. He ran the Wing-T early in his coaching career, but decided he needed a more prolific offense. He finally concocted this version of the one-back attack.

Here's a look at tonight's game:

Nevada Offense

LWR—13 Talib Wise, 6-0, 200, Sr.

FL—87 Caleb Spencer, 6-1, 180, So.

WT—74 Harvey Dahl, 6-5, 305, Sr.

WG—67 John Tennert, 6-2, 295, Sr.

C—76 Jimmy Wadhams, 6-3, 285, So.

SG—62 Chris Hines, 6-2, 285, Sr.

ST—68 Adam Kiefer, 6-4, 300, Jr.

TE—83 Anthony Pudewell, 6-3, 240, So.

RWR—84 Nichiren Flowers, 6-3, 210, Jr.

QB—3 Jeff Rowe, 6-5, 220, So.

RB—23 Chance Kretschmer, 6-1, 210, Sr.

Outlook: Some people collect baseball cards or stamps. Ault collects offensive formations. Each wideout is trained to play on either side. Spencer, a 2003 Kamehameha Schools graduate, can align in both slot or wide. The playbook features formations for two, three or four wideouts; one back or no backs; one tight end or two. "We try to find the best matchup," Spencer said, "and exploit it."

Rowe is the starting quarterback, but Travis Moore, who has a higher efficiency rating (131.54 to 118.87) is scheduled for some snaps.

The offensive line buys time with double teams and the pin-and-bouncing technique of one lineman making a succession of blocks.

Nevada Defense

E—90 Craig Bailey, 6-4, 260, Jr.

T—95 Chris Barry, 6-3, 285, Sr.

T—56 Ezra Butler, 6-2, 285, Fr.

E—91 J.J. Milan, 6-4, 260, Jr.

SLB—9 Jamaal Jackson, 5-11, 225, Jr.

MLB—44 Jeremy Engstrom, 6-1, 235, Fr.

WLB—26 Roosevelt Cooks, 5-10, 215, Jr.

CB—35 Paul Pratt, 5-10, 185, So.

SS—28 Nick Hawthorne, 6-0, 200, So.

FS—39 Keone Kauo, 5-11, 190, Sr.

CB—33 Kevin Stanley, 6-0, 175, Jr.

Outlook: Nevada runs football's version of a match-up zone. For instance, if a receiver runs a vertical route, Hawthorne, aligned at the back of the defense, will draw the assignment. If the receiver breaks off his route, Kauo or an outside linebacker is summoned. The layered scheme, which mixes man-to-man coverages with zones, was inspired by George Allen's defenses with the Washington Redskins in the 1970s. Allen's "key defense" was just that: defenders keying on receivers.

The Wolf Pack will likely open with a four-man front — Barry, who suffered a sprained ankle last week, is expected to start — but might shift to a three-man alignment. In that scheme, linebacker Shaun Tagatauli replaces a defensive tackle. In the nickel package, Roderick Stallings enters as the fifth defensive back.

Nevada Specialists

PKi36 Damon Fine, 5-6, 150, Sr.

P—69 Justin Bergendahl, 6-2, 210, Jr.

LS—91 J.J. Milan, 6-4, 260, Jr.

KR—1 Jarred Belser, 5-8, 180, Fr.

PR—80 Alex Rosenblum, 5-9, 185, So.

Outlook: Inch for inch, Fine is one of the best kickers in the country. This season, he has converted 5 of 7 field-goal attempts, including a 44-yarder, and all 18 PATs. As a freshman he booted a 58-yard field goal.

Hawai'i Offense

LWO—84 Jason Rivers, 6-1, 189, So.

LSB—2 Chad Owens, 5-9, 174, Sr.

LT—70 Tala Esera, 6-3, 291, So.

LG—64 Samson Satele, 6-2, 278, So.

C—59 Derek Fa'avi, 6-0, 271, Jr.

RG—69 Uriah Moenoa, 6-2, 325, Sr.

RT—66 Brandon Eaton, 6-2, 291, Jr.

RSB—7 Se'e Poumele, 5-9, 171, Sr.

RWO—9 Britton Komine, 5-10, 180, Sr.

QB—14 Tim Chang, 6-1, 204, Sr.

RB—6 Michael Brewster, 5-5, 185, Sr.

RB—16 West Keli'ikipi, 6-0, 260, Sr.

Outlook: While Owens' 75-yard scoring play off a screen pass in the second quarter was widely hailed as the wake-up call for the offense in last week's victory over Tulsa, the players insist the confidence boost, in fact, came on two plays in the opening drive — Keli'ikipi's 17-yard gain off a shovel pass and Rivers' leaping 39-yard catch. Keli'ikipi sent the message that defenses should not play soft coverages. Keli'ikipi averaged 1.7 broken tackles on his 10 carries last week.

Rivers showed the UH receivers could get open on deep patterns, even against teams aligned in a pass-prevent defense. In the first two games, the Warriors were 3 of 23 on passes to receivers running routes of at least 20 yards; against Tulsa, they were 4 of 10. The UH coaches set a completion goal of 33 percent on deep passes. Although Rivers probably could have scored if he did not interrupt his route by turning to make the leaping catch, the tone was set. "That's what we needed," Chang said.

Chang, who has not been intercepted in 159 passes this season, is playing with keener awareness. UH coach June Jones noted Chang often would abandon the pocket six to eight times each game. Against Tulsa, he stayed put, putting his trust in his blockers. "When the receivers are running their patterns, it doesn't help too much if I try to roll outside," Chang said. "My better percentage is to trust my offensive line and let them push away the blitzers. If I roll wide, all of the timing and rhythm gets thrown off."

Chang needs three scoring passes to move past Peyton Manning's 89 and into eighth place on the NCAA list for most career TD passes.

The offensive line is whole with the return of Fa'avi, who missed the Tulsa game because of a sprained right foot. Although he "tweaked" his right foot Thursday, he is expected to start.

Hawai'i Defense

LE—98 Melila Purcell III, 6-5, 258, Jr.

LT—99 Lui Fuga, 6-1, 290, Sr.

RT—91 Matt Faga, 6-2, 317, Sr.

RE—30 Kila Kamakawiwo'ole, 6-3, 241, Jr.

SLB—5 Chad Kapanui, 6-0, 226, Sr.

MLB—51 Ikaika Curnan, 5-10, 221, Jr.

WLB—45 Tanuvasa Moe, 5-11, 210, Jr.

LCB—37 Abraham Elimimian, 5-10, 185, Sr.

LS—42 Leonard Peters, 6-1, 184, Jr.

RS—15 Lono Manners, 5-10, 204, Jr.

RCB—24 Kenny Patton, 6-0, 187, So.

Outlook: The defense's resurgence can be traced to Fuga and Faga. In past seasons, the Warriors were anchored by power linebackers — Jeff Ulbrich, Chris Brown, Chad Kalilimoku. This year's tradeoff for quicker linebackers is a greater reliance on the defensive tackles. Fighting off double teams, Fuga and Faga have to hold the point — not allow hit-and-run blocks — and to keep grasping offensive linemen away from the linebackers. If Fuga and Faga do their jobs, the linebackers can swoop in for tackles. If the offensive linemen slip away off chip blocks, Fuga and Faga become the hunters.

Fuga, a sixth-year senior, and Faga, a senior who played in four games in the previous two years, worked out together during the summer. "Lui has been his mentor, and it's helped Matt a great deal," defensive coordinator George Lumpkin said.

Fuga, who lost 30 pounds since his freshman season in 1999, also serves as nutritionist. After missing the 2002 season to focus on academics, Faga reported to last year's training camp abusing the scale at 415 pounds. Thanks to the Atkins Diet — he treats himself to a scoop of brown rice or slice of wheat bread — and Fuga's nagging, Faga has dropped nearly 100 pounds. "I'm feeling better," Faga said, "and maybe that will help me play better."

Hawai'i Specialists

PK—47 Justin Ayat, 6-0, 201, Sr.

P—25 Kurt Milne, 6-0, 196, So.

LS—61 Bryce Runge, 5-11, 236, Jr.

KR—82 Ross Dickerson, 5-11, 190, So.

PR—2 Chad Owens, 5-9, 174, Sr.

Outlook: In addition to his crew — long-snapper, holder and blockers — Ayat credits his specially ordered shoes. His type of Umbro Speciali, the Prada of kicking footwear, retails for $130 and is available through a soccer catalog. The Italian-crafted shoe is durable for kicking in all sorts of weather yet comfortable enough on the first fitting. "When a lot of guys hear the price, they trip out," Ayat said. "Being that (kicking) is my job and speciality, money is no object when it comes to my shoes."