Quietly, maybe too quietly, Boise State is having yet another fine fall as it heads into its final game of the season Friday at Hawai'i with another Bowl Championship Series bid at stake.

For those who haven't followed the Broncos since their thrilling overtime upset of Oklahoma in last season's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, this year's team is 10-1, its only loss at Washington in the second week of the season. That defeat knocked the Broncos out of the USA Today coaches' poll, and they did not climb back until Oct. 28.

Still, after they dismantled Idaho, 58-14, on Saturday, the Broncos dropped two spots in the coaches' poll to No. 17. In the BCS standings, Boise State slipped one spot to No. 19.

"Just if you look at the margin of victory of the last two games, it's pretty convincing," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said yesterday. The previous week, Boise beat Utah State, 52-0. "To go down (in the polls), it's a bit surprising. But we don't concern ourselves with stuff we really can't control. We're not going to lose sleep over that."

Hawai'i, meanwhile, rose a spot in the BCS standings to No. 15, but fell one spot to No. 13 in the coaches' poll, two spots to No. 13 in the Harris Poll and one spot to No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 after the Warriors squeezed by Nevada, 28-26, on Friday. Starting quarterback Colt Brennan was in the game for just two plays after suffering a concussion in the win against Fresno State the previous week.

"Terribly disappointed," Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson said of the fall of his two teams in the coaches' poll. "As for Hawai'i, people don't realize how good a win that was at Nevada with a short week, Nevada had a bye, the altitude, the travel, and the Heisman Trophy candidate on the bench. I don't see how anyone could not recognize that as not just as a quality win, but a tremendous win."

Benson was equally puzzled with Boise's slip. "The polls are so fickle, and I understand their volatility and that the quality of the opponent (Idaho) was not there, but for a team that doesn't play to jump a team that blows out a team it's hard to predict," the commissioner said. (Virginia, which had been idle, was one of the teams that moved ahead of Boise; Boston College, which won at Clemson, was the other.)

Still, Benson believes one of the WAC teams will reach a BCS bowl. A team outside the six major conferences that finishes in the top 12 of the final BCS standings automatically qualifies. "I'm confident that an undefeated Hawai'i (which hosts Washington in its final game) would get in the top 12, and I would not rule out Boise State getting in the top 12 if they beat Hawai'i," Benson said.

Based on the range of votes in the coaches poll, perhaps some coaches aren't paying attention or aren't convinced just yet. Hawai'i's votes ranged from No. 4 (from two coaches) to No. 25. Boise's votes spanned from No. 8 (from two coaches) to No. 25.

Perhaps Friday night after both take center stage there might be more of a consensus. Hawai'i, one of only two remaining major unbeatens along with Kansas, has matched its best start (10-0 in 1925) in its 98-year history. Brennan, if healthy, is poised to break the career touchdown pass record and could reignite a bid for the Heisman Trophy with an impressive performance.

"This is going to be a tremendous challenge," Petersen said of playing the Warriors at Aloha Stadium. "I'm very confident that Colt will play and Colt's as good a thrower as there is in the country and one of the best-kept secrets is that they play great defense." The Warriors are ranked No. 1 in scoring offense nationally and No. 32 in total defense.

The Broncos boast a healthy Ian Johnson, the star running back who has regained his form after missing two games with a bruised kidney, and consistent quarterback Taylor Tharp, who has waited his turn behind Jared Zabransky. Plus, the Broncos are one of the most balanced teams in the country, ranked No. 10 in total offense and No. 3 in scoring offense, and No. 10 in total defense and No. 17 in scoring defense.

As for qualifying for another BCS bowl, Petersen said he can't concern himself with that hurdle just yet. "Our thoughts are on Hawai'i and playing our best and that's all we can control," he said. "If we're fortunate enough to play well, you just have to trust the system that it will be good for us."