The secret to moving up in the Bowl Championship Series rankings for the University of Hawai'i football team is out: Don't play.

Instead of slogging past San Jose State in overtime, play hooky. Play Madden. Play the piano. Play nobody.

And, no, "nobody" isn't the same as Northern Colorado, Charleston Southern or Idaho.

The unbeaten Warriors had Saturday off to spend in front of their TV sets and moved up a spot in the end-all BCS rankings to 17th yesterday, not to mention two spots each in the USA Today and Harris polls (14th) and one in the Associated Press poll (16th). Which beat the heck out of the week before when they rallied past San Jose State and either barely held ground or dropped.

But since the 7-0 Warriors are forced to play this week — the only time they do suit up in a three-week period thanks to another open date next week — it is high time they lay a lickin' on somebody.

With the struggles at San Jose still fresh in a lot of people's minds, it would behoove the Warriors to make an example of New Mexico State Saturday night at Aloha Stadium, if they can. Two teams not in anybody's Top 20, Boise State (58-0) and Auburn (55-20), already have had their way with the Aggies and for the Warriors to do anything but win impressively could cost them in a week where the stage is setting up very nicely for them to make a move.

With the other four unbeaten teams all facing considerable challenges this week — three of them on the road — UH needs a statement-making performance at home. With Boston College (7-0) at Virginia Tech, Ohio State (8-0) at Penn State, Kansas (7-0) at Texas A&M and Arizona State (7-0) hosting California, it is possible UH could come out of this weekend as the only unbeaten team left in major college football. More likely the field of unbeatens will at least be reduced by the time UH kicks it off Saturday night.

As the unbeatens diminish, the Warriors figure to become an object of more exacting scrutiny. As voters contemplate where to put the Warriors amid the growing jumble of one-loss and two-loss teams, a strong showing is a must.

The epidemic of upsets, especially in the Top 10-15 range, hasn't done UH many favors for moving up in the rankings and polls. Especially after Fresno State blasted San Jose State, 30-0, last week. UH may have helped leave the Spartans ripe for a ripping, rallying for an overtime victory, but that's not how everybody else is going to view it.

Lurking immediately behind No. 17 UH in the BCS rankings this week are Georgia at No. 18, Texas at No. 19, Michigan at No. 20 and California at No. 21. If Georgia beats Florida, Texas knocks off Nebraska, Michigan wallops Minnesota or Cal takes down No. 4 Arizona State, any of them could leap frog the Warriors.

We already saw this past week how Virginia (7-1), on the strength of a victory over Maryland (4-3), went from No. 19 to No. 15, climbing over UH, which needs to finish in the BCS Top 12 at regular season's end in order to be guaranteed a BCS berth.

A Top 16 finish would provide an alternate avenue to the lucrative BCS if the Warriors finish ahead of the champion of one of the six guaranteed BCS conferences. But as options go, it isn't one you want to have to count on.

So, it is time for the Warriors to hit the pedal and New Mexico State is the best candidate for a blowout victim remaining. On a schedule that climbs in degree of difficulty after New Mexico State with Fresno State (5-2), Boise State (6-1) and Washington (2-5), the 4-4 Aggies are your best bet. Not a pushover by any means, but if not this opponent this week, then who and when?

Fact is, the Warriors' most impressive outing to date came more than a month ago at Las Vegas in a 49-14 bludgeoning in which quarterback Colt Brennan first played on the injured right ankle. Ages ago, it seems.

Now, after an open date, the Warriors should be as rested and refreshed as they have been since the season opener. With all that potentially lays before them, they had better be as motivated, too.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.