One of the football opponents has a productive passing offense, is led by coaches with pro-football experience, has a student band that will play during tonight's homecoming game, and has earned a reputation for performing a pre-game haka.

The other team is Hawai'i.

New Mexico State and UH are mirror images in style and goals, although they are in different stages of development.

In the ninth season under head coach June Jones, the Warriors (7-0, 4-0 in the Western Athletic Conference) are ranked 17th in the Bowl Championship Series standings.

The Aggies (4-4. 1-2 WAC), in their third season under Hal Mumme, haven't played in a postseason bowl since 1960, when John F. Kennedy was the president-elect and not an airport.

For the Warriors, the Aggies are an obstacle in the way of their goal of a perfect regular season.

For the Aggies, the Warriors are the goal.

"In the two, three years I've been here," NMSU quarterback Chase Holbrook said, "huge strides have been made."

Mumme, who had been the head coach at Kentucky, implemented a four-wide passing offense.

He hired Woody Widenhofer, an architect of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Steel Curtain Defense in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as defensive coordinator.

Mumme also brought in "The Punisher" — Matt Walter — to develop a weight-training program. Under Walter, the Aggies lift throughout the year, even during the season, and compete in a "Night of Champions" weightlifting contest. Seven Aggies can bench press 500 pounds; more than half the roster can bench 400 pounds.

"The facilities are a lot better," Holbrook said. "The locker room was redone. We've got new meeting rooms. We just got a JumboTron. Coach (Mumme) said if we start winning, it'll only improve."

The Aggies are hopeful of finishing with a winning record for the first time since 2002. They have had two winning seasons in the past 14 years.

"I have a lot of respect for (Mumme)," UH defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. "He's a good friend. We have a mutual friend in (Texas Tech coach) Mike Leach. He really knows his package, and how to attack it. He's brought some skilled athletes into his program. This is the best offense we've played."

The Aggies arrived Thursday afternoon. They are staying at the Turtle Bay Resort.

They opted to practice on the hotel property instead of Aloha Stadium yesterday morning.

Their band is staying in Waikiki.

The Warriors eased through their jog-through practice yesterday afternoon before going to a Waikiki hotel, where they will be sequestered until this afternoon.

Quarterback Colt Brennan appears to have recovered significantly from a sprained right ankle. He has walked without a limp this week, and has not missed any reps in practice.

His good health will be welcomed by the homecoming crowd. Brennan has played a total of four full quarters in three home games this season.

Brennan said the most important part of the schedule begins now in the Warriors' quest for perfection.

The Warriors' first seven opponents are a combined 11-42. None has a winning record.

The final five opponents are 21-17, with Fresno State (Nov. 10) and Boise State (Nov. 23) as the only teams above .500.

"Yeah, we're 7-0, but the way everyone sees it — the way we see it — we've just handled business," Brennan said. "It was trying to get through those seven, and not mess up to get to this point. The next five are what decide it. Now that we've got these games in front of us, we're excited. We're happy. We can lay it all on the line and go for it."

Middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian acknowledged the Warriors have received increased scrutiny because of the weak schedule.

"There are going to be some critics," Elimimian said. "If they want to doubt, let them doubt. We have to keep winning, and keep playing hard. That's the key."

With Boise State's victory over Fresno State last night, the Warriors need to win tonight to remain as one of two teams with unbeaten WAC records.

"It's a very big game for us," Elimimian said of the Aggies. "For one, it's a conference game. Second, we have an opportunity to do something special at UH, and they're in our way."

Defensive tackle Michael Lafaele said: "They're a tough team. They have good athletes. We don't ever overlook our opponents."

The Warriors had a bye last week, which proved to be helpful for Brennan, Lafaele (strained hamstring, sore left calf, fractured hand), defensive tackle Fale Laeli (tendinitis left knee), right slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins (sore body) and kicker Dan Kelly (tender right ankle).

Top running backs Kealoha Pilares and Leon Wright-Jackson have vowed to be ready. Pilares has a sprained right knee, and Wright-Jackson has a sore right knee.

Nickelback Ryan Mouton, who has a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, is expected to have a limited role tonight.

Safeties Dane Kealoha Porlas (hyper-extended right knee) and Desmond Thomas (hip flexor) will play extensively.

"We're really excited to be back out here," Brennan said. "The last couple of (games), we really haven't been ourselves. In a sense, I think, we're trying to get back into our groove, and hopefully this week we can get back on pace."

Visit Tsai's blog at www.HawaiiWarriorBeat.com.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.