A persistent rain had finally vanished and, thanks to a Greg Alexander-led last-minute touchdown drive, so, too, had pesky Nevada and the weekly question about who the Hawai'i starting quarterback will be.

UH head coach Greg McMackin had reason to exhale from beneath a pile of lei late Saturday night and acknowledge that, indeed, for a number of reasons things are definitely looking up for his Warriors following a 38-31 victory over the Wolf Pack.

Not the least of them being the home stretch schedule.

If the first two-thirds of the schedule was something akin to Murderer's Row, then the final lap lines up as strictly Misdemeanor Row.

According to the NCAA computer, the Warriors have played the 10th toughest schedule in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) to date and close with future foes that are 116th (out of 119). From teams that won 65 percent of their games, the Warriors now play those who have won 23 percent.

The NCAA says UH opponents to this point had a 26-14 record against in-division foes while those to come are 8-27.

After playing three teams that were Top 25-ranked (Florida, Fresno State and Boise State), UH now draws three that are Bottom 10-ranked (Utah State, Idaho and Washington State).

So, yes, getting through the Nevada game with a victory and 4-4 (3-2 Western Athletic Conference) record and some concerns addressed was huge.

The way things set up now, UH needs to win but three of its final five games to finish 7-6 and earn a berth in its third consecutive bowl game and possible matchup with Stanford Dec. 24 in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

With only one winning record among Utah State (1-7), New Mexico State (3-4), Idaho (2-7), Washington State (1-7) and Cincinnati (5-2), surely there are three victories to be had there. Even if the next two games, Utah State and New Mexico State, are on the road.

Frankly, there might not be a better time to play either of them. While UH is soaring after rallying for a perhaps direction-setting victory, it finds the next two opponents dealing with crushing setbacks. Utah State was beaten by Fresno State on a game-ending 58-yard field goal. Meanwhile, New Mexico State was upset by Idaho. If that didn't dash the Aggies' sinking bowl chances, then this week's game with Boise State certainly should.

Of course, the Warriors are in no position to imagine they can backpedal into the postseason. But at least now the Warriors, like their head coach, have earned some breathing room in which to do it.

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