There is, meandering among the rolling, wind-swept plains in Eastern Washington and Western Idaho, a narrow road designated as Route 270, the Pullman-Moscow Highway.

In college football this season it is known simply and derisively as the "Road to Bad Football."

It is the asphalt artery that links the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, and Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., two schools nine miles and a state line apart but joined in common football futility.

The Vandals are 2-9 and the Cougars 1-10 and, collectively, some call them "the Palouse Pushovers."

To the University of Hawai'i, which plays them in back-to-back games at Aloha Stadium, Idaho Saturday and Wazzou Nov. 29, they represent the road to the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

The 5-5 Warriors require two wins in their final three games to become bowl-eligible and clinch a place in the Dec. 24 bowl game. If given a free hand to pick among the 118 possible NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision opponents to play, UH could hardly select two teams more well suited to that end.

Idaho, for example, ranks 117th in scoring defense (42.2 points per game) and 102nd in scoring offense (19.82), while WSU is 118th (48.5) in scoring defense and 118th (12.64) in scoring offense.

They are regular fixtures in the "Bottom Ten" polls. Most computer rankings list them in the bottom five schools among the 119 that play in the FBS (formerly known as Division I). Sagarin lists Idaho at 164 and WSU at 151, respectively, meaning a few dozen lower-division schools are deemed better.

Washington State's only victory to date was an early-season win over Portland State of the Big Sky Conference. Rumor has it Jerry Glanville is asking for a rematch. WSU could suffer the ultimate indignity this week and lose to winless Washington (0-10) in the Apple Cup that further underlines the Northwest's football misery.

Meanwhile, Idaho has beaten Idaho State of the Big Sky and New Mexico State. That last one may cost NMSU coach Hal Mumme his job.

The Warriors have already played four teams that are — or were — nationally ranked (Florida, Oregon State, Fresno State and Boise State) and figure to add a fifth (Cincinnati), by the time the regular season concludes Dec. 6. By then, the Warriors will have played four teams that could be conference champions and very well be Bowl Championship Series-bound.

But so much for the heavy lifting. After taking their lumps on a front-loaded schedule and enjoying an open date, the Warriors now find themselves at the creme-filled, twinkie tail end.

Unlike professional golf tournaments, bowl games do not grant sponsor's exemptions from qualifying. But the schedule the Warriors have before them the next two weeks might amount to the closest thing to one.

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