JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan scrambled away from Boise State linebacker Kyle Gingg during Friday's game at Aloha Stadium.

Brennan a Heisman long shot

When it comes to the Heisman picture, Colt Brennan may still have to lean in a little closer to get in the frame.

At first glance, the Hawaii quarterback's performance in UH's monumental 39-27 victory over Boise State on Friday -- combined with his earlier work this season -- seems to make him worthy of at least an invitation to New York for the trophy presentation Dec. 8. (Voting is completed and finalists are announced Dec. 5.)

But Brennan, sixth in last year's Heisman balloting, is still considered by many a product of a system that automatically produces big numbers, and his achievements are downgraded by some voters.

Brennan passed for five touchdowns and rushed for another Friday as UH captured its first outright Western Athletic Conference championship. He completed 40 of 53 passes for 495 yards, with two interceptions. Brennan also rushed for a touchdown.

When asked if the performance would get him into Heisman consideration, Brennan, as usual, quickly deflected the talk away from that of personal awards.

"I think it helps," he said. "It was a great win for our school, a great win for the team."

Coach June Jones considers it a travesty that Brennan wasn't at least a finalist last year. He said after Friday's game that if Brennan performs well Saturday against Washington in a UH victory, he should win the award given to college football's most outstanding player.

"He was the best college football player in America last year and still is this year," Jones said.

After Kansas' loss last night to Missouri, the Warriors are now the nation's only unbeaten Division I team. They will probably climb to No. 13 in the BCS standings today with losses by No. 9 Oregon and No. 12 Texas over the weekend.

If Hawaii reaches the top 12 in the final standings, it qualifies for a BCS bowl game that brings millions of dollars to UH and the WAC.

"Hopefully we win next week (at home against Washington) and an undefeated season is enough to get us in a BCS game," Brennan said.

Brennan holds the NCAA Division I record for touchdown passes with 126 and is near the top nationally in most significant quarterback stats for the second year in a row.

But playing for a midmajor school with a weak schedule will keep him off many of the ballots.

Leading the Warriors to a comeback victory over 17th-ranked Boise State will be considered a "Heisman Moment" by some, but probably not enough.

"It was late Friday night, so a lot of people didn't see it," said Ted Lewis, national college football writer for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "The fact that they beat Nevada without him works against him, too. It adds to the idea of him being a system quarterback."

Brennan, nursing a concussion, was in just two plays against the Wolf Pack on Nov. 16 at Reno. Backup Tyler Graunke led the Warriors to a 28-26 win.

The opposite effect keeps Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon in contention for Heisman votes, Lewis said, because the Ducks are not the same team without him.

Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden had big games on big stages this weekend to join Florida quarterback Tim Tebow as Heisman contenders.

Heismanpundit.com, a Web site considered by many the most credible in handicapping the Heisman race, does not mention Brennan at all.

Last year only three players were invited to the awards ceremony: McFadden, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn and winner Troy Smith, the Ohio State quarterback.

Although he said UH is still "an unknown quantity as a team," Lewis said the Warriors deserve to play in a BCS bowl game if they complete a 12-0 regular season by topping Washington this Saturday.

"An undefeated team deserves to be rewarded," Lewis said.