The task of balancing the Hawaii athletic department's budget places Jim Donovan in a position of pulling for Warriors rivals past and present this week.

While the UH athletic director's primary focus will be on Hawaii's game against Idaho on Saturday, he'll also have a close eye on the proceedings in Reno and Salt Lake City.

No. 9 Boise State enters the week undefeated and in contention for a lucrative BCS berth entering its game at Nevada. Should the Broncos manage to end the season unbeaten, they'll likely still need help from BYU—which plays at No. 6 Utah on Saturday—to earn a BCS spot and a fatter payday for their Western Athletic Conference brethren.

“;You won't often catch me rooting for BYU,”; said Donovan, who lost to the Cougars twice as a UH offensive lineman in the 1980s, “;but in this particular case, I hope the Cougars have a great day.”;

Donovan's rough estimate put the possible financial impact of a BCS berth for a WAC member at $500,000 for UH, which would receive a share of the bowl payout.

If Utah wins its annual rivalry game with BYU and ends the regular season undefeated, the Utes are in position to claim a BCS spot. Under that circumstance, Donovan said Boise State's chances of also making a BCS game are “;not impossible, but very slim.”;

Boise State still has two more WAC challenges to clear to stay in the BCS conversation. After playing at Nevada, the Broncos close with a home game against Fresno State next week.

Closer to home, Hawaii (5-5, 4-3 WAC) has postseason aspirations of its own. The Warriors come off a bye week two wins away from a Sheraton Hawaii Bowl berth entering Saturday's game with the Vandals (2-9, 1-6) at Aloha Stadium.