Today's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl represents a reward for the turnarounds executed by Nevada and SMU.

For Nevada, a fifth straight postseason appearance came after starting the season with three straight losses.

SMU, meanwhile, pulled off the biggest improvement in the nation by going 7-5 one year after a 1-11 showing in June Jones' debut in Dallas.

While overcoming the trials sweetened their berths in this afternoon's game at Aloha Stadium, neither team views the journey as complete just yet.

“;We worked hard to get here, we're excited about being in this atmosphere, but we also came here to handle business,”; SMU running back Shawnbrey McNeal said, “;and business is not over until after the game.”;

The Mustangs (7-5) and Wolf Pack (8-4) meet in a Hawaii Bowl missing the home-team element for just the third time in its eight years. But the game is spiced by Jones' return to Aloha Stadium.

A decade after reviving the UH program with a win in the Oahu Bowl and nearly two years removed from his sudden departure following the Warriors' Sugar Bowl appearance, Jones is back with an SMU program savoring its first bowl game in 25 years. The Mustangs edged Notre Dame in the 1984 Aloha Bowl, then struggled mightily after being shut down for two years when NCAA violations were uncovered.

“;It's also just nice to finally put an end to the death penalty talk,”; senior linebacker Chase Kennemer said. “;It's special to be on the team that finally put an end to that and I couldn't think of a better destination than Hawaii to go to our first bowl game, so it should be a nice way for the seniors to go out.”;

Nevada's fifth straight bowl appearance came thanks to an eight-game winning streak following the Wolf Pack's 0-3 start. It took Nevada six quarters before scoring its first touchdown of the season as the Wolf Pack opened with losses to Notre Dame, Colorado State and Missouri.

The Pistol offense led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick warmed up in October as Nevada averaged more than 51 points while tearing through the WAC schedule to set up a showdown with Boise State. Nevada lost to the Broncos, and the Wolf Pack views the Hawaii Bowl as an opportunity to generate momentum toward 2010.

“;This is going to be a huge game for us,”; said Kaepernick, part of a trio of 1,000-yard rushers. “;This is our fifth straight bowl game and the last three we've lost. It's not just good enough to be here. .. It's leading us into next season and we want to start next season on a good foot.”;

On the field, the game appears to be a matchup of offensive strengths against defensive weaknesses.

Nevada brings the nation's top ground game into the game, averaging 362.2 yards per game, against an SMU defense that struggled to stop the run, ranking seventh in Conference USA.

Nevada sophomore Lampford Mark is expected to make his first career start with Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott, the Wolf Pack's top two running backs, out. Ault said Mark and freshman Mike Ball both bring greater speed to the backfield, though they lack the experience of the veterans.

“;Like we told the kids, sometimes the flag is dropped and you have to pick it up and run with it,”; Nevada head coach Chris Ault said. “;That's what we expect from them.”;

SMU's run-and-shoot offense will be familiar to local fans and the Mustangs face a Nevada defense that ranked last in the WAC in pass defense during the regular season.

But with true freshman Kyle Padron at the controls, Jones has been more balanced in his play calling this season and McNeal rushed for 1,125 yards and nine TDs.

Padron has completed 64.4 percent of his passes with eight TDs and four interceptions.

The game is a chance for Nevada and SMU to put a final stamp on their turnaround seasons.

“;I hope we're ready,”; Jones said. “;We'll find out come kickoff.”;