SAN JOSE, CALIF. >> Today’s opposing head coaches — Hawaii’s Nick Rolovich and San Jose State’s Brent Brennan — are good friends who respect each other’s football programs.

“It’s a friendship I cherish,” Brennan said. “And I think in terms of the rivalry, and in terms of how we feel about this week, we’re both hyper competitive. And when you’re going against someone you respect, like I respect Nick, you know, there’s something extra to it.”

There are two things at stake in this Mountain West Conference showdown at CEFCU Stadium.

“It’s a year’s worth of text-message leverage,” Rolovich said. “We’re calling it the ‘bottle cap game.’ Winner gets to choose.”

The Rainbow Warriors have a lot to toast this season. At 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West, the Warriors have exceeded last season’s 3-9 record. They need to win three of their final eight regular-season games to qualify for an automatic berth in the Hawaii Bowl.

“It’s a huge game for us,” Brennan said. “We’re playing a very good Hawaii team. They’ve got a lot of momentum going. They’re 4-1. They’ve played a tough schedule. They’re really, really well coached. I’ve known Nick Rolovich for a long time. He’s a fantastic football coach and a great person.”

The Warriors are averaging 41.6 points and 500.0 yards per game. Cole McDonald has thrown for 1,759 yards with 20 touchdown passes against one interception.

“They’re moving the heck out of the ball,” Brennan said. “Cole McDonald is becoming a really good player in our conference.”

The Spartans are 0-3 entering their homecoming game. But Rolovich said the record is not an accurate reflection of the Spartans’ talent and grit.

“Our guys understand,” Rolovich said. “They may be 0-3, but they’re a good football team with a good defensive front, good coaches, and a team that’s still believing. I don’t care what their rankings are saying. You look at the film, you see this defense, you know they’re ready to play.”

The Spartans have been without leading rusher Tyler Nevens since the opening weekend, and they still have not established a No. 1 quarterback among three candidates. But Josh Oliver is one of the nation’s top tight ends, punter/kicker Bryce Crawford is a multiple weapon, and Boogie Roberts is an active nose tackle.

“It’s definitely been a hard three games,” Oliver said. “We’re out to prove something the next couple games.”

Brennan said: “When you go through a tough start like we have, you really have two choices, right? You can crawl into your dorm-room bed and cry about it. Or you can get off your rear end and go to work, and put in the work that’s necessary to have success on the football field. I think that’s what our team is doing.”

Brennan, who is in his second season as SJSU’s head coach, broke into coaching as a UH graduate assistant in 1998.

“Fred vonAppen gave me a chance to coach the receivers as a graduate assistant,” Brennan recalled. “We had really good, young players there. Ashley Lelie was a redshirt freshman. He was a 150-pound string bean running around the scout team. Dwight Carter, Wesley Morris, Eleu Kane. I just love the culture there. Hawaii is one of those unique places that the whole ohana, the whole family thing, is so special. I really love that. And I miss the food. I miss the plate lunch and the fresh fish that you get everywhere. That was awesome.”