In the euphoria over the University of Hawaii’s 44-41 five-overtime victory over San Jose State, Rainbow Warriors coach Nick Rolovich reached hurriedly for an accolade to bestow upon the game Spartans.

What he came up with Saturday was, “That team, San Jose, is the best 0-4 team in this country right now.”

Doubtlessly UCLA and Nebraska, who are also 0-4, will not be in a rush to claim that dubious distinction.

But Rolovich’s declaration left open the question of just how good his Rainbow Warriors are.

We know they could lay claim to being the best 5-1 team because nobody else in the Football Bowl Subdivision has played six games. But, as we hit the halfway point in the regular season, just how good are these Rainbow Warriors, anyway?

Good enough to confound the preseason Las Vegas betting odds that had the over/under on UH victories for the season at 3.5 victories for sure. Good enough to be on the verge of securing bowl eligibility with two more victories.

But, potent enough to seriously challenge for the West Division title in the Mountain West?

Over the next couple of weeks, beginning with Wyoming on Saturday at Aloha Stadium and continuing on to up in the Wasatch Mountains to Brigham Young next week, the schedule gets progressively tougher and we should have the best indication yet of just where they stand.

Wyoming is 2-3 but has also played Washington State, Missouri and Boise State, for its three losses. BYU is 3-2 and its games have included victories over Arizona and Wisconsin and losses to Cal and Washington.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are coming off a lineup of fellow FBS opponents that went a collective 7-16, with only Army (3-2) so far posting a winning record.

Some of what they got away with along the way in victories over San Jose State, Colorado State (1-4) and Rice (1-4) will be harder to escape with against Wyoming and BYU, not to mention Fresno State (3-1) and San Diego State (3-1) down the road.

The offense has shown an ability to be a top-20, point-a-minute operation when it is clicking. But it has also demonstrated that it can disappear for whole quarters, such as at San Jose State, where Rolovich termed it “borderline awful” in the first half.

A defense that has proven itself able to dial up big plays at crucial times has also shown a vulnerability to give up yardage in huge chunks, including 34 so-called “explosive” plays of 20 yards or more.

And special teams, which have produced some key plays, have also allowed some of the same, witness a 70-yard kickoff return and 20-yard punt return that helped San Jose State to stay in the game Saturday.

Then, there is the propensity for penalties. While overall numbers have declined this year from past seasons, there are still stretches, such as the first quarter at San Jose when UH was whistled for four for 45 yards, that can be unnerving.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff to clean up if we want to play good, consistent football,” Rolovich acknowledged.

And it pretty much starts here, as they will be tasked to do much more against higher level competition.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.