RENO, Nev. — Few noticed as the Hawai'i football player wearing the quarterback's orange No. 15 jersey ran, joked around and encouraged teammates during yesterday's 90-minute walk-through practice at Damonte Ranch High School.

That was because scouts, reporters and fans were focused on quarterback Colt Brennan, who had switched jerseys with long-snapper Jake Ingram and was wearing a green No. 57 top.

UH's medical team of doctors and trainers will decide today if Brennan will be allowed to play in tonight's nationally televised game against host Nevada.

Brennan has said he has not experienced side effects from a concussion suffered last Saturday. Because quarterbacks are not allowed to be hit during UH workouts, Brennan was cleared to practice Wednesday and yesterday.

But practices are different from games, and while declaring himself to be physically fit, Brennan acknowledged he has no vote in the decision regarding his availability.

ESPN yesterday retracted its report that Brennan would not play, citing "misinformation." UH spokesman Derek Inouchi said it will be a "game-time" decision.

Brennan did not practice Monday and Tuesday. He was limited to five passes Wednesday. During yesterday's walk-through practice, Tyler Graunke took almost all of the snaps. Graunke, who has started one game this season, and Inoke Funaki are the only other quarterbacks on the travel roster.

For the Warriors, this is yet another must-win game. The unbeaten Warriors (9-0, 6-0 in the Western Athletic Conference) are ranked No. 16 in the Bowl Championship Series standings. They need to finish in the top 12 to receive an automatic berth in a BCS bowl.

The Warriors also can clinch a share of the WAC title with a victory tonight.

"It's real big for our whole team," right cornerback Myron Newberry said. "We're one step closer to winning the WAC championship."

Left cornerback Gerard Lewis said this is considered to be "a playoff game. We lose one, we're out. We want to have perfection this season."

Two weeks ago, the UH coaches began installing the game plan. The Warriors worked on specific schemes for Nevada in practices Monday through Wednesday at UH's grass field.

Yesterday's walk-through practice was a way to get acclimated to the chilly conditions and thinner air. Reno is 4,546 feet above sea level.

Defensive coordinator Greg McMackin wore his traditional day-before attire — slippers and black sweat pants.

"These pants helped me get 18 wins," McMackin said, referring to his previous stint at UH, when the Warriors were 9-4 in 1999.

Punter Tim Grasso, with the wind at his back, boomed a 70-yard punt. Then again, cornerback Keenan Jones also launched a long punt in the thin, cool air.

While the walk-through practice featured light-hearted antics, the unspoken message was understood.

"You can look around the team, and they know what's at stake," right slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins has said. "Guys are focused. You look at everybody's eyes. They want the same thing."

"The good thing," McMackin said, "is we've been through adversity. They're all pounding the drums waiting for us. It depends on how we handle adversity. So far, our guys have done a great job of handling that. I have the utmost confidence we're going to handle it well."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.