PROVO, Utah >> Today’s game plans will be about X’s and HMOs.

The availability of Hawaii running back Joey Iosefa is in question because of an ankle issue. Iosefa is on the 64-player travel roster and the coaches are hopeful he will play.

For certain, wideout Billy Ray Stutzmann is cleared to play after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured hand. Stutzmann can play both wideout positions.

Brigham Young, meanwhile, will wait until pregame warm-ups to decide whether to go with quarterback Riley Nelson, who is recovering from a lower-back ailment, or freshman Taysom Hill. BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall insisted that, if healthy, Nelson would make his fifth consecutive start. “Nothing has changed in my mind,” Mendenhall told Utah reporters.

Nelson acknowledges he is susceptible to injuries because he refuses a half-Nelson approach.

“I learned to play the game a certain way, and that’s a physical nature,” Nelson said. “Unfortunately, the game is now played by genetic freaks — guys who are way bigger, way faster, way stronger than I am. It takes a toll on my body. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve only got one crack to play college football. I’m going to give it my all, even if I suffer a few injuries.”

HAWAII OFFENSE

Outlook: The offense relies on the running game, which has performed unevenly — in part to situations (USC and Nevada rolled up big early leads) and inexperience in the pro-set schemes. The Warriors are ranked 88th nationally with 139.67 rushing yards per game (3.68 yards per carry). But there are signs that that aspect will improve. Clarke’s burst off the snap is better, enabling him to seal-block the nose tackle. Lefotu is a menacing pull-blocker, aided because the primary tight end is aligned mostly on the left side. Milovale, who played 77 percent of the snaps against Nevada, is expected to make his first UH start. The Warriors also have used the H-back to create openings. One scheme calls for Hall, aligned wide, to go in motion and then attack the nose tackle. Joey Iosefa is the most well-rounded — he can run, block, catch and throw — but Gregory is emerging as a versatile back. After gaining 15 pounds in the offseason, Gregory is a better post-contact runner. He leads the Warriors with a yards-after-hit average of 3.91. He also gets stronger as the game progresses. He averages 5.23 yards per carry in the first half; 7.35 after the intermission. Lister has become a sure-handed catcher on swing passes and screens. His yards-after-catch average is 6.00. If the Warriors can get the running game going, it will provide more play-action passes for Schroeder. Davis, who has caught 75 percent of the passes when his number is called, has emerged as a deep threat.

HAWAII DEFENSE

Outlook: Every day, Edwards goes to the movies. His favorite lead character is All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis. “I always watch videos of Revis,” Edwards said. “Coach (Daronte’) Jones sits next to me on airplanes. “He brings me cut-ups of Darrelle Revis, Champ Bailey and Rod Woodson. You can learn so much from those guys about technique and the way they play the ball.” The Warriors are using more man-press coverages at the corners this year. Last year, the secondary was mostly in a four-across zone. Last week, Nevada did not throw a pass to a receiver covered by Edwards. This year, Edwards has held opposing receivers to five catches in three games. The Warriors were hurt on inside runs last week. They spent the week working on new schemes. They also have been rotating middle linebackers. Taimatuia is expected to start. George Daily-Lyles has moved from weakside to the middle. Brenden Daley and Kendrick Van Ackeren also can play there. Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson, who was cleared to play this season, will start off as Falemalu’s backup. He might be able to contribute at defensive tackle in the future.

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

Outlook: Dunnachie has been reinstated after being suspended for three games following his no-contest plea to a DUI charge. He has kept in shape punting in practices. Provo’s elevation is 4,500 feet. The past two years, Dunnachie has averaged 42.4 yards per punt in high altitude, more than 2 yards a punt better than at sea level. Harding is down to two jobs (receiver and punt returner) with Dunnachie taking over the punting and Shutter becoming the holder. Edwards is third nationally with an average of 39.0 yards per return.

BRIGHAM YOUNG OFFENSE

Outlook: The Cougars have the pieces, but assembly is required. The starting point is at quarterback, where Nelson has struggled to be healthy and consistent. Against Boise State, he was 4-for-9 with three interceptions, wasting triple threats Hoffman, Apo and Friel. Offensive coordinator Brandon Doman has tried to help, calling for more three-step drops and run-option sets. The quick releases don’t make use of Hoffman’s vertical-route quickness. The options are mostly to help get Alisa to the edge. Nelson considers himself to be a “move-the-chain quarterback” who will run if the check-down receivers — Friel or Alisa — are cut short of the first-down marker. If the initial plan was followed, Hill would be at Stanford as quarterback Andrew Luck’s successor. Instead, after a two-year church mission, Hill opted to attend BYU. Hill is an elusive runner but impatient passer. The offensive line has not been able to help his development. There were protection breakdowns against Boise State last week. Against Utah, the Cougars were whistled seven times for false-starts.

BRIGHAM YOUNG DEFENSE

Outlook: This is easily the Cougars’ best defense in several years. They are holding opponents to 3.8 yards per play, and have not allowed more than 300 yards in total offense in 10 consecutive games. The Cougars list a three-man front, but that’s only the basic model. Hadley or Van Noy might move up to the line. There are some schemes when there is a four-man front with the linebackers playing 7 yards deep. Other times, Sorenson, who serves as a rover, can take on tight ends or inside receivers. Ansah is the best pass-rusher (five of his 17 tackles are for negative yards), but Van Noy is the most efficient tackler (4.5 sacks). Ogletree is the leader who makes most of the defensive calls. He said he models his game after Dat Nguyen, a former Dallas Cowboy linebacker. “I liked how aggressive he was,” Ogletree said. “He left everything on the field.” Ogletree is an Eagle Scout who served a two-year mission in Chile. At the mission center, he learned Spanish. In Chile, he learned the tribal language of Mapudungun. “It was a cool experience being removed from everything I knew and basically serving people all day,” Ogletree said. “I grew up.”

BRIGHAM YOUNG SPECIALISTS

Outlook: To understand why the Cougars went for two after closing to 7-6 against Boise State is to understand history. A week earlier, trailing 24-21 against Utah, Sorenson attempted a field goal from 51 yards. The kick was blocked, but an unsportsmanlike penalty extended the drive. This time, Stephenson tried to tie it from 36 yards. His kick was wide left. Stephenson and Sorenson are a combined four of seven; the longest conversion was from 33 yards. Falslev is the holder, punt returner and slotback.

RESULTS

SERIES HISTORY: BYU leads 20-8.

SERIES BREAKDOWN: At Provo: BYU leads 8-0. At Honolulu: BYU leads 12-8

PREVIOUS MEETING: BYU 41, UH 20, Dec. 3, 2011, at Aloha Stadium