Maybe the schedule wasn’t so terrible, at least in one regard. Hawaii got an opponent it could handle Saturday, and the seniors ended their careers as winners.

Yes, what seems like a very long time ago, some thought the cupcake known at Louisiana-Monroe might not just be a tasty senior night dessert … maybe it would serve as the essential seventh win that would give Hawaii a winning record and a ticket to a bowl game for the first time since 2010.

Just missed it. Actually, by plenty, but winning 28-26 is worlds better than the outcome 10 other times for this beleaguered group.

The Rainbow Warriors led most of the way, but nearly gave it away late with an offense that sputtered when Paul Harris and his 166 yards in 21⁄2 quarters left with a head injury.

Toward the end, it looked like business as unusual in the nine-game losing streak leading up to this finale. Hawaii always seemed to find creative ways to lose close games this season, and nearly did it again this time. There was a bad snap with three minutes left, UH clinging to an 8-point lead. ULM’s Lorenzo Jackson dived on the ball in the back of the Hawaii end zone.

Fortunately for Hawaii, this opponent was also a double-digit loser that did not know how to win. The 2-point conversion attempt was dropped, and the Rainbow Warriors held on.

“That was close,” said Ben Clarke, the offensive lineman who started every game of his four-year career, 39 of them ending in losses. This was the 11th win. “It didn’t have to be that close.”

Things will be much different the next time the Rainbow Warriors suit up for a game.

It will be against Cal of the Pac-12, it will be in Australia, and Nick Rolovich will be the head coach.

That’s all very exciting, and the hiring of a new coach brings something this program has lacked for years.

Hope.

We can (and do) question the wisdom of adding a journey to another continent 5,000 miles away the week before going 4,442 miles in the opposite direction to play at Michigan … and then, two weeks later there’s a game at Arizona, which might also open next season ranked in the Top 25, which the Wolverines surely will be as well.

Does this sound familiar?

One of the reasons UH was playing for just its third win of the season on senior night was a similar ridiculously difficult early schedule that had Hawaii at then-No. 1 Ohio State, nationally ranked Wisconsin and Boise State all in the space of four weeks.

The nine-game losing streak started at Wisconsin, a 24-0 loss. The winless Mountain West season began at Boise State, a 55-0 nightmare.

The too-thin Warriors were broken in those two games, and they never got fixed.

At least there’s a bye in 2016; they’re going to need it.

We can go back to that word hope again. We can hope that UH has better fortune on the road, and that Rolovich’s offense will actually score some points instead of being shut out in three games. We can hope there are fewer injuries.

Athletic director David Matlin was prepared for criticism regarding the Australia venture. He says UH will net a profit because air travel, ground transportation and lodging will be covered by other sources.

“I believe this will help build our program and give us a competitive advantage to recruit, and not just for football,” Matlin said. “Obviously it will be an incredible cultural experience for the kids. I think it’s good for the university for branding.”

And he says the benefits of “planting our flag” Down Under outweigh the possibility of wearing out a team before conference play starts for a second straight year.

“I think it’s fantastic for both Australia and the NCAA, but mostly for UH,” said Scott Harding, Hawaii’s receiver/punter from 2011 to 2014. “The Australian people are gonna love watching the game and hopefully UH can get a tough road win to start off the new campaign for coach Rolo.”

If UH suffers early failure on the road next season and an ensuing hangover, Matlin will hear it loud and plenty about not learning from the past.

But he doesn’t seem too worried about it. After picking new basketball and football coaches, his skin is getting thicker.

“I took the job to do the job, not keep the job,” the AD said.