Bill Haber / AP

Quarterback Colt Brennan (15) will try to lead Hawaii (12-0) past Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day.

The changes can actually be traced to late last season, when Richt turned over the play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. With more free time on his hands, Richt is able to keep a better handle on his team’s pulse.

“This year, he showed more emotion than he has in years past,” Brown said. “Everybody’s having more fun.”

Brennan certainly has plenty of fun in Hawaii’s high-octane offense. Even slowed by injuries, he managed to make it to New York as one of the Heisman finalists after passing for 4,174 yards and 38 touchdowns.

The Warriors rarely run the ball (they’ve thrown it nearly 70 percent of the time), counting on Brennan to keep the team moving with quick, accurate throws. He has plenty of potential targets, including two guys, Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullen, with 100 receptions and three receivers — add Jason Rivers — who’ve accounted for 1,000 yards apiece.

“They’re going to get their yards,” Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. “But you don’t want to give up a ton of yards. You want to make them work their way down the field.”

Georgia will rely on its running game to keep Brennan on the sideline as much as possible. Redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno rushed for 1,273 yards, while Brown chipped in with 706 despite missing three games with an injury.

Moreno has been slowed by a sprained ankle since the regular-season finale, though he has looked fine in practice the past few days. Brown, a senior playing his final college game, will get the start.

While Hawaii would certainly benefit from facing a less-than-100-percent Moreno, coach June Jones is concerned about how his team will react playing the biggest game in school history.

“We’ve had big games, but not like this one,” he said. “This is like a Super Bowl to us.”

A Super ... make that Sugar Bowl no one saw coming.

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Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Johnson still directing Utes offense

Brian Johnson, who led Utah to an upset of Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, is ready for his first season as the Utes' offensive coordinator. At 25, the ex-QB will be the youngest with that job at the FBS level.

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