Football players from Hawai'i will be all over television this month and next for college bowl games.

Highlighted by two players on teams playing in BCS games — USC sophomore Kaluka Maiava and Boise State freshman Kapono Rawlins-Crivello — 42 players (excluding the University of Hawai'i) will be playing in postseason games.

For some, it means extra gifts the bowls give out. For others, it's a chance for redemption or another shot at showing what they can do.

"I'm not sure what to expect," Maiava said. "The school is used to being in the biggest game of the year, and we have to settle for the Rose Bowl, which is still one of the biggest games out there. We can't be too mad about it."

Maiava, a Baldwin alum, said the matchup between Michigan and USC is between "championship-worthy" teams with "a lot of history."

And with "something to prove." Michigan, ranked No. 2 behind Ohio State toward the latter part of the season, was dropped in the rankings, allowing Florida to move up into the national championship game against the Buckeyes. USC missed its chance to play for the title when it lost to UCLA on Saturday.

"What happened with UCLA, we can't do anything now," Maiava said. "We still want to go out on top and win this game.

"Every game is a big game for us; every team coming to play us it's a big game."

Maiava spent most of his time on special teams, with spot time at linebacker.

Other Hawai'i players are looking to end their seasons on a winning note as well:

TAVO TUPOLA, OL, UTAH

Tupola, a Kahuku graduate who just earned all-Mountain West Conference first-team honors, has played in a bowl game every year of his career, including the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in 2004.

"To me it means free gifts," said Tupola, who is hoping for a Best Buy gift card, because that's what the players received last year.

In all seriousness, Tupola said, it "means a lot. You want to send the seniors out the right way, and the right way is to play in a bowl game."

The Utes have the second-longest winning streak in the postseason with five, one less than Boston College.

"We want to keep that streak going," Tupola said. "We want to be known as a program that wins in the postseason."

CALEB SPENCER, WR, NEVADA

Spencer recently earned all-Western Athletic Conference second-team honors, which he called "unexpected."

He's hoping to end his career with "redemption."

"We find a way to embarrass ourselves on ESPN all the time," said Spencer, a Kamehameha alum. "We were going (into the Boise State game) with a lot of confidence and we didn't play."

He called the Wolfpack's MPC Computers Bowl foe Miami "one of the best 6-6 teams out there."

"Three years ago, they won the national championship. It's a pretty big one for us."

Last year Nevada played in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, making the postseason extra special for Spencer. This season — his last — he appreciates he has "one more chance to show off your talents."

KAIPO-NOA KAHEAKU-ENHADA, QB, NAVY

Kaheaku-Enhada stepped into the starting role after Brian Hampton injured his left knee. Kaheaku-Enhada threw three touchdown passes and rushed for 10, with 480 yards on the ground.

"I am definitely looking forward to playing in the Meineke Bowl," the Kapolei graduate said in an e-mail. "One of our goals is to win a bowl game so I'm looking forward to the opportunity. This is Navy's fourth bowl game in a row and my second so I think it will be fun."

Kaheaku-Enhada played in last year's Poinsettia Bowl as a receiver.

"As a starter it has been crazy for me," he said. "The preparation for a game is totally different as a starter compared to the back-up position. There are so many more things to think about and I am still getting used it."

ENOKA LUCAS, C, OREGON

Playing in his third bowl game in four years as a Duck, Lucas, an all-Pac-10 honoree, said playing in a bowl game is an "experience I hope every college football player gets."

Said like a true politician, the political science major and Kamehameha graduate said when his football career is over he hopes "once Mayor Mufi Hannemann is done, I'll be prepared."

Lucas is traveling with Oregon coach Mike Bellotti to Las Vegas tomorrow to check out the site for the Las Vegas Bowl, where the Ducks will play Brigham Young. Lucas graduated in the spring and doesn't have any courses conflicting with his trip.

"It is a reward" to play in a bowl game, he said. "In the summer, winter, spring, we're working out."

"Everybody knows this is a business trip," Lucas said. "Of course we're going to have fun, and Vegas is a place to have fun. But BYU is a good squad, ranked No. 21. It's a challenge and it'll be a sweeter win."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.