A 49-42 double overtime loss to Utah State in their last game two weeks ago.

A 21-20 overtime loss at Virginia, where the Idaho Vandals went for two and the win and failed.

A 16-14 home loss to preseason Western Athletic Conference favorite Hawaii, where Idaho led until the Warriors kicked a go-ahead field goal in the final minute, and the Vandals missed a game-winning field goal on the final play.

A 31-24 loss at New Mexico State, where Idaho misfired with a chance at a tying touchdown in the final seconds.

Turn at least three of those losses into wins, and the Vandals are playing to be bowl eligible this week. But the reality is, Idaho is 2-9, 1-5 in the WAC preparing for its season finale Saturday at Nevada (6-5, 4-2), which is bowl eligible.

"We've had so many games that ... have come down to one play," Idaho coach Robb Akey said. "The record could be better than what it is right now. It's aggravating, it's disappointing, but I like this team, I like these guys. I want to see them have success again, and feel good coming off the field again. And have a great time playing together again."

• Akey said quarterback Brian Reader, provided he has a good week of practice, would start again on Saturday. Reader, a fifth-year senior, earned the start on Senior Day vs. Utah State, and responded with 27 completions in 39 attempts for 275 yards and one touchdown, with one interception on the game's final play.

This after the Vandals had struggled on offense under Reader and then under sophomore Taylor Davis, who started against Hawaii, San Jose State and BYU, going 1-2.

"He played a good game (against Utah State)," Akey said of Reader. "We were more productive on offense, we did score more points. If you'd asked two weeks ago, three weeks ago if we could get involved in a shootout, you'd question that."

For the season, Reader has thrown for 1,829 yards and 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, for an average of 182.9 yards per game.

Davis has passed for 201 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions, and an average of 33.5 passing yards per game.

• Akey said wide receiver Preston Davis, linebacker Robert Siavii and cornerback Thaad Thompson, all seniors who missed the season with injuries, were on track to be fully healthy and ready for spring practice after redshirting this fall.

Davis and Siavii were returning starters. Davis caught the winning two-point conversion pass in the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl.

• Idaho redshirt sophomore punter Bobby Cowan ranks second in the NCAA with a 46.9-yard average on 83 punts. He has 32 punts of 50 yards or longer, including a long of 76, with 16 punts inside the 20. Still, he was not one of the three finalists recently announced for the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation's top punter.

"I was very disappointed when I saw that list came out and a little bit surprised," Akey said. "I think he's done a fantastic job, and I'm glad he's ours. He can swing the field in a big way. I think a lot of teams would like to have a guy like him."

The finalists are Louisiana Tech junior Ryan Allen, Auburn sophomore Steven Clark and Oregon junior Jackson Rice.