In actuality, the NCAA board of directors approved a proposal that expanded the regular-season limit of games by one, to 12 per year.

But UH benefits from what is known as the "Hawai'i exemption." That rule allows UH and teams that play in Hawai'i an extra game above the NCAA's regular-season limit, meaning the Warriors will be able to schedule a 13th game.

UH has agreements to play 11 regular-season games in 2006. They now will have two openings. "We're going to be aggressive in trying to find teams to fill the spots," Frazier said through the spokeswoman. "Whether it's home or away, we don't really know."

In supporting the added game, NCAA president Myles Brand said: "The season will not be elongated. It just means the bye week would be taken out. Nor will it lead to any additional midweek games."

Brand has supported academic reform since taking over as president in January 2003, and yesterday said an additional football game each season won't create a problem.

Board chairman Robert Hemenway, the chancellor at Kansas, said schools could make more money with an extra game, but he insisted that wasn't the only reason why the proposal passed.

"There was also a feeling that if you had another game, that it does give you some flexibility in your scheduling," Hemenway said. "A school like Oklahoma State, for instance, could possibly play a game in Tulsa or Oklahoma City and play to that fan base."

But the NCAA was not able to agree to a playoff tournament.

"I seriously suggest you take up the tournament situation with the BCS," Brand said.

The Bowl Championship Series has tried to pit the two best teams in a national championship game since the system was created in 1998. The NCAA has tried to avoid the playoff debate.

The board of directors also will allow schools to count one victory over Division I-AA schools each year toward bowl eligibility, and loosen the requirements to qualify for Division I-A status.

Previously, a school could count a Division I-AA victory once every four years. UH needs to win the majority of its regular-season games to be eligible to compete in a postseason bowl.

Loosening the Division I-AA restrictions will help UH, which is struggling to fill future schedules. Northern Illinois was set to play UH in 2006 before withdrawing from consideration.

UH has played a Division I-AA opponent in each of June Jones' six seasons as the Warriors' head coach.

And smaller football programs, such as those in the Mountain West and Mid-American conferences, also got good news. The NCAA will now allow schools to qualify for Division I-A if they average 15,000 in paid or actual attendance once every two years.

Previously, schools had to have 15,000 in actual attendance.

Division I vice president David Berst said schools could also include students who attend games at a reduced price.

"I think it's a case of fixing things," Brand said. "When we went to the turnstile attendance, I think we inadvertently harmed some teams because they don't control the weather. I think that's an indication that we had the wrong rule."

The board also adopted a resolution that strongly urged schools not to adopt the new Title IX Internet-based surveys, which the U.S. Department of Education said in March could be used to scientifically gauge whether schools must expand or create women's teams to meet demand.

"We felt that it was not true to the principles that have been in effect," Hemenway said.

The board also asked the NCAA executive committee to propose a comprehensive policy on alcohol advertising during college telecasts. Hemenway said the committee took that action after a lengthy discussion to include Division II and III events under any new standard.

The board also approved a provision that would give men's basketball coaches more flexible recruiting calendars, and another proposal allowing men's and women's basketball coaches to instruct players for up to two hours per week during the offseason.