LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Will the University of Hawai'i football team play a second Division I-AA opponent or a non-conference road game in the middle of its Western Athletic Conference football schedule this year?

Either loomed as a possibility yesterday with the Warriors yet to announce their final two non-conference games while the WAC moved closer to finalizing its conference schedule during meetings held in conjunction with the men's and women's basketball tournaments here.

While UH athletic director Herman Frazier, who is attending the meetings, said he had no schedule announcements to make, Division I-AA Charleston Southern announced on its Web site a Sept. 22 game at Aloha Stadium. The Buccaneers were 9-2 last season.

With the WAC saying it will fill the Oct. 20 and Nov. 24 openings on UH's schedule with conference games, that leaves the Warriors with Sept. 1 and Nov. 3 openings to accommodate non-conference opponents. Frazier declined comment about where the process is or what school he might be looking at to fill the dates.

"I'm just happy we're playing games," UH head coach June Jones said.

Commissioner Karl Benson said he expects the WAC schedule to be finished today but said he hasn't been told when UH will have its non-conference schedule finalized. "I have no idea what is the status of their non-conference schedule," Benson said.

Benson said there is a "strong likelihood" UH's game the week of Nov. 24 will be against five-time defending champion Boise State. ESPN has expressed interest in that weekend and would like to schedule a game for Friday night.

One hangup, according to a person with knowledge of the process, is that Boise State has balked at playing a conference road game, which is apparently on the provisional schedule, the week before coming out to UH.

A rumor making the rounds has the possibility of UH and Indiana considering the Nov. 3 date, probably in Bloomington, Ind. Indiana's schedule lists Ball State for that date but speculation is the date could become available.

Asked if UH was still considering a Big Ten team, Frazier said, "not necessarily."

Depending on how UH fills its final two non-conference openings, the Warriors could be on network cable as many as five times this year, the maximum under the WAC's contract with ESPN.

The network is said to be considering the Boise State, Fresno State, Washington and, possibly San Jose State games. All but San Jose State are home games.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.