Division I-A football moved no closer to a playoff last Thursday, but the regular season received a shot in the arm by moving to 12 games.

The NCAA Board of Directors approved legislation that will allow teams to schedule 12 football games per season starting in 2006.

“I’m all for it,” ISU football coach Dan McCarney said. “It’s something that I supported in every meeting.”

The move not only allows for an extra game to be played, but in most cases it will result in another home game for schools, meaning additional revenue.

“Financially, it’s great for schools,” McCarney said. “It brings in extra money, plus we did a number of surveys that showed that the players supported it and wanted to play another game.”

Also approved on Thursday was emergency legislation that will allow teams — starting in 2005 — to count one win over a Division I-AA team each year toward bowl eligibility. The previous system allowed teams to count I-AA wins only once every four years.

This will allow Iowa State to count its game against I-AA Illinois State this fall toward its bowl eligibility.

“Obviously this is something that is very good for Iowa State,” ISU Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde said. “It’s something that’s good for intercollegiate athletics in general.

“Allowing teams to count I-AA wins will hold down expenses. Guarantees to lure in some of the I-A teams were just getting too large, so this brings some sanity to guarantees.”

Right now, six wins are required for bowl eligibility, but once the schedule expands to 12 games, seven will be the magic number.

In 2006 — the first year 12 games will be allowed — Iowa State has 11 games scheduled. Its non-conference schedule includes home dates with Army and UNLV, along with a road game at Iowa and an open date on Sept. 23. Van De Velde said that Iowa State will try to schedule a game on that open date.

“I work very closely with Dan on [scheduling], and we want to be careful not to overschedule,” Van De Velde said. “We play eight games in a great conference and we play the University of Iowa every year, so that’s already nine tough games, and we want to have a balanced schedule.”

The legislation has also brought with it a debate on what will become of the Big 12 Conference schedule. Both Texas coach Mack Brown and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops have been reported as saying they would favor getting rid of the conference championship game.

Other ideas that will be discussed at the Big 12 annual meetings in Colorado Springs will be possibly playing nine conference games each season.