The NCAA will consider a proposal that would allow the University of Hawaii to open the football season a week before everybody else, UH and conference officials said Friday.

If approved by the NCAA Division I Council in April, the measure could take effect for the 2016 season and should enhance UH’s ability to schedule opponents, officials predicted.

The proposal, which was sponsored by the Mountain West Conference, is among 72 scheduled to be voted upon this academic year.

"Hopefully people will see the benefits of the bye week and it will be beneficial for Hawaii and those that play at Hawaii," MWC spokesman Javan Hedlund said.

It would be the latest update in the so-called "Hawaii Exemption" that has existed since the 1950s.

Originally UH was granted a 12th game when everybody else played 11, as a means to encourage teams to come to Hawaii by giving them an extra game in which to help make up for travel costs.

When a 12th game was extended NCAA-wide, Hawaii received a 13th game.

But with the coming of conference championship games and the College Football Playoff, nonconference opponents have increasingly been reluctant to give up an open date to come to Hawaii.

UH athletic director David Matlin, who has campaigned for the earlier opening, said "there is no question that, if it passes, it would make it more attractive for teams to play us. If they can come a week earlier and get the (open date) there are schools that would be much more willing to come."

UH’s opener with Colorado this year was moved to a Thursday at the request of the Buffaloes, who like UH are playing 13 games in 13 consecutive weeks this year.