Saturday's football game between Hawai'i and Oregon State could be the start of something bigger, officials from both schools said yesterday.

The nationally televised cable game from Aloha Stadium is the first of a two-game home-and-home series. The Warriors are tentatively scheduled to go to Corvallis in 2008. But both schools say they'd be in favor of expanding the relationship.

"I would absolutely be in favor of more games, even though I know every year would be a tremendous challenge," OSU coach Mike Riley said during a media conference call.

"Expanding the Oregon State series beyond 2008 is a very good possibility," UH athletic director Herman Frazier said through spokeswoman Lois Manin.

Riley said, "Oh, yeah, we like to play good teams. We've had some very good non-conference matches and I think Hawai'i would fit very well into that."

The Beavers like the game because of the number of OSU alumni here and the recruiting base they have set up. Oregon State has 11 players with Hawai'i ties on its current roster and several more either redshirting or on church missions. In addition, five OSU coaches have either played or coached at UH.

UH, meanwhile, expects to sell more tickets for Saturday's game than any other since the 2005 opener against Southern California. As of yesterday, more than 45,000 were sold.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.