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Associated Press

Bobby Bowden and Florida State are 0-2 in the ACC.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

GEORGIA TECH AT FSU

8 p.m. | ESPN2

Storyline: With the Seminoles (2-3, 0-2) reeling from back-to-back losses, Bobby Bowden is under fire from folks who want him to resign at season's end.

The furor "makes you want to do it better," Bowden said. "This dadgum team is so close to being 5-0. We're not, but it ain't liked we're getting crushed."

FSU President T.K. Wetherell announced Wednesday that there would be no midseason coaching change. But he did not promise that Bowden will get to come back next year.

"When you get my age, and you know that you're not going to coach forever, you would like to go out on top," Bowden said. "So it's so disappointing to me right now. The good thing is, most of this team will be coming back next year. But we want to do it now.

"The thing I try to tell my people is this: the season ain't over. ... Let's get the season over and then see what happens."

Bowden will turn 80 next month.

"If I was 40 years old, I'd be shaking in my boots. But I'm 79. I've been through it," he said.

Josh Nesbitt completed 11 of 14 passes for a career-high 266 yards for the Yellow Jackets (4-1, 2-1) in last weekend's win at Mississippi State.

DUKE AT N.C. STATE

4 p.m. | ESPNU

Storyline: After throwing for 359 yards in a loss to Virginia Tech, the Blue Devils (2-3, 0-1) try to bounce back against the Wolfpack (3-2, 0-1).

Duke might need another big day from QB Thaddeus Lewis.

"North Carolina State doesn't give up many rushing yards," Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. "We're built better to throw the ball than we are to run it."

State coach Tom O'Brien, whose team allowed 361 yards passing to Wake Forest's Riley Skinner last week, hopes his staff has a better idea of what it will be facing this week.

"Last week we didn't prepare for [45] passes out of 80 plays," O'Brien said. "Duke has averaged throwing the ball 41 times a game, ... so we've been spending more time on that."

MARYLAND AT WAKE FOREST

6:30 p.m.

Storyline: Maryland (2-3, 1-0) is coming off its first win over a I-A foe this year.

"Our defense is improving," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "We need to have more improvement out of our offense."

All-ACC RB Da'Rel Scott of Maryland had surgery for a broken wrist this week and won't be back for six weeks.

FLORIDA A&M AT MIAMI

7 p.m.

Storyline: The Hurricanes host the 4-0 Rattlers -- ranked 22nd in I-AA -- and their explosive return man, LeRoy Vann.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT UNC

3:30 p.m.

Storyline: North Carolina, which has sputtered offensively in back-to-back losses, faces its second I-AA foe of the season.

VMI AT COASTAL CAROLINA

7 p.m.

Storyline: The Keydets (1-3, 0-1 Big South) have lost nine straight road games since a 2007 win at Robert Morris. They have lost eight straight league road games since a 2005 win at Liberty.

Will the streaks end Saturday? VMI did beat Coastal (2-2, 0-0) at home last year.

"The [road] record is atrocious. We've got to realize that the field's the same length and the same width as it is here," coach Sparky Woods said. "We'd like to start winning on the road, show some maturity."

METHODIST AT FERRUM

2 p.m.

Storyline: The Panthers (2-2 overall) are 0-1 in USA South play for the first time since 2004.

QB Matt Dobson missed the second half of last weekend's loss at North Carolina Wesleyan because of a knee injury, but he has returned to practice.

Methodist (1-3, 0-1) is Ferrum's homecoming foe.

CATHOLIC AT W&L

1:30 p.m.

Storyline: The Generals are 1-4 for the first time since the 1999 season.

"Our DBs are where they're supposed to be, but they're just not making the play," coach Frank Miriello said.

The Generals (0-1 ODAC) host Catholic (0-4, 0-1) in their homecoming game. Miriello hopes his offense does a better job of finishing drives.

"We're stalling at the 30-yard line or closer," he said. "In practice, we usually have team periods that last for anywhere from 4-6 minutes. Now we're extending the offensive team period to 10 minutes so they get in more 12- and 13-play drives, so that may help them."