"In two more years, we might be up to them," Bowden said in his weekly press conference. "They are dominating now like we dominated the 1990s -- very much like that. We were kind of the elite, us and Nebraska -- and you'd have to say Florida. Miami was down. But now Miami is back. Right now, they're sitting one level up."
Hurricane quarterback Ken Dorsey is one Miami player who particularly steps it up against the 'Noles and could become the first QB to win three in a row against FSU. In the past two contests between the in-state rivals, Dorsey completed 41 of 69 passes for 577 yards, managing five touchdowns and no interceptions. So far this season Dorsey has completed 76 of 132 passes for 1,044 yards and 14 touchdowns.
FSU, on the other hand, slid to eighth in the ACC in pass defense last week, giving up an average of 260 yards per game.
"Your defense has got to play outstanding for you to win a national championship," Bowden said. "Right now we're not doing that."
Despite FSU's usual ACC dominance, Bowden said he relishes the role of the underdog.
"I was always the runt of the litter when I was a kid -- a little guy trying to play with big guys," Bowden said. "On the other hand, I wish my material was so good that they'd say, 'You're favored.' That would suit me. We've been underdogs so little the last 10 or 12 years."
Wake Leads Nation in Turnover Margin
Heading into week seven, Wake Forest leads the nation in turnover margin per game with plus-2.5.
Wake coach Jim Grobe said, "The defense knows it's their job to take the ball away from the offense, and our offense realizes that if they turn the ball over then they aren't going to be playing for us."
