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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State fans are speculating that Bobby Bowden's coaching future at FSU might be tied into the Seminoles' bowl eligibility. This much is known for certain: Bowden's status will be determined at season's end. And FSU's bowl chances will become much clearer on Saturday.

The Seminoles' hopes of a strong finish now rest on the shoulders of redshirt freshman quarterback E.J. Manuel. Manuel will make his first career start at Wake Forest following the season-ending shoulder injury to Christian Ponder.

What's at stake?

Florida State needs two more victories in its final three games to become bowl eligible and avoid its first losing season since 1976. The Seminoles will have to accomplish both without their starting quarterback.

Redshirt junior Christian Ponder will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery in two weeks, FSU coach Bobby Bowden told his weekly luncheon crowd Monday at FSU's University Center.

Ponder suffered a Grade 3 separation of his right (throwing) shoulder late in the game against Clemson Saturday, and had already been ruled out of Saturday's game at Wake Forest. Heralded recruit E.J. Manuel will get his first start against the Demon Deacons.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Welcome home, B.J.

Quarterback B.J. Daniels, who actually lived on the Florida State campus as a youth, returned to his hometown Saturday and helped deliver a historic victory for the University of South Florida. While the 17-7 defeat probably won't serve as an epitaph for the 18th-ranked Seminoles, it certainly damages their national resurgence and disrupts the pecking order in the Sunshine State.

It appears the Big Three is evolving into the Big Four. In a hurry, too.

For at least a snapshot, it seemed like the old days for Florida State.

The Seminoles beating a nationally-ranked team on the road. The offense zipping up and down the field, scoring on its first seven possessions and tying the most points Florida State has ever scored against a top-10 team. The defense, maligned after its performances against Miami and Jacksonville State, creating turnovers. But what's it really mean?

Was FSU's 54-28 victory over No. 7 BYU on Saturday season-changing? Or program-changing?

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden remains mum on exactly when he plans to hang up his whistle and clip board and turn the reigns of the Seminoles' program over to offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher.

While speculation begins that this could be the farewell tour for the coaching legend, who recorded his 378th head coaching victory against N.C. State on Thursday, Florida State's players are left in the dark about Bowden's impending retirement decision.

"I have no idea when he'll step down," sophomore quarterback Christian Ponder said. "I think as long he is healthy and he feels like he can be out here, he'll be out here. I don't know if that will be this year, next year or five years down the road."

The 'Noles' players still see a fire burning inside of Bowden, and as long as he's got that, they believe he'll be patroling the sidelines in Tallahassee.

Have the Seminoles finally snapped out of their offensive funk? Is Florida State about to become the offensive juggernaut that it was in the 1990s?

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden thinks the 'Noles are heading in that direction.

"They are doing a remarkable job," said Bowden of his offense, after the Seminoles amassed 392 yards of total offense and scored more than 25 points for a third a straight game, in their 26-17 win over N.C. State on Thursday. "Jimbo, (Christian) and the offensive staff, they're all doing a terrific job right now."

Bowden has been particularly impressed with the play of sophomore quarterback Christian Ponder, who struggled severely in Florida State's only loss of the season -- a 12-3 thumping by Wake Forest on Sept. 20 -- but has since rebounded to throw for 532 yards and rush for 212 more, in leading FSU to three straight wins.