This wasn't Greg Jones' timetable. The yards, the touchdowns, the national acclaim -- he never thought the breakthrough would occur during his junior season at Florida State.

Impatient? Quite the opposite. Jones figured his turn would come as a senior. He signed with Florida State out of Beaufort, S.C., one year after another star tailback from the South, Nick Maddox of Kannapolis, N.C.

Jones was prepared to wait until 2003 to be the man.

The Only Game In Town

They were talking about this game last year in Louisville, and last year in Louisville it probably seemed like a good idea: Florida State coming to town on a Thursday night? On national television? For the whole country to see? Great idea -- last year. In mid-November of 2001, Louisville was 10-1. John L. Smith had the Cardinals knocking on the BCS door from its outside position in Conference USA. Florida State, meanwhile, was 6-4. Finally, a slump from a program that had finished in the Top 5 nationally in every one of the previous 14 seasons. The Seminoles, coming to Louisville? Hurry up. This year is here, and if you're a fan of Louisville, you might want to look at the prime-time Thursday event like a media-savvy attorney would: All publicity is good publicity. Even bad publicity. The Cardinals enter the game at 2-2, their wins against Duke and Army, their losses to Kentucky and Colorado State. While they have one of the country's best NFL prospects in Dave Ragone, even their normally rock-solid quarterback has been wobbly. A career 60-percent passer with 50 touchdowns and 18 interceptions entering this season, Ragone has completed just 51.7 percent of his passes, with almost as many interceptions (four) as touchdowns (five). His passing efficiency has toppled from 143.5 last season, good for 21st nationally, to 115.6 -- No. 72 in the nation. The Seminoles, meanwhile, are undefeated and ranked No. 4 in the country. Still and all, Smith recognizes the game for what it is: the chance to be the only game in town. "People around here have been talking about nothing but this for the last two years," Smith says. "Thank goodness we get to play it finally. It's a great opportunity for us to be on TV against a team of that prestige and that caliber. Hopefully we show up." Smith, who has been at Louisville since 1998, says FSU could be the most talented team to come to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium -- and could have more potential than the 2000 FSU team that beat Louisville 31-0 in Tallahassee, Fla. "I think they're going to be better than that before they're done," Smith says. "They're awful big and awful strong, and awful fast. Thank goodness we have them at home, and with a short week. They won't be able to spend too much time (preparing for) us." -- Gregg Doyel

"Nick was always one year ahead of me, so I thought I'd start as a senior," Jones says. "I was fine with that."

But FSU coach Bobby Bowden was not. While Maddox has been a solid contributor for three years, a versatile back capable of playing receiver and returning kicks, Jones has become the battering ram Bowden never thought he wanted at tailback -- but now can't do without.

At 6-foot-1, 248 pounds Jones is bigger than most linebackers. With 4.4-second speed for 40 yards, the former high school sprinter is faster than most of them, too. The result? Jones averages 109 rushing yards per game -- numbers skewed by his nine-carry, 44-yard half-game in a blowout last week of Duke -- with a 6.0-yard average per carry.

"I think he's one of the three, four most talented players we have seen this year," says Virginia coach Al Groh, whose team surrendered 173 rushing yards to Jones in FSU's 40-19 victory Aug. 31. "He's obviously got significant speed for his position. He's got tremendous size for his position. And he's got outstanding production. He's a truly outstanding player."

Florida State has always been known for having sprite-like backs, quick ones like Warrick Dunn and Travis Minor who gain as much yardage on receptions as carries. Then again, Florida State has always been known as a passing team.

"FSU for years wanted to run the football, but lo and behold they had Chris Weinke, Charlie Ward, guys like that at quarterback, and all those great receivers," Duke coach Carl Franks says. "When I was (an assistant) at Florida, we hoped they'd run it a bunch. We felt that gave us a better chance. I'm not so sure that would be an advantage this year. Greg Jones is a big, strong guy -- 248 pounds? Gosh!"

Tell it to Bowden, who never dreamed he'd have a fullback-sized tailback.

"We've always wanted a tailback that could go out in the flat, catch a pass and make yardage. Not a big ol' guy -- those are easier to hem up," Bowden says. "We used Warrick Dunn, Travis Minor. This guy can do what they do. He's big and there's not an inch of fat on him. He's fast, he's powerful, and he's just made such progress. I can't believe how much he's made."

Maybe he's made too much. Jones' timetable could get thrown for an even bigger loop after this season when he has to make a decision he never thought he'd face: Stay for the 2003 season, or enter the NFL draft. Already Bowden is wondering aloud, only half-jokingly, if Jones has improved too much, too fast. Teammates are wondering the same thing, and they're not joking.

"After I had a couple 100-yard games, guys were telling me, 'You might not be here next year,'" Jones says. "To tell you the truth, I'm not thinking about it. There's a lot of football to be played, and we've got to win games."

The next one is Thursday at Louisville, a prime-time ESPN game.

Next season? Who knows.

"I would suspect when his time comes to be drafted," says Groh, a former NFL coach, "he'd go in the first half of the draft. There's not many running backs like him."

Around the ACC

Clemson
The Tigers are off this week, and have spent the time preparing for their Oct. 3 game with Florida State in Tallahassee. ... Clemson's total offense has increased every time this season, from 233 yards to 336 to 371 to 412. ... The defense is allowing almost 150 less yards this season, from 395 to 254.8 per game.

Duke
TB Chris Douglas (ankle) sat out the Florida State loss but is expected to Saturday against Navy. So is WR Khary Sharpe (knee). ... Duke doesn't necessarily think it should beat Navy. "But it's a game we need to win," coach Carl Franks said.

Florida State
Louisville won the series opener 41-14 in 1952, but the Seminoles have won the last 12 meetings by an average of 28.3 points per game. ... Duke is a common opponent for both schools, FSU winning 48-17 in Tallahassee and Louisville winning 40-3 in Durham.

Georgia Tech
With national rushing leader Tony Hollings (knee) out for the season and backup Sidney Ford (concussion) also out this week, true freshman Ajenavi Eziemefe could make his first career start Saturday against North Carolina. ... DE Greg Gathers, the team's top defensive player, also could miss the season. He is considering applying for a medical hardship because of a kidney ailment.

Maryland
Maryland and Division I-AA Wofford have never met in football. ... Wofford is quarterbacked by Jeff Zolman, whose brother Greg once starred at Vanderbilt. ... Maryland's pass defense is suspect, ranking 76th nationally at 225.5 yards allowed per game, but it doesn't matter -- Zolman and Wofford throw for just 42 yards per game. ... TB Bruce Perry (groin), finally, should play this week.

North Carolina
The Tar Heels probably will play Georgia Tech without starting DE Issac Mooring (broken hand), who had surgery Monday and if he plays at all will have to wear a cast. Alternatives include sophomores Jocques Dumas and Jermicus Banks. ... Defensive coordinators Jon Tenuta of Tech and Dave Huxtable of UNC have held those positions for both schools. Tenuta was at UNC in 2001, while Huxtable was coordinator at Tech in 1996 and '97.

NC State
Freshman T.A. McLendon will make his first career start Saturday against Massachusetts after running for 150 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns last Saturday against Texas Tech. ... Greg Golden has been returned from tailback to cornerback and will rotate with starters Marcus Hudson and Lamont Reid, though he also is practicing some at tailback, just in case.

Virginia
The Cavaliers are 15-4 all-time in Winston-Salem, where they will face Wake Forest on Saturday. ... Before last season, Virginia's last loss to Wake Forest had come in 1983 -- when Wake Forest was coached by current Cavs coach Al Groh.

Wake Forest
The Deacons' 34-30 victory last season in Charlottesville snapped Virginia's 17-year winning streak, the second-longest series streak in ACC history. ... Even with Tarence Williams slowed by a broken foot, the Deacons lead the ACC with 230.5 rushing yards per game. The star against Purdue was true freshman tailback Chris Barclay, who had 70 yards and three touchdowns.

Around Conference USA
Army takes a third crack at Southern Miss, which has won the only two series meetings, in 1998 and '99, by a combined 61-13. ... Considering the Eagles' stout defense, the Cadets would do well to get production from a defense that last week against Louisville saw DB Dalente Brewer block a kick, the team's first since 2000, and LB Ryan Kent score on an 88-yard interception return. ... Cincinnati goes to Temple to play at Franklin Field, the oldest Division I-A stadium in the country. ... The teams played every season from 1977-85 as independents, but haven't played since then; Temple leads the series 9-2-1. ... East Carolina goes to Morgantown, W.Va., where it has never beaten West Virginia in eight tries. ... The ECU run defense will focus on West Virginia TB Avon Cobourne, who gained 193 yards in the Mountaineers' victory against C-USA compatriot Cincinnati two weeks ago. ... K Kevin Miller needs six points to tie Carlester Crumpler's 222 for first at ECU. ... Houston, which is off this week, has a kicker on a hot streak. Dustin Bell has made his last seven field goals, four from 40 yards or more. ... Victor Malone's 57-yard interception return in the loss to Texas was Houston's longest return in three years. ... Louisville has 107 sacks since the beginning of 2000, the most in the country. ... The Cardinals' pass defense will be tested by FSU sophomore Chris Rix, who has 11 200-yard passing games in his last 12 contests. ... How good is Memphis freshman DeAngelo Williams? He has three 100-yard games in four outings, and his 86-yard TD run against Tulane was the Tigers' longest since 1990. ... Good luck to UAB, which on Saturday will try to hold Williams below his national-best 9.3-yard average per carry. ... Southern Miss TB Derrick Nix needs 169 yards Saturday against Army to take second in the C-USA career chart behind's Houston's Ketric Sanford (3,636). ECU's Leonard Henry is in second now with 3,089. ... Beware, Army, of Southern Miss CB Etric Pruitt, who recorded 18 tackles and forced two fumbles in the loss to Alabama. ... TCU, which is off this week, has forced its first three opponents into 15 turnovers -- six interceptions and nine lost fumbles. ... TCU was planning to play backup QB Tye Gunn against North Texas anyway, though not under duress. Gunn had to replace Sean Stilley (shoulder), whose status for the Horned Frogs' next game Oct. 5 against Houston is undetermined. ... Tulane takes on national defense leader Texas, coached by former Green Wave coach Mack Brown (1985-87). ... The Longhorns have won the last nine meetings, the last coming in 1965, when Hurricane Betsy forced the game to be moved from New Orleans to Austin. ... UAB has won the last two meetings with Memphis by a combined total of seven points. ... This is the Blazers' C-USA opener, making them the last team to enter conference play.

Gregg Doyel covers college football for The Charlotte Observer and can be reached at gdoyel@charlotteobserver.com.