Sure, the rest of the ACC is saying all the right things.

Like Maryland's E.J. Henderson saying: "Florida State is still Florida State. They're still the big dog."

Or North Carolina coach John Bunting adding: "They are still the Big Bad Beast. The championship goes through Tallahassee."

But make no mistake about it, the rest of the ACC might say the conference still goes through the Seminoles, but they aren't about to admit the title race starts and ends there. Those days are over.

	Bobby Bowden and FSU host Notre Dame on Saturday.

And that just ticks the Seminoles off. This is a team that ran off 14 consecutive 10-victory seasons. A team that finished in the top five 14 years in a row. A team that, going into last season, played in the past three national championship games.

"It was bad. I live, eat, breathe, sleep football and to look like that?" said FSU defensive end Alonzo Jackson, his voice trailing off. "Man, to lose as many as we did the way we did was embarrassing."

The 8-4 season last year did more than just end Florida State's nine-year stranglehold on the ACC, it showed the rest of the conference the Seminoles could be beat. FSU lost at home, where North Carolina State handed the Seminoles their first-ever ACC defeat in Doak Campbell Stadium, and on the road, where North Carolina humiliated FSU 41-9 on national television.

Gone is the intimidation factor. No longer does Garnet and Gold inspire fear. The war chant is ignored and Renegade and Osceola are nice, but the flaming spear is nothing more than a good show.

"The conference is more like the NFL now. You never know who's going to win," said Virginia linebacker Angelo Crowell. "Everyone knows FSU has talent, but everyone has talent. Teams are starting to break through."

Defending champ Maryland has running back Bruce Perry and most of its offensive line back. NC State has arguably the ACC's best quarterback in Philip Rivers and coach Chuck Amato, the former FSU assistant, who routinely gives the 'Noles fits. Georgia Tech has a stingy defense and its first-year coach Chan Gailey around to spark the offense. Clemson has Tommy Bowden, Wake Forest is improving and North Carolina and Virginia have been near the top of the standings in recent years.

FSU? All it has is the most returning starters in the ACC.

It's no coincidence the year the Seminoles slumped was the year they were very young. But midway through the season, the kids were all right. Chris Rix got it and threw for more than 300 yards in three of the final six games, including 326 in a Gator Bowl victory over Virginia Tech. Greg Jones sparked the FSU running game. While the defense still struggled -- the secondary allowed the most passing yards per game in FSU history and the 'Noles finished tied with Duke for last in sacks -- it did take some baby steps toward improvement.

"Over the course of the year, we made progress and now are we ready to take on the big guys," said Bobby Bowden. "They look ready to go and that makes me feel good."

And if that doesn't scare the conference, it should at least make them think twice. The players have almost worn out the tapes of the North Carolina and NC State games. Jackson said he watched the UNC game more than 50 times.

"It's time to push the fast forward button and get on the field," Jackson said. "Everyone has been working hard and getting ready. It's time to show the nation, show the world that we are Florida State."

"We're back."

Joe Wojciechowski is the college football editor at ESPN.com. He can be reached at joseph.j.wojciechowski@espn3.com.