This November, while Penn State was completing its revival from a seemingly interminable funk, Florida State was falling into a miniature slump of its own.

The Seminoles dropped three straight games -- to North Carolina State, Clemson and Florida -- and fell from The Associated Press top 25 for the first time in years.

This uncharacteristic losing streak makes their matchup with Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3 that much more improbable.

"It would really be big if we won it -- it would really be big," Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden said. "This time a week ago, we were wondering if we'd even get a bowl bid. Now we are playing in one of the big four bowls."

Florida State earned a spot in the Orange Bowl by knocking off a heavily favored Virginia Tech team in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, even after it sputtered down the stretch. Despite the fact that the 'Noles will make the trip down the Florida Turnpike with an 8-4 record, no one in the Lasch Football Building is taking them lightly.

"I just think you look at who you are going to play, and I think Florida State is one heck of a football team," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "I thought Virginia Tech was one of the better teams in the country. I really did. That Florida State handled Virginia Tech, I think, indicates that we have a tough opponent."

Penn State will enter the game ranked No. 3 in the country and still uncertain if it will have the services of freshman receiver Derrick Williams, who broke his left upper arm against Michigan. Williams had surgery and is since out of his cast, and Paterno said Wednesday that the doctors say he has a chance but will monitor him week to week.

It is unlikely, though, that Florida State will be the slightest bit intimidated by the Nittany Lions, with or without Williams, seeing as how the Seminoles have already dethroned two top-10 teams throughout the course of this "disappointing" season.

The first victory came in the 'Noles' first game of the season when they bested No. 9 Miami, 10-7.

Florida State freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford struggled in his first career start, but the Seminoles pulled out the game thanks to a strong performance from their defense and a botched field goal by the 'Canes.

The second big win came against the Hokies, 10 games and four losses later. To Bowden, the main difference between the two different teams that have worn a Florida State uniform this year is turnovers.

"I think the [difference in the wins was] execution. We didn't turn the ball over as much," Bowden said. "We didn't turn it over against Virginia Tech, and we might not have turned it over against Miami, I don't know. That is such a big thing, not turning the ball over. When we played Florida, I think we had six turnovers, and you aren't going to beat too many people with six turnovers."

As the turnovers -- and the losses -- mounted, Bowden and his son, offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden, have been subjected to some harsh criticism.

Weatherford, who has accounted for 17 of those costly turnovers on interceptions, said he thinks that much of the criticism has been unfair.

"I feel like it is unjust," Weatherford said. "[Jeff Bowden] is dealing with a lot of young players, including a young quarterback in myself who has made good plays throughout the season but has made a fair share of mistakes myself."

The criticism of the seemingly ageless Bobby Bowden, and the charges of nepotism leveled against him, sound eerily similar to those with which Paterno has dealt during Penn State's recent swoon. And Bowden said he is one of the many who has been happy to see Paterno's team return to form this year.

"Well, Joe did what I felt like he would do, and I felt like he felt like he would do, and that is eventually get this thing turned around," Bowden said. "Right now, he's as good as anyone in the country. I see him back as the old Joe Paterno, the same old Penn State from the '70s and '80s who used kick our tails [at West Virginia]."

Florida State's players also have an interesting understanding of Penn State's mindset coming into the game. The Lions will undoubtedly be highly favored in the buildup to the game, but after the struggles of the last few years, Penn State takes no opponent lightly.

"I'm sure they understand exactly what we are going through; that's how I know that they aren't going to take us lightly. We are a very good football team, but we just played three bad ballgames towards the end of the season," Weatherford said. "I'm sure that they are going to be ready for us because they understand what it is like to have a good football team and still lose some games."