Chances are Bobby Bowden won't be coaching at Florida State if it ever happens, but the Seminoles coach said Friday that the struggling economy could lead to FSU playing more nonconference games closer to home, and USF could be a possibility along those lines.

"I think eventually, that could happen," Bowden said. "Yes, (gas prices) could change that. Whether it will, I don't know, but it could, sure could. ... You usually try to find somebody that you've got a chance to win, instead of getting your nose bloodied."

FSU is the lone state program that hasn't scheduled USF, with Miami lined up for home-and-home series through 2013 and Florida playing host to the Bulls in 2010 and 2015. Bowden was initially asked about playing Florida Atlantic, allowing him and former Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger a chance to face off again.

"The only reason you ever hesitate to play somebody like that is you build up their credibility," Bowden said, speaking about FAU. "That's why (West Virginia) didn't want to play (Marshall), that's why people kind of go slow picking up somebody. You build their credibility. You don't want them to have that yet."

Bowden said FSU "would be receptive" to playing FAU. "I think you're going to see more of that, because of gas costs," Bowden said. "Why play Oregon when you can be playing Central, I mean, FAU, because of gas and everything. I think you're going to start seeing more of that."