• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Florida State tries to rebound against winless Rice

Sep 19, 2006 - 11:40 PM Rice (0-3) at No. 18 Florida St (2-1), 3:30 pm EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Ticker) - Florida State is looking to bounce back after losing the "Bowden Bowl."

No. 18 Florida State hosts winless Rice in the first meeting between the teams.

The Seminoles (2-1) are coming off a 27-20 loss to Clemson, just their eighth home setback since 1990. After coming back from a 20-9 deficit, they surrendered a one-yard touchdown run by James Davis with eight seconds left and lost to the Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium for the first time since 1989.

FSU coach Bobby Bowden has lost three of his last four meetings with his son, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden.

Drew Weatherford completed 11-of-19 passes for just 102 yards for Florida State, which continues to struggle offensively. FSU has trailed at halftime in each of its first three games, totaling just 19 first-half points.

Rice (0-3) suffered a 52-7 loss to Texas a week ago. The Owls were no match for the Longhorns, who were coming off a loss to Ohio State in a battle of the top two teams in the country.

Joel Armstrong was 18-of-29 for 180 yards. The completions were the most by a Rice quarterback since 1991.

Bobby Bowden is 10-1 lifetime against teams from Texas. In 1978, FSU suffered a 27-21 loss to Houston, his only defeat to a school from the Lone Star State.