TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Bobby Bowden knows when he's going to retire, but isn't telling anyone yet.

The 79-year-old Florida State coach hopes first to beat archrival Florida one more time and get his Seminoles back among the collegiate elite.

It won't be easy, especially with recruiting sanctions likely to come later this month from the NCAA.

Second-ranked Florida routed Bowden's Seminoles 45-15 Saturday night for its fifth straight win in the series and the gap between the two schools seems to be growing wider. Bowden is now 17-17-1 against Florida and 0-4 against current Gator coach Urban Meyer.

But Bowden predicted the Seminoles (8-4) will catch up — someday.

"I'm hoping and working that we can get back while I'm here," Bowden said. "If not, somebody else will."

For the first time Bowden said he has his own timetable for stepping down.

"I do mentally have a time in mind," Bowden said. "There are still things greater in life to me ... especially when you get my age."

With all three of his coaching sons now out of the profession, Bowden said his thinking has become increasingly spiritual.

"I hope to have my priorities in order," said Bowden.

"What happens to me after I die is more important that football," he said. "You have to prepare for that too."

With his designated successor, Jimbo Fisher, already in place as offensive coordinator, Bowden's deal with the university is that he informs them after the season of his intentions for next year.

"I have no desire to hang it up right now," Bowden said.

Bowden, who said he'd still like to get to 400 coaching wins, plans on coaching in 2009. He has two national championships among his 381 career wins as he gets ready for a 27th consecutive bowl game — likely the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville or Chick-fil-A in Atlanta.

And he ambled off to shore up the football part of his future, meeting with some recruits visiting over the weekend.

"We'll be looking for some cornerbacks and safeties who can play right now," Bowden said.

The upcoming recruiting class will be particularly critical since the Seminoles are facing sanctions from the NCAA on an academic cheating case that has haunted the program over the past two seasons.

Bowden is hoping the penalty will be limited to a handful of lost scholarships since recruiting is the only way for Florida State to get back among the elite.

"You just can't make mistakes," he said. "The more you sign, the better chance you are of getting 18 good ones. You ain't gonna get 25 of 25, it just don't work that way."