The Florida State fanbase’s admiration for Jordan Travis may deepen, especially in light of the struggles faced by the team’s offense since his injury ended his career with the program. The Seminoles have witnessed a dramatic decline in offensive performance, failing to achieve 300 yards in any of the five games since Travis was injured against North Alabama.
During the 27 games that Travis started, Florida State consistently surpassed 300 yards of offense, with remarkable performances including 19 games over 400 yards and eight games exceeding 500. Since his departure, however, even games against weaker opponents haven’t mitigated the loss, as the Seminoles struggled against Georgia and Louisville as well as Florida, Boston College, and Georgia Tech—all teams that ended with mediocre records.
While the absence of Travis was anticipated, the extent of his contributions became glaringly obvious. The choice of DJ Uiagalelei as his successor has raised concerns, given his known issues in accuracy and decision-making during his time at Clemson and Oregon State. Despite a decent performance in 2023, where he averaged nearly 220 passing yards per game, he has struggled as Florida State’s quarterback. After two games, Uiagalelei averages just 6.7 yards per attempt, with only one touchdown pass and one interception.
This touchdown, obtained on Monday night, broke a 19-quarter drought without an FSU passing touchdown, a streak stretching back to last November. Compounding issues include a receiving corps that has faced difficulty with consistency and ball security, creating a challenging environment for the passing game.
FSU head coach Mike Norvell acknowledged the team’s difficulties, noting a failure to win one-on-one battles and the presence of missed opportunities on the field. Fans at Doak Campbell Stadium expressed dissatisfaction during the recent game against Boston College, chanting for backup quarterback Brock Glenn, despite his previous struggles stepping in as a true freshman last year.
Although Uiagalelei hasn’t met expectations, he is not solely to blame. The offense also feels the impact of Travis’ absence on the run game, where his dual-threat capabilities had once raised hopes regarding the performance of FSU’s offensive line. Travis holds the record for the most rushing yards (1,910) and rushing touchdowns (31) by a quarterback in FSU history, highlighting the significance of his unique skill set and playmaking ability in the team’s overall offensive strategy.