Jordan Travis has been there for FSU ‘every step of the way.’ That continues at the Orange Bowl
As the Florida State Seminoles held their first practice at Nova Southeastern University on Tuesday ahead of the 90th annual Capital One Orange Bowl, they had a familiar face in the huddle.
There was quarterback Jordan Travis, still reeling from the severe leg injury that ended his season and his college football career more than a month ago, doing anything and everything that he could to make sure his teammates were prepared.
“That just shows his care and his love for this team and that quarterback room,” offensive coordinator Alex Atkins said. “He’s gonna be there every step of the way, as much as he can.”
Travis’ injury is why the undefeated Seminoles are in South Florida today, getting ready to face No. 6 Georgia (12-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday, and not in the College Football Playoffs despite FSU having a perfect 13-0 record and an Atlantic Coast Conference championship to its name.
The committee dropped Florida State from No. 4 to No. 5 in the final poll, with the justification as relayed by NC State athletic director and 2023 CFP selection committee chairman Boo Corrigan being that the Seminoles are now are a “different team than they were through the first 11 weeks” of the season.
That prompted Travis to speak out on X, formerly known as Twitter, by saying “I wish my leg broke earlier in the season so y’all could see this team is much more than the quarterback.”
While the committee’s assertion about Travis ultimately (and understandably) struck a nerve with the Seminoles, it is in some way a testament to exactly what the quarterback has meant for the Florida State program.
That extends past just this season, too. Travis has been a centerpiece for FSU’s revival into one of college football’s contenders, and that is not lost on those who have been with him all these years even if a broken leg stopped him from being available to help FSU complete its final step this season.
“He’s just a special man,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said. “The example he has been for our football team, the way that he’s grown, the work that he’s put in, the way that he approaches every day whether it’s practice or meeting rooms or what he’s doing in the classroom, he really approaches every day as a champion. He’s been one of the bright lights of college football that you see somebody was in a challenging, tough moment that has really improved at a drastic level.”
Travis, a West Palm Beach native, transferred to FSU after his freshman season at Louisville in 2018 and during five years at Florida State morphed into one of the top quarterbacks in college football. He became the Seminoles’ starter in 2020 and during his final four seasons completed 62.6-percent of his passes (627 for 1,002) for 8,565 yards and 65 touchdowns against 19 interceptions while also rushing for 1,682 yards and another 28 touchdowns.
He broke out in 2022, throwing for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns against just five interceptions and was having a Heisman Trophy-worthy 2023 season, completing 63.9 percent of his passes (207 for 324) for 2,756 yards and 20 touchdowns with just two interceptions and adding another seven rushing touchdowns before his season-ending leg injury against North Alabama on Nov. 18.
“He’s become one of the best players in the country, and he did it the right way,” Norvell said. “He cares about people, cares about this university, cares about his teammates. Unfortunately, he got injured and that was the end of his playing career. But even through that, he’s been so present in everything that he could be just to help his teammates. He continues to be supportive and to the encouraging. He’s what’s right about college athletics and I’m just so glad to have his example and he was just a wonderful Seminole.”
But Travis’ impact on the Seminoles went beyond what he did on the field, and that became more apparent after the injury.
He has continued to mentor freshman Brock Glenn, who started the ACC Championship Game and will start the Orange Bowl on Saturday. Having Travis’ support and having the ability to learn from the star quarterback has not been lost on Glenn.
“When I came in, he literally took me under his wing with football and outside of football — life,” Glenn said. “I’d always hang out with him outside of football as well. Him being here is special to me. He’s helping me with the offense and practice. He texts me after practice talking about a play and how I can do this and that. He’s still out here helping all the guys. And I think it’s just awesome to see him out here supporting us.”
Travis has made himself as available as he could be at practice and in team meetings. He was on the sidelines each of their final two games — a 24-15 win at rival Florida and the 16-6 win over Louisville in the ACC Championship Game — and will be again on Saturday, watching as his team hopefully finishes the job of an undefeated season.
“That’s the type of leader he is. That just speaks volumes,” offensive lineman D’Mitri Emmanuel said. “I mean, even just a week after he got [hurt], the week after everything happened, he wanted to come to the Florida game and just be around the guys. Any time an injury like that happens, especially to a player like that, it’s tough, but it’s how he’s just chosen to respond. It was inspiring to a lot of us. We love Jordan, and this is who he is. It just goes to show who he is.”
