Many are making the argument that Jordan Travis was the greatest college QB of all time, and they aren't wrong
Florida State Secures 17‑Point Victory Over New Mexico State in Week‑Zero Matchup
Tallahassee, Fla. – Sat., Aug. 18, 2024 – Florida State University (FSU) opened its 2024 football season with a 17‑point win against the New Mexico State Aggies. The Seminoles, led by head coach Mike Norvell, beat the Aggies at Seminole Stadium, overcoming a 31.5‑point betting spread that had many expecting a much larger margin.
Game Highlights
The game was a defensive battle, with the Seminoles holding the Aggies to a low score while the FSU offense managed to keep the margin within double digits. Florida State’s defense forced multiple turnovers and limited the Aggies’ rushing yards. Offensively, FSU moved the ball efficiently, with the quarterback completing a high percentage of passes and contributing a key run in the final quarter.
Season Context
The victory improves Mike Norvell’s record for the 2024 season to 8–17 overall and brings his career record at FSU to 39–34. Norvell, who took over the program in 2021, has guided the Seminoles to a 23‑4 stretch between 2022 and 2023, during which the team captured the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship, finished in the top 10 in the AP and Coaches polls, and recorded decisive wins over traditional rivals Miami and Florida.
Despite the successful stretch, the program has faced a downturn in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. After an undefeated regular season in 2023, FSU finished 2–10 in 2024, a performance that followed a series of injuries that impacted key offensive players. The 2025 season saw a continued struggle, with the team unable to regain the momentum of its earlier years.
The Jordan Travis Effect
A significant factor in the Seminoles’ rise to prominence was the performance of former quarterback Jordan Travis. A two‑time All‑ACC selection and the 2023 ACC Player of the Year, Travis led the offense to an average of 38.8 points per game during his tenure. His sudden injury in the final weeks of the 2023 season coincided with a sharp decline in offensive output; the team’s average fell to 14.3 points per game in the games that followed.
Travis’s leadership and play‑calling ability were highlighted by analysts who noted his ability to read defenses and make adjustments on the fly. Several former FSU players who have progressed to the National Football League—such as Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Keon Coleman, and Jammie Robinson—attended FSU during Travis’s tenure, underscoring the talent level of the program at its peak.
Looking Ahead
With the season now underway, Florida State is aiming to rebound from the challenges faced in the previous two years. Head coach Mike Norvell will be looking to rebuild the offensive unit, while the recruiting class arriving in 2024 is expected to add depth at key positions.
Fans and analysts will continue to watch how the Seminoles address their defensive and offensive inconsistencies as the season progresses, and whether the program can return to the competitive standards set during the 2022‑2023 campaigns.