Without several key players, including quarterback Jordan Travis, Florida State held on to a 35-31 win over Louisville on Friday to go 3-0 for the first time since 2015.
Travis, who led FSU to an angry win over LSU in Week 1, opened the game by completing his first 11 passes but appeared to injure his right knee trying to escape a sack in the second quarter.
Head coach Mike Norvell didn’t update Travis’ prediction after the game, other than saying he would be rated when the team returned to Tallahassee.
Tate Rodemaker, standing in for the injured Travis, ended the first half with an ugly interception, but when he emerged from the dressing room – with Travis on the sidelines on crutches – he looked like a different player.
Rodemaker sparked a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half and level the score at 21; then his 69-yard throw to Johnny Wilson equalized again with 28 in the fourth quarter. The FSU ground play led the offense to a final TD drive that culminated with another Rodemaker TD pass to Wilson that turned out to be the difference in the game. Wilson had seven catches for 149 yards and two TDs.
Rodemaker finished 6 of 10 with a pass for 109 yards and two TDs.
“I knew we could win with Tate,” Norvell said. “I’ve seen it in practice, seen how he worked, seen how much has been invested to be prepared for the moment. He was put in a challenging situation on the street. But he went out and responded.”
Travis was seen on the field after the game, walking without crutches and hugging Rodemaker to celebrate the win.
Florida State is now 9-3 in the last 12 games started by Travis. For the season, Travis is 44 of 65 with 624 yards and four touchdowns.
Alongside Travis, FSU lost second-half edge rusher Jared Verse to an apparent knee injury, and defensive tackle Fabien Lovett did not travel with the team through injury.
“Guys fell, some didn’t make the trip – some of our best football players,” Norvell said. “But tonight our boys fought their way to victory.”
When asked after the game how many players would need screening due to an injury on Saturday, Norvell quipped, “All.”
Florida State hosts Boston College in Week 4.