Florida State carts QB Jordan Travis off after devastating leg injury

North Alabama Lions vs. Florida State Seminoles | Full Game Highlights

In a Week 12 match against the North Alabama Lions on Saturday, the Florida State Seminoles had to cart their star quarterback Jordan Travis off the field after hurting his leg. The injury occurred following a hip-drop tackle from a defender, during which he ensnared his leg beneath the tackling opponent in the first quarter.

Travis was immediately transported to a local hospital with an ambulance, as per the report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Travis, a prominent Heisman Trophy candidate for the season, had initially positioned the Seminoles for a potential College Football Playoff berth.

In the 2023 season, Travis has had impressive statistics. He amassed 2,735 passing yards with a notable 10:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His quarterback rating stood at 155.2, complemented by a 64.1 percent completion rate.

End of college career

Trailing 13-0 late in the first quarter, Travis kept the football on first down, charging downfield. After clearing the first-down marker, the Florida State star succumbed to a tackle that trapped his leg and sent him off the field.

Travis’s injury hushed the Doak Campbell Stadium crowd. But Florida State rallied and overcame the two-digit score deficit. The defense secured a fumble and executed a three-and-out, resulting in two touchdowns for the Seminoles, who seized the lead 17-13 late in the second quarter.

However, with his absence for the rest of the year, Florida State faces the challenge of moving forward without its leader and star player. Junior quarterback Tate Rodemaker assumed the Seminoles’ quarterback position.

Before Travis’s injury, Rodemaker had attempted only 70 career passes in four seasons with Florida State. The 6-foot-4 had a 61.4 percent completion rate, a 5-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and a 136.7 quarterback rating.

While a victory over North Alabama (3-7) might be within reach for the Seminoles, the repercussions of Travis’s injury loom large for the program and the quarterback. The team faces the Florida Gators in Week 13 before concluding the regular season in the ACC Championship Game against the No. 10 Louisville Cardinals.

For Travis, this, unfortunately, marks the end of his collegiate career. The 23-year-old, regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in college football, had delivered a standout two-season performance in the ACC. Prior to the injury, he was poised to be a Day 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.