Can QB Jordan Travis lead Florida State to a bowl game? Previewing FSU’s 2022 season

Florida State’s last winning season was 2017. That was unfathomable during the Bobby Bowden era and the follow-up seasons under Jimbo Fisher.

Since the Fisher era, where the Seminoles won a national title in 2013, the program has been stuck in mediocrity.

Willie Taggart was fired before he could finish his second season. He was 9-12 during his time in Tallahassee.

Mike Norvell was hired after his success at Memphis to turn things around. That has not translated yet, with FSU posting an 8-13 record in his two seasons. And that includes a loss to FCS program Jacksonville State last year.

But he’s not fully on the hot seat this season as CBS Sports’ annual hot seat rankings gives Norvell a three rating, meaning the “pressure is mounting.” The rating system is from 0-5, with coaches designated a four or five being the most likely to be fired.

According to the news outlet, 23 of the 35 coaches given a four or five rating before the season dating back to 2016 either were fired or resigned.

So Norvell is squarely in the middle of that, and that can change should the Noles get off to a slow start. To avoid that, quarterback Jordan Travis has to pick up where he left off last season — winning five of his last seven starts — and remain healthy. Norvell has put the offense in his hands, and he’s expected to lead the team in passing and rushing as a dual-threat quarterback.

“He was very sharp. Very sharp in situations,” Norvell said following an August practice, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “And Jordan, I don’t know if he’s had a bad day throughout fall camp. It’s been good. And there have been decisions and things that we grow from. But he is in a great space. I like what I’m seeing in his continued growth and development.”

Questions have previously surrounded Travis with his pocket presence, so having him elevate his game from relying on scrambling too much on pass plays should take FSU’s offense to the next level.

The work in the trenches, though, is where the Seminoles’ offense will live or die. It has been a focal point of the rebuild since Norvell was hired. And this year brings more optimism that there is legitimate depth to it, which is something that lacked last season.

FSU ranked 75th in the country in team passing efficiency, but the team excelled in red-zone opportunities. The Noles ranked 15th in 2021 by converting red-zone chances at a 90.5 percent clip.

The Noles had 42 red-zone chances in 2021, which was similar to North Carolina State, a team that won nine games and was ranked in the Top 25.

Meanwhile, the defensive line that was a stalwart last year is revamped with the losses of Jermaine Johnson and Keir Thomas. The New York Jets made Johnson a first-round NFL Draft pick.

But defensive tackle Fabian Lovett returns to anchor the defensive line that has the potential to produce similar results to last year’s unit.

“Nothing is a better teacher than experience,” defensive coordinator Adam Fuller said in fall camp, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “Whether that is success or failure. Our guys have gone through a lot of growth in a lot of ways. That experience builds confidence. And we have a confident group.

“We have a group that’s hungry, because they don’t like where we are at as a football team right now. They are excited to change that, and they’ve put the work in to do it.”

And that experience shows with returners at linebacker and in the secondary, including safety Jammie Robinson, who was named to The Associated Press preseason All-American team. FSU, though, must get improvements in the second level of its defense. Improved linebacker play can turn the Noles defense into something better than last year.

ESPN’s FPI (football power index) only predicts seven games that FSU should be favored to win this season, according to Saturday Road. The schedule is a difficult one that has the Noles with ACC road trips to Louisville, North Carolina State and Miami.

FSU is considered an underdog in those games as well as when the Noles face Clemson in Tallahassee and the neutral-site game against LSU.

And while they are given a 55.7 percent chance to beat the Florida Gators, it’s a rivalry game that is a toss-up.

Bucking ESPN’s FPI forecast means Travis, firmly cemented with the keys to Norvell’s offense, stays healthy and takes another step in his progression. The Noles also need their much maligned offensive line to finally come together, while the linebackers must improve with the defensive line and secondary rounding into form.