Jordan Travis explains Florida State's mindset as Seminoles garner more attention entering 2023

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis isn’t treating the 2023 season any differently than he has his previous four years in Tallahassee. The Seminoles are coming off of their first 10-win season since 2016 and return several key players including Travis, leading to increased expectations.

Many have already tabbed FSU as a preseason favorite to win the ACC and make the College Football Playoff. However, Travis knows they haven’t accomplished anything yet and is doing his best to not get caught up in all the preseason hype.

“I feel like we just can’t have that mindset,” he said. “We’ve been down in the dumps for years. We’ve just gotta have the same mindset going into every year. Take it day by day. Win the game in front of us. Win the play in front of us. Can’t get too far ahead. Obviously, the accolades are amazing and it’s cool to be talked about in the preseason, but we want to be talked about in the postseason.”

Travis joined Florida State in 2019 following one year at Louisville and took over as the team’s starter by 2020. The Seminoles went a combined 14-20 during his first three years, finishing with a losing record every year.

The quarterback believes that going through those tough years helped the team build character. Just two years ago, FSU finished the season 5-7 with current stars such as Travis and defensive lineman Fabien Lovett still around from that roster.

“I think we always have a chip on our shoulder no matter what because we know where we were last year, two years ago and three years ago,” Travis said. “We’ve been down pretty bad. We all felt that and there’s a lot of guys still on the team that — what were we? 5-7? — a lot of guys were there on that team so we know how it feels. I go out every day with a chip on my shoulder. We work like that. We work with a chip on our shoulder. Obviously, summer workouts are tough and you don’t see any guys complaining. Just all about the work.”

Travis is coming off of his best season yet, throwing for 3,214 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for 417 yards and seven scores in 2022. He also returns his leading receiver in Johnny Wilson and adds Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman to make a dangerous passing attack.

Florida State also returns several key pieces on defense including Lovett and defensive end Jared Verse. All that on paper adds up to a big-time season in Tallahassee. However, as Travis warned, the Seminoles can’t allow themselves to get too big for the moment before it even happens.

Florida State is set to kick off the season with a major test from the get-go, as it faces LSU on Sept. 3.