Florida Football: Three areas FSU are still solid even without Jordan Travis

Florida football will be taking on the noisy neighbors to the west on Saturday as the Gators get ready to take on the FSU Seminoles in The Swamp.

The big storyline for FSU is that star QB Jordan Travis is out, and Tate Rodemaker is in. So even though Florida is 5-6 and FSU is 11-0, Vegas still only has FSU as a touchdown favorite.

But even without Travis, the Gators will need to flip one of three key areas that Florida State excels at that don’t involve their normal starting QB.

Florida Football Stats To Flip

Opponent Yards Per Play

While Travis and wide receiver Keon Coleman have received the bulk of the headlines for FSU this season, their defense has been an above-average unit in 2023. FSU ranks 25th in the country in opponents’ yards per play at 4.9 yards per play.

This has been primarily fueled by holding opponents to 6.3 yards per passing attempt, the 15th-best in the country. Considering the Gators have sunk to near the bottom of the nation at 8.8 yards per opponent passing attempt, Florida is going to have to find a way to dent FSU’s defense to keep up inevitably.

Yards Per Rushing Attempt

Coming into the season, running the ball was perceived as a strength for Florida football. It certainly isn’t a liability, but at 4.1 yards per rush, the Gators are only 71st in the country at running the ball.

Given that FSU is playing Rodemaker, who doesn’t think The Swamp will be that loud, combined with Florida being decimated at the linebacker position, Mike Norvell and crew will likely try and establish a ground of their own.

And on the season, the Seminoles are averaging 4.7 yards per rushing attempt, 31st best in the nation.

Recovering Fumbles

Turnovers often swing the outcome of games, but actually generating turnovers is sometimes luck over skill.

So whether it is desire, luck, or something else, there is a distinct juxtaposition between the rate at which Florida and FSU recover fumbles.

Florida only recovers fumbles 36% of the time, the 8th worst rate in the country.

Meanwhile, FSU gobbles up balls that hit the ground 62.5% of the time, the 13th-best rate in the nation.