Report: Florida State May Be Down to Third-String Freshman QB for ACC Title Game

No. 4 Florida State could be without anticipated starting quarterback Tate Rodemaker for Saturday night’s ACC Championship against No. 14 Louisville, a school spokesperson told ESPN’s David Hale on Friday.

Rodemaker was described as a “game-day decision.”

Rodemaker left the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s win over Florida in Gainesville after he took a shot to the head on a scramble. He returned to the game a couple of plays later to help the Seminoles finish off a touchdown drive, but has not been a full participant in practice this week.

Hale reported that the Seminoles will continue to “go through the process” with Rodemaker and will “see what that means for Saturday.”

Rodemaker made his first start of the season against Florida last Saturday after star Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending leg injury against North Alabama on Nov. 18.

If Rodemaker is unable to play, freshman Brock Glenn, who has played sparingly, will start for the Seminoles in the program’s most important game of the season.

A win for Florida State over Louisville on Saturday night would cap off a 13-0 season with a conference championship. 

In the College Football Playoff era, no undefeated Power 5 conference champion has ever been left out of the top four. If Florida State were to be left out of the top four at 13-0, it would indicate the committee doesn’t think it can compete for a national title with Travis sidelined.

Ohio State was a one-loss Big Ten champion during the 2014 season, and made it into the CFP with backup quarterback Cardale Jones. Jones eventually led the Buckeyes to a national championship victory. This is the only other close data point to what the Seminoles are facing from a narrative standpoint heading into conference championship weekend.

Florida State and Louisville are set to kickoff from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.