When No. 5 Florida State clashes with rival Florida this Saturday night in Gainesville, both teams will rely on quarterbacks making their season debut.
Florida State’s Tate Rodemaker will step into the spotlight for just the second time in his career, filling in for the injured Jordan Travis. Meanwhile, Florida’s Max Brown will take the reins from an injured Graham Mertz.
However, this scenario isn’t unfamiliar territory for either team.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane to 1998 when Marcus Outzen replaced the injured Chris Weinke for Florida State. The No. 4 Gators initially led 7-3 in the first quarter, but Sebastian Janikowski’s 42-yard field goal narrowed the gap. However, a pivotal moment occurred when Outzen was sacked and fumbled in Florida State’s own end zone, resulting in a safety for the Gators. Florida added to their lead with a 22-yard field goal before halftime, going into the break up 12-6. Despite the deficit, wide receiver Peter Warrick’s touchdown catch and pass sparked Florida State’s comeback. Outzen’s 32-yard touchdown connection with Warrick gave the Seminoles the lead in the third quarter. Although they ultimately fell short against Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl, Outzen’s performance showcased the resilience of a team facing adversity.