McKenzie Milton makes Florida State football a threat in ACC

It is always a dangerous game to think through counterfactuals and wonder what might have happened in a given sporting event. When a backup enters in the second half and changes the dynamic of the game, it is human nature to wonder how things might have turned out differently had the replacement instead been the starter.

That was the situation we were left with after Sunday night when McKenzie Milton came in for Jordan Travis and nearly led Florida State to an upset of No. 9 Notre Dame in front of a partisan Tallahassee crowd.

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell made the decision to go with Travis over Milton. Whatever happened on the practice field to justify the decision, though, Norvell must now find himself second-guessing whether Travis gives his team the best chance to win.

Travis, though, came out and had a mediocre outing against the Fighting Irish. Finishing with a completion percentage under 50 percent, Travis did throw two touchdowns but managed only 130 yards through the air. He added a rushing touchdown, but he also threw three interceptions that turned into 21 Notre Dame points.

Would Florida State have defeated the visiting Irish on Sunday with Milton in the game the entire night? It is of course impossible to know how things would have played out on the field. But when Milton came into the game in the fourth quarter — not because of Travis’ interceptions but because the starter lost his helmet on a play — it changed the entire dynamic of the Seminoles’ offense.

Taking his first snap midway through the fourth quarter, down 38-28, Milton stepped up and launched a 22-yard strike to Ja’Khi Douglas along the left sideline. Nearly three years after he nearly lost his leg, the former UCF quarterback was leading a new offense and beginning a new chapter of his career 220 miles northwest of Orlando.

On that drive, Milton went 4-of-4 for 36 yards. Even the sack he took was a smart decision, as he proved as sharp as ever. Florida State pulled within three points on the drive, Milton going out wide on the final Wildcat play of the drive as Treshaun Ward ran the final two yards on a direct snap.

After a Notre Dame stop, the stage was set for the fairy-tale ending. Milton failed to generate the game-winning touchdown, but he did put Florida State in position for a game-tying field goal that sent it to overtime. The magic ran out after regulation, as Norvell iced his own kicker to gain an additional dozen yards for the attempt in the first overtime period.

Ryan Fitzgerald belted the 50-yarder true after the whistle was blown; on the ensuing kick from 37 yards, Fitzgerald pushed the ball wide left.

Norvell has a tough decision to make with McKenzie Milton

While Norvell continues to argue publicly that he still has faith in Travis, the coach knows that his continued job security depends on winning football games. At this point, there is no doubt that Milton offers the best opportunity for Florida State to win football games.

Getting him as much experience with the first team will be critical in the coming weeks. Florida State hosts Jacksonville State in Week 2 and opens ACC play with September contests against Wake Forest and Louisville. If Norvell values his job, he will make the switch sooner rather than hoping Travis evolves into the quality of quarterback Milton already was three years ago.

The ACC is in a transitional period this year. Clemson struggled offensively against Georgia, and they could be more vulnerable this year than they have in more than half a decade. North Carolina and Miami both sustained disappointing losses in their openers. Florida State could be right there in the thick of the division race when they head to South Carolina on the day before Halloween to square off against the defending conference champs.

Florida State can only get to that point, however, if it puts itself in the best position to succeed. McKenzie Milton clearly puts them in that ideal position.

Four years after winning a share of the national championship as the only undefeated quarterback in the country, Milton showed in defeat against Notre Dame that he could be the quarterback to end the hegemonic run of the Tigers and bring the ACC crown back to Tallahassee.