Florida State using 2 quarterbacks to confuse opponents

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State's depth chart lists Jordan Travis or McKenzie Milton as the Seminoles starting quarterback.

It may as well read Jordan Travis and McKenzie Milton.

Seminoles coach Mike Norvell did not name a starting quarterback for the season opener against Notre Dame and he hasn't announce one for the Jacksonville State game on Saturday. He has been consistent, saying "we've got a great quarterback room."

Offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham took it a step further, offering a candid answer.

"The key is making a team prepare for both," Dillingham said. "Regardless of how much both are used it's the thought that both can play. Every coach in America is petrified of the unknown. They are not going to go into a game not prepared. We'll stay up to 1 a.m. making sure we have a plan for everything. … In coaching, you live in a paranoid world. So our goal is to keep people as paranoid as possible."

Jacksonville State, which is coming off a 31-0 loss to UAB on Sept. 1, will feel the headache of preparing for two quarterbacks. But Florida State has a good problem — Travis and Milton have experience and their varying skillsets were on display in a 41-38 overtime loss to No. 9 Notre Dame.

Travis started and completed 9 of 19 passes for 130 yards, two touchdown passes and three interceptions (he also ran for 31 yards and a touchdown). But Travis was clearly tiring early in the fourth quarter and, when his helmet was popped off, Norvell sent in Milton. In his first game in nearly three years, Milton completed 5 of 7 passes for 48 yards and also ran three times for six yards.

Milton's greatest assets are his experience as well as delivering passes from the pocket while under pressure, often with various arm slot angles. While he is mobile, he isn't nearly as elusive as Travis and could get hit or sacked more. Travis' greatest asset is his ability to evade pressure, but he's shown inconsistency when throwing on the run with three interceptions against Notre Dame.

For the time, and perhaps the long term, the Seminoles plan to use both quarterbacks.

"We played who we felt gave us the best chance to win," Dillingham said. "And we're going to continue to do that."

Jacksonville State has no doubts about who will start at quarterback. Senior Zerrick Cooper, who began his career at Clemson, needs just 76 yards to pass Eli Jenkins (7,652 from 201316) as the Gamecocks' all-time leading passer.

Cooper has thrown for 7,577 yards in his career but he was just 17 of 34 for 88 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the opener against UAB.

Some other storylines to watch when Florida State plays host to Jacksonville State:

GRASS' SUCCESS

Coach John Grass is 68-22 in eight seasons at Jacksonville State. Grass has the 10th highest winning percentage among Division I coaches.