Seminoles’ Outzen Sets Out to Prevail

Marcus Outzen expected to enter the Fiesta Bowl with a clipboard in hand, not with the world on his shoulders.

Florida State’s sophomore quarterback, pressed into the starting job when Chris Weinke suffered a season-ending neck injury in November, is being asked to lead the Seminoles to the national title against Tennessee on Monday.

“To go from being a backup in the regular season to a starter playing for the national championship, it’s hard to explain how amazing this situation is,” Outzen said Wednesday.

Outzen passed his first major test, leading Florida State to victory over rival Florida in late November, a win that kept the Seminoles’ national title hopes alive.

“That helps me for a game like this, for me and the team,” Outzen said of the win over Florida. “They know in a real big game, I can come through for them.”

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Tennessee need not get too excited about the knee injury that will keep Florida State nose guard Larry Smith out of Monday’s game. Smith, injured in Tuesday’s practice, shared the position with Corey Simon, a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. Smith’s injury means Simon will play every snap.