Get To Know Florida State’s Most Notable Passing Touchdown Records

The Atlantic Coast Conference has a long history of producing quality quarterbacks. North Carolina State University, Clemson, and Georgia Tech have all had their share of excellent signal-callers pass through the program. However, the most underrated program in the conference when it comes to putting quality passers on the field is clearly Florida State University.

The Seminoles have had tons of talented quarterbacks, many of whom currently populate the school's all-time passing touchdown record book. The men below led some of the best offensive teams in program history, leaving their mark on campus through their leadership, skill, and winning ways.

It is not often that a quarterback in 1989 managed to throw six touchdowns in a single game. Willis managed to do so against the University of Memphis, then known as Memphis State, in a 57-20 blowout victory for the Seminoles. Despite several big-name quarterbacks passing through Tallahassee after Willis, his record still holds up, making it the longest-standing record on this list, only tied once.

That one fantastic game was part of the best campaign of Willis's career. He threw 20 touchdowns while leading all independent schools in passing yards and yards per game. That fantastic output allowed Willis to be selected in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He played for four years in the big leagues, playing in multiple games every season for the Bears before hanging up the cleats for good.

Chris Weinke tied Willis' record 10 seasons later, when he fired six TDs in a 49-10 blowout win over Maryland, en route to leading Florida State to one of their three national championships.

One of the best seasons ever by a college football quarterback came from a Seminole. Jameis Winston earned the starting job as a freshman in 2013 and immediately proceeded to put together an absolutely insane campaign. The 40 touchdowns were certainly a highlight, but Winston also led the ACC in passing yards with 4,057 while leading the entire nation in passer rating -- an insane 184.8. Unsurprisingly, Winston captured the Heisman Trophy and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, while being selected as a first-team All-American.

Tying up Winston's historic season was a national championship contest against the Auburn Tigers. The freshman outdueled Nick Marshall, dealing 237 yards and two scores compared to Marshall's 217 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Winston's clean play allowed the 'Noles to outlast the Tigers by a score of 34-31, capturing Florida State's first national championship since 1999. He went on to play one more season for Florida State before being selected first overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, making him the only Seminole to be selected No. 1 in the school's history.

Weinke might not be the most recognizable name on this list, but he is one of the most unique athletes to ever play at FSU. He played six seasons in the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league farm system before coming to Tallahassee, making it as high as Triple-A before exchanging his baseball spikes for football cleats. Despite being a 25-year-old freshman, Weinke did not earn the starting job right away, only taking the reins of the offense in his sophomore campaign, when he led the ACC in passing touchdowns with 19.

Things only improved as Weinke became an upperclassman. In his junior season, he led the conference in completions, passing attempts, and yardage while improving his touchdown number to 25. More important than his statistical production was the success he allowed the team to have on the field. The Seminoles went a perfect 12-0, winning the national championship for the second time in school history.

Statistically, Weinke saved his best work for last. He led the nation in passing yards and the ACC in passing touchdowns with 33 and in overall passer rating. Weinke led the 'Noles to an 11-2 record, eventually losing in the Orange Bowl to the Oklahoma Sooners. Despite the relative lack of team success, Weinke captured the Heisman Trophy as a 28-year-old quarterback. Even at his advanced age, the Carolina Panthers saw enough potential in him to select him with the 106th overall selection in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

What makes Florida State's passing records unique is that two have withstood the test of time. Despite today's style of offense placing a higher premium on passing ability, Willis and Weinke's six-touchdown mark has survived for over a quarter-century, while Weinke's 79 touchdowns have remained the most in program history by a wide margin for 25 years. Winston's single-season record is fairly recent, but it will likely stay in the books for a long time, seeing as it took a Heisman-level campaign to reach that number.

Florida State is an excellent program, so these records are bound to be broken at some point, but the impact of the men who hold them will stay the same forever.