WATCH: FSU's Maguire returns to Peach Bowl with boot on

It didn’t take long for the absence of Everett Golson to become an issue for Florida State. Golson, a senior transfer from Notre Dame who began the season as a starter for the No. 9 Seminoles, did not make the trip to the Peach Bowl for "personal reasons" leaving FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher dangerously thin at quarterback.

Florida’s State’s depth was put to the test early Thursday during their 38-24 No. 18 Houston, as junior Sean Maguire, who replaced Golson for the starting job, sustained a lower leg injury with less than two minutes to go in the first quarter.

Down 7-0, Maguire took a snap inside the red zone and scrambled to his right and was hit as he ran near the sideline, forcing him to leave the game with a lower leg injury.

Maguire was 5-for-9 for 133 yards before leaving the game.

Maguire was replaced by 6-4, 239-pound redshirt freshman J.J. Cosentino, who has participated in two games this season, completing four of his six pass attempts for 22 yards.

However, Maguire would make a courageous return early in the second half when the Seminoles’ signal-caller returned with a boot on his leg.

Cosentino went 1-for-4 for five yards in relief of Maguire, who finished the game going 22-for-44 for 392 yards, two TDs and four interceptions.