DJ Uiagalelei, the Florida State football quarterback, is commemorating last year’s Seminoles. The quarterback is skipping the ACC media days so that last year’s squad can be celebrated.
“I strongly believe that Florida State should be represented by players from last year’s ACC championship team,” Uiagalelei remarked on social media. “The players who helped propel this program back to the top of the ACC should be rewarded for their efforts.
“This team is more than its quarterback, and I’m excited for my teammates who will experience this fantastic event.”
Uiagalelei is an Oregon State transfer who did not participate in Florida State football’s historic 2023 season. The Seminoles dominated the ACC, going 13-0, before being denied a spot in the College Football Playoff. Jordan Travis, the team’s starting quarterback, was injured, which is why the CFP committee excluded them. Travis’ absence from the lineup hampered the Seminoles’ offense.
The Seminoles’ season ended in misery when they were defeated 63-3 by Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
Uiagalelei made a very classy move. The quarterback is charged with returning Florida State football to the top of the ACC standings. A CFP berth would also help to alleviate some of the disappointment fans felt at the end of last season, when the Seminoles were left out of the playoffs. The squad has high expectations after head coach Mike Norvell agreed to a big contract extension this offseason. He had been mentioned as a potential replacement for Nick Saban at Alabama.
Uiagalelei possesses a lot of poise and expertise. He had previously played in the ACC with Clemson for numerous years. In 2023, he threw for 2,638 yards for Oregon State during the school’s final Pac-12 season. He threw 21 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Oregon State spent the most of the season in the top 25 thanks to the quarterback’s performance. The gunslinger, who can run and throw, has 8,319 career throwing yards. He has thrown 57 touchdowns for the Tigers and Beavers.
There is a lot of drama off the field this season, as Florida State is one of several well-known ACC institutions considering leaving the conference. In 2023, the ACC added Stanford, California, and SMU to help stabilize the league. Even yet, many Atlantic Coast colleges find it difficult to justify traveling 3,000 miles to away games. It remains to be seen whether Florida State will exit stage left any time soon. If Florida State leaves the ACC, it could end up in the SEC.