Notre Dame finishes the 2023 season as for the second time in program history they’ll head to the Sun Bowl. There they’ll play Oregon State, a team they’ve met twice all-time, losing both games.
This game seems to set up a bit better for Notre Dame, however. At least at the quarterback position.
Beavers starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei had already announced that he was entering the transfer portal, making him unavailable for the bowl game. Now Oregon State’s second-string quarterback, Aidan Chiles, is entering the portal as well.
So Oregon State will be playing with their third string quarterback seemingly while Notre Dame may have to take guys off the street to dress at wide receiver.
By all accounts, Sam Hartman is expected to play for the Irish.
Uiagalelei entered the portal last season following Clemson starting quarterback Cade Klubnik, earning the starting quarterback position ahead of the 2022 Orange Bowl. The destination he chose was Oregon State, where he had a solid season in 2023.
Leading the Beavers to an 8-4 record, Uiagalelei threw for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, adding 6 touchdowns on the ground. This decision came after former Beavers head coach Jonathan Smith accepted the Michigan State head coaching job, so it isn’t too surprising to see Uiagalelei in the portal following his head coach’s departure.
With news like this comes reactions. Here is a look at how Twitter/X has reacted to Uiagalelei reentering the transfer portal.
DJ Uiagalelei is back in the transfer portal after one season with Oregon State.
Former Clemson starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei transferred to Oregon State after starting two seasons for the Tigers, and he is now back in the transfer portal after one season with Oregon State, according to reports.
This news comes after former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith accepted the Michigan State head coaching job, so it is not incredibly surprising to see Uiagalelei depart after losing the head coach who brought him into the program. Uiagalelei led the Beavers to an 8-4 record this season, throwing for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, adding 6 touchdowns on the ground.
Uiagalelei is a huge name in the portal and one whose situation we will monitor closely.
Brothers DJ and Matayo Uiagalelei will face off when Oregon State plays Oregon this weekend, putting Dave Uiagalelei in a fun position.
There are many things that can make a dad proud.
Sometimes, it can be as simple as your child finishing a plate of food or making their bed in the morning. Down the road, the standard is set a bit higher, with some hoping for a high grade-point average, while others dream of hard-hitting tackles and touchdown catches on a Friday night.
As the parent of a 1-year-old, I tend to set the bar at long and successful nap times that allow Dad to get some work done. For Dave Uiagalelei, it’s safe to say the bar of success has been set quite a bit higher over the years, thanks to unending hard work, perseverance and what looks to be a masterclass in parenting.
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On Friday evening in Eugene, those years of blood, sweat, and tears — mixed with a massive dose of love — will culminate in something that most dads in the world of sports would be jealous of. Big Dave gets to see his two boys take the field and play against each other when the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers square off in the Civil War.
DJ Uiagalelei, the oldest, is the star quarterback in Corvallis, while Matayo, the youngest, is one of the most promising up-and-coming defenders on Dan Lanning’s roster down in Eugene. It will be redshirt-junior vs. true-freshman; passer vs. pass-rusher; brother vs. brother.
Matayo Uiagalelei (Left) and DJ Uiagalelei (Right) as teammates at St. John Bosco in 2019. Photo Courtesy of Dave Uiagalelei
“I think it’s a father’s dream,” Dave told me in an interview this week. “You know, to be able to have two sons, not just one, play at a high level, come out of high school being five-stars, No. 1 players at their position. For me, it’s a blessing.
“I think I’m one of the luckiest dads,” Dave continued. “I mean, any father would just dream for this, you know, so I’m just totally grateful and thankful.”
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to talk to Big Dave during Matayo’s recruiting process. The high school senior was a five-star player at St. John Bosco in California, and I wanted to pick Dave’s brain about what it was like having the No. 1 edge rusher in the nation, just a few years after his oldest son, DJ, was rated as the No. 1 pro-style QB in the nation. He told me all about “Big Dave’s Blueprint,” and his philosophy when it comes to molding talented young athletes into successful and respectable men. At the time, Matayo was considering the Ducks, but leaning toward USC. Meanwhile, DJ was the starting QB for the Clemson Tigers on the East Coast.
Who would have thought, two years later, we’d be talking again with Matayo in Eugene, and DJ 45 minutes north in Corvallis?
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It may seem like a string of coincidences played out for these two brothers to be playing in such close proximity. In reality, it should come as no surprise if you know the bond that the two share. Having the two playing on opposite ends of the country would have felt unnatural.
“People don’t understand how close those two are,” Dave said. “DJ finishes his game, he gets right into the car and drives to go see his little brother play. That just should tell you how much DJ loves his little brother and so forth. For me as a father, I mean, there’s nothing better than that.”
Matayo Uiagalelei (Left) and DJ Uiagalelei (Right) on a recruiting visit to the Oregon Ducks Photo Courtesy of Dave Uiagalelei
As a fan, the situation is quite advantageous for Dave, who attends as many games as he can. Of course, the scheduling doesn’t always work out, but Uiagalelei has been able to catch as many games as possible throughout the season, saying that there have even been two games this year where he’s managed to watch both sons play in a single day.
On Friday, it will be made possible again, with DJ and Matayo facing each other on opposite teams for the first time ever. For each son, the competitive drive will take over instantly as they quickly lock in and do whatever it takes to win. For Dad, you could write a book on the emotions that he will experience throughout the evening.
“I don’t even know what to feel, you know? I’m cheering for both, I know that for sure,” Dave said. “It’s like I’m sitting there like ‘Wow, I can’t believe these two are gonna play each other.'”
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Of course, brothers playing against each other in football is not a unique thing. NFL fans have seen the story of Travis and Jason Kelce shoved down their throats as both played against each other in the Super Bowl last year. We’ve also seen matchups between siblings like Peyton and Eli Manning, J.J. and T.J. Watt, and Nick and Joey Bosa take place over the years, among many others. However, those brothers typically play on the same side of the ball, so it doesn’t present the opportunity for a clash on the field.
On Friday, that’s exactly what could be in store, though. There is a world in which DJ drops back to pass, and Matayo comes off the edge and brings down his older brother for a sack. If that happens, expect quite the reaction from Dave in the stands.
“I’m going to laugh my ass off, man. And then I’m going to pray that he gets up and they hug each other.”
Dave Uiagalelei (top left), Matayo Uiagalelei (bottom left) and DJ Uiagalelei. Photo Courtesy of Dave Uiagalelei
It would make for an interesting visual, having the two opponents embrace after a crucial play in a high-intensity game, but again, it makes sense if you understand the bond.
“That would be perfect, it would be so perfect,” Dave said. “You know, your younger brother sacks you, he gets up and picks his older brother up. And then DJ just wraps his arm around him and stuff, that would be so perfect. That’s an ESPN highlight if you ask me.”
It certainly would be a story that the two would be telling for the rest of their lives and a memory that Big Dave would never forget.
That can be said about the entire day, and the season as a whole, in reality. The past two decades have seen a lot of long hours, a lot of pain, and a lot of time spent working hard to improve. There were endless mornings of Dave being woken up by his two sons after a shift working as a bodyguard, with the boys pestering him to get up and go train. All of the hours have led to this weekend, though, where he will sit inside Autzen Stadium, wearing neutral colors, rooting for his two sons to succeed in doing what they love.
“I’m just gonna sit there being thankful, playing the proud dad.”
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning met with media members to talk about Oregon State, DJ Uiagalelei, and learning from last year’s loss.
This coming weeks is a massively important one for Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning. Not only does his team have an opportunity to make it to the Pac-12 Championship Game with a win over the Oregon State Beavers on Friday night, but it gives him another opportunity to beat one of his teams biggest rivals, something he has been unable to do so far in his short tenure with the Ducks.
There will be a lot on the line, and a lot of emotions at play for both fanbases. This is one of the most storied and tenuous rivalries in the nation dating back for over a century, and it could be the last time we see these two teams play for a while, with no future games on the schedule.
On Monday night, Lanning met with media members to preview the matchup. Here are some of the most notable quotes from that presser:
Dabo Swinney loves to see DJ Uiagalelei succeeding at Oregon State.
Former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei has been having an awesome year as the Oregon State starting quarterback as the starting quarterback has the Beavers humming to a 6-1 record and No.12 ranking in the country.
Through seven games this season, he has thrown for 1,573, 15 touchdowns, four interceptions, and has an 85.0 quarterback rating (7th in the country). Uiagalelei’s success has been great to see for many, but no one is happier for the former Clemson starter than Tigers’ head coach Dabo Swinney, who discussed his performance on his radio call show on Monday.
“Ain’t nobody happier for DJ than me. I love the kid,” Swinney said. “That’s exactly what I hoped would happen. That he would get a good reset and really just go ball out and have a great year. This kid was incredibly committed to Clemson for three years. He’s a graduate. I know he got a lot of criticism — the guy is 22-6 as a starter here. It’s just crazy. I think he’s got a bright, bright future, and I’ve always believed that. Again, sometimes you need a reset.
“I’m really happy for him and proud of him…This kid is a really good player and an unbelievable kid, and a great preparer of the game. Ain’t nobody on the planet happier for that young man than me. Just pulling for him to finish well and go on to do great things and play some pro ball. He’s always represented Clemson and Oregon State with class.”
As expected, it was a classy response from Swinney, who is one of the best player’s coaches in college football. There is no doubt Swinney is proud of what he’s seen from Uiagalelei this season.
Action Network is projecting the Tigers to face former starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in the postseason.
Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football team are firmly out of the College Football Playoff picture, but there is still a lot of season left for this team to prove themselves and what they are all about.
For Clemson (4-2, 2-2 ACC) to end the 2023 season on a high note, they may need to get through a very familiar face to do so… DJ Uiagalelei. According to Brett McMurphy and Action Network’s latest college football bowl projections, Clemson is projected to face Oregon State in the Holiday Bowl.
I know the Holiday Bowl is not a game Tigers fans were expecting, but if this does end up happening, it would be a wild matchup for a few reasons. The obvious reason is former Clemson starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.
Uiagalelei started two seasons for the Tigers with high expectations, taking over for Clemson great Trevor Lawrence. The young quarterback had his moments but didn’t live up to the hype. Swinney and the Tigers opted to go with now-starting quarterback Cade Klubnik, with Uiagalelei transferring to play for the Beavers.
He has had a solid start to his season as the No.15 Beavers sit at 5-1 heading into a Week 7 matchup against No.18 UCLA. So far, he has recorded 1,307 passing yards, 13 TD passes, 4 interceptions, 131 rushing yards, and 5 rushing TDs.
This matchup is mainly intriguing because of this, but it is also interesting because it would simply be a great matchup. Two great defenses taking each other on with all of the implications around both offenses would be a fantastic watch.
ESPN has graded all 46 transfer quarterbacks so far this season. Former Tiger DJ Uiagalelei ranks among the best.
Former Clemson starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei transferred to Oregon State this offseason as the Tigers passed the torch to Cade Klubnik to take over as the team’s starting quarterback.
The decision to transfer was one Uiagalelei had to make if he wanted what was best for his career, and the decision to move on to play for the Beavers was an excellent choice for the young quarterback. With an excellent run game, one of the best offensive lines in college football, and a top-tier home environment, Uiagalelei has thrived at Oregon State.
Recently, ESPN graded 46 college football quarterback transfers in 2023 ($$$), with Uiagalelei ranking among the best in the country with a B+ grade. There were only five players ahead of the former Tiger. Here is a bit of what writers Adam Rittenberg and Tom VanHaaren had to say about Uiagalelei.
iagalelei might have been the most intriguing quarterback of the transfer cycle, given his profile at Clemson. Oregon State coaches were impressed with his willingness to learn a new and more complex offense, which requires quarterbacks to absorb and process a lot. His results have been mostly positive. Uiagalelei had a near-flawless debut at San Jose State — 239 pass yards and three touchdowns while completing 20 of 25 passes with two rushing touchdowns — but then began to struggle with his accuracy, a problem during his Clemson tenure. He completed a combined 45 of 89 passes against San Diego State, Washington State and Utah, before another brilliant performance in the Bay Area against Cal (275 pass yards, five touchdowns). Uiagalelei’s mobility has helped the Beavers; he has averaged 4 yards per rush with five touchdowns.
Uiagalelei hasn’t been a world-beater at Oregon State, but he has been very good. So far, he has recorded 1,307 passing yards, 13 TD passes, 4 interceptions, 131 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs, and a 5-1 record.
Seeing the former Clemson starter flourishing elsewhere is great, as the move made sense for both him and the Clemson football program. He will look to continue his strong season as the Beavers face a tough UCLA team on Saturday.
It is obviously in USC’s best interest for Oregon State to beat Utah. How can the Beavers get the job done? Let’s discuss.
Oregon State hosts Utah on Friday night in the “other” important Pac-12 game of the week. Before USC and Colorado tee it up on Saturday morning in Boulder, Oregon State and Utah will go at it in Corvallis under the lights on Friday.
Oregon State lost to Washington State in Week 4, putting the Beavers in a hole in the Pac-12 race. The Beavers have to strike back this week, or they will be essentially eliminated from the race. Utah, meanwhile, has done really well to go 4-0 without starting quarterback Cam Rising. The Utah defense has been ferocious, and more than that, it has been clutch. The lack of a good offense has put all the pressure on the Utah defense to carry the team. Kyle Whittingham’s group has been able to handle the challenge. At some point, though, one would think Utah will need Rising — and more offense — to remain unbeaten.
What does Oregon State need to do to win this game? We asked our Pac-12 football panel below:
DJ Uiagalelei had a strong performance in his first start at Oregon State.
Former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei transferred to Oregon State with a ton to prove, performing well in his debut with the Beavers.
Uiagalelei completed 20 of 25 passes for 239 yards, three touchdowns through the air, and two on the ground without a turnover as the Beavers cruised past San Jose State 42-17 on the road. It was a strong performance from the former Tiger in a new opportunity.
It is early, but the decision to transfer to Oregon State looks like a good one, with Uiagalelei playing behind a stellar offensive line. Given the time to make plays, he did what he needed to.
Here is a look at how Twitter/X reacted to Uiagalelei’s performance.
