Tag: jesse palmer

Florida QB opts into EA College Football Video Game NIL usage

Graham Mertz has opted into the NIL partnership with EA Sports and will appear as the Florida Gators quarterback in the franchise reboot.

On Saturday, Florida quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] confirmed he would appear in the upcoming EA College Football 25 video game, which is among the most-anticipated sports titles of all time.

Mertz and the EA Sports college account posted in collaboration on Instagram confirming the partnership. EA Sports announced that more than 11,000 college football players would have a chance to earn money — roughly $600 — in exchange for NIL rights.

“Players would be in the game as long as they are on a roster, whether they transfer or not, and will be compensated on a yearly basis based on those factors. Players also could opt out of the game when future editions of the game are released if they so choose.

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Aside from players, ESPN’s top broadcast team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit have confirmed they will appear in the game. Herbstreit was the main analyst for the original series, which was discontinued in 2013.

Other ESPN personalities, such as Kevin Connors, Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, [autotag]Jesse Palmer[/autotag] and David Pollack have confirmed they will appear in the game, too.

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How to watch, listen, stream No. 19 at No. 11 Oregon

Colorado at Oregon will draw millions and millions of eyeballs on Saturday.

A year ago, no one in their right mind thought this game would be a Top 20 matchup.

But here we are.

In the Pac-12 opener for both teams, No. 19 Colorado comes to Eugene to face No. 11 Oregon in one of the most intriguing games of the college football season so far.

The Buffaloes, rejuvenated by coach Deion Sanders, are a factor in the Pac-12 for the first time since joining the league in 2009. Now they enter conference action to face their toughest opponent by far, the Ducks at Autzen Stadium.

This game should be a ratings bonanza for ABC as Colorado has been the story of the season. Last week’s contest against Colorado State drew in the most viewers for a late-night ESPN telecast, ever. Couple the Buffaloes’ draw with Oregon and what the Ducks bring to the table, it could be one of the highest-rated football games for the year.

Here’s all the info you need on how to watch:

ESPN’s College GameDay selects winner of Ohio State vs Georgia and the other College Football Playoff game

Who do you think wins today? #GoBucks

The Buckeyes and Bulldogs will have to wait until prime time for them to find out who will play for a National Championship in about two weeks. ESPN’s College GameDay had a choice between the two semi-final games and chose Ohio State taking on Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

It was an expanded crew selecting the games as David Pollack, Jesse Palmer and Joey Galloway joined Desmond Howard, Lee Corso Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit in selecting who will win the College Football Playoff games this afternoon. Find out below who picked who to win the biggest games of this season starting off with the OSU and UGA matchup. (Herbstreit did not pick this game due to calling it.)

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ESPN analysts chime in after Clemson’s loss to South Carolina

A number of ESPN analysts chimed in with various comments after eighth-ranked Clemson’s 31-30 rivalry loss to South Carolina on Saturday at Death Valley. Along with the Tigers being outplayed on special teams, ESPN’s Trevor Matich pointed to South …

A number of ESPN analysts chimed in with various comments after eighth-ranked Clemson’s 31-30 rivalry loss to South Carolina on Saturday at Death Valley.

Along with the Tigers being outplayed on special teams, ESPN’s Trevor Matich pointed to South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler outdueling Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei as a big difference in the outcome of the game.

Uiagalelei completed only 8 of his 29 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown with one interception, while Rattler went 25 of 39 passing for 360 yards a two touchdowns with two picks.

“You talk about ‘Beamer Ball’ – the special teams of South Carolina were a major contributing factor here,” Matich said on ESPN’s Championship Drive show of Shane Beamer’s team pulling off the upset. “But they won the quarterback duel. Spencer Rattler was phenomenal. Against Tennessee the week before, he was unstoppable. A lot of people thought that was just a one-off. But against a better Clemson defense, Rattler continued to hit receivers that were covered, dropping dimes under pressure. He was by far the better quarterback in this game. Threw for over 300 yards, whereas DJ Uiagalelei didn’t reach a hundred yards, and so that was the big difference.”

Rattler – a week after passing for 438 yards and six touchdowns in South Carolina’s upset home win over then-No. 5 Tennessee – had more yards against Clemson by himself than the Tigers posted in total offense as a team (336).

Meanwhile, opposite of Rattler, Uiagalelei had his most ineffective performance of the season as a passer as he set season-lows for completions and completion percentage (27.6). His interception marked his sixth time in seven games committing at least one turnover.

“Inconsistent all season long,” ESPN’s Jesse Palmer said of Uiagalelei on the network’s College Football Final show.

Matich spoke about Clemson at the quarterback position, saying the Tigers need to address it.

Dabo Swinney addressed his team’s quarterback situation again on Sunday, with the head coach stating that Uiagalelei will remain the starter for Saturday’s ACC Championship Game vs. North Carolina.

“Clemson now needs to sit back and say OK, the quarterback position is a place that we need to address,” Matich said. “We thought we had it fixed at the beginning of the year, but in the biggest games at the end of the year, we still didn’t break through when our opponents did.”

Turnovers were once again an issue with Clemson committing three more in Saturday’s game, giving the Tigers 15 in their last five games.

Two of those turnovers came on special teams, one on Antonio Williams’ punt return fumble in the waning moments of the fourth quarter that gave the ball back to the Gamecocks and allowed them to run out the clock.

The other special teams turnover occurred in the first half, when trickeration on a kickoff return – which saw Will Shipley hand the ball off to Phil Mafah in a scrum huddle — ended with Mafah fumbling the ball back to South Carolina.

South Carolina capitalized on that giveaway when Rattler scored on a 4-yard run, which cut the Gamecocks’ deficit to two points midway through the second quarter.

“Turnovers would be a problem for Clemson in this game,” ESPN’s Joey Galloway said on College Football Final. “To go trick play in this kind of game, you’re up 16-7, I don’t know about the call. Didn’t work out.”

In addition to snapping Clemson’s series and home winning streaks at seven and 40 games, respectively, the Gamecocks also put an end to any hopes the Tigers had of making the College Football Playoff.

“Yes, they’re done,” Heather Dinich, who covers the playoff for ESPN, said on Championship Drive.

“Had Clemson finished as a one-loss conference champ and you have a TCU loss or a USC loss, that ACC Champion is still in the conversation. Not anymore. You’re guaranteed to either have a two-loss champ or three-loss, (if) North Carolina wins this thing. And I mean, that is not gonna happen. And because Ohio State and Alabama are sitting there on the edge, they’re certainly getting the nod over Clemson.”

Saturday’s ACC Championship Game between Clemson (10-2, 8-0 ACC) and North Carolina (9-3, 6-2) is set for an 8 p.m. kickoff on ABC.

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ESPN analysts weigh in on Uiagalelei’s performance against Boston College

Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei helped lead the Tigers to a 31-3 win at Boston College on Saturday night, throwing for 220 yards and three touchdowns while pacing the Tigers in rushing for a second consecutive game with 69 yards on 12 carries. On …

Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei helped lead the Tigers to a 31-3 win at Boston College on Saturday night, throwing for 220 yards and three touchdowns while pacing the Tigers in rushing for a second consecutive game with 69 yards on 12 carries.

On ESPN’s College Football Final, host Matt Barrie and analysts Joey Galloway and Jesse Palmer weighed in on Uiagalelei and his performance against the Eagles.

The junior signal-caller hit three different receivers on the scores.

“He’s got some receivers that are starting to win one-on-one now,” Palmer said, “and they’re making plays for their quarterback.”

With Clemson up 10-3 coming out of halftime, the Tigers came up with a quick stop and then Uiagalelei led his offense 73 yards on five plays, hitting Joseph Ngata in stride for a 38-yard score with 11:50 to play in the third quarter.

“For every head-scratcher DJ does, then he throws a dart like this to Ngata,” Barrie said.

“He looks great at times like he did on this throw, and then at times, you wonder what is he thinking?” Galloway added.

Clemson wide receiver Beaux Collins (80) celebrates with tight end Davis Allen (84) and quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (5) after scoring against Boston College during the third quarter at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

Clemson (6-0, 4-0 ACC) extended its lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, as Uiagalelei found Beaux Collins alone in the end zone on third-and-8 from the 10-yard line.

Another highlight for Collins – Uiagalelei’s high school teammate at California prep powerhouse St. John Bosco – was his reception from Uiagalelei early in the third quarter that preceded Ngata’s touchdown catch one play later.

“Tremendous chemistry with his high school teammate against double coverage,” Palmer said of the Uiagalelei-Collins 21-yard connection.

Uiagalelei later hit Brannon Spector for a 13-yard touchdown with 4:22 left in the game, his third touchdown pass of the day to his third different receiver.

“He had a chance to stand in the pocket,” Galloway said. “If you give him that kind of time, he’s going to find somebody.”

Uiagalelei finished 18-of-32 passing with the three touchdowns and one interception. The pick on his eighth pass attempt of the game ended a streak of having thrown 110 consecutive passes without an interception.

“I mean we’ll sit there and watch games, and we’re like guys, what is he looking at?” Barrie said, alluding to Uiagalelei’s decision-making on some throws. “But then he finds a way to get in rhythm.”

In six games this season, Uiagalelei has completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 1,462 yards and 14 passing touchdowns with two interceptions, to go with 311 rushing yards and three rushing scores on 67 carries (4.6 yards per carry).

Uiagalelei and the Tigers will return to action this Saturday at Florida State (4-2, 2-2 ACC). Kickoff at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee is set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC.

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Flashback Friday: Panthers dominate Giants to end Jim Fassel’s tenure

In the latest Giants Wire Flashback Friday, we head to 2003 when the Carolina Panthers dropped the New York Giants to end the Jim Fassel era.

The Jim Fassel era in New York Giants history is littered with highs and lows. Fassel, who took the Giants to the playoff three times and the Super Bowl once, was so revered by the team that when they fired him in mid-December of 2003, they let him coach the team for the remaining two games of the season.

The final game that year was against the surging Carolina Panthers, coached by Fassel’s former defensive coordinator, John Fox. The Panthers came into Giants Stadium on the Sunday after Christmas with a 10-5 record and headed towards the Super Bowl.

Fassel’s team was 4-11 and had lost seven straight games. His team wanted him to go out with win. They sure didn’t show it.

The Panthers took an early 20-0 lead on Steve Smith’s 53-yard punt return, a 27-yards interception return for a touchdown by Ricky Manning Jr. and field goals of 42, 33 and 34 yards from John Kasay. The Giants could not recover and lost miserably, 37-24, in Jesse Palmer’s third and final start as their quarterback.

The loss wasn’t the story, however. That belonged to Fassel and his weird, but sad, farewell. Fox felt for his friend and the two hugged on the field after the game.

“I spent the very first moment with him when he was hired and the very last,” said Fox. “I feel proud to have been associated with him. He has a lot to be proud of, as I told him.”

After the game, Fassel was greeted by throng of about 200 of the Giant faithful in the end zone to wish him well. The players all hugged and praised him after the game as well.

“It’s definitely a sad feeling,” said Giants receiver Amani Toomer. “I wish we could have given him a win. A lot of things happened this year. It’s kind of a relief to have it over. We wish it didn’t happen the way it did.”

Unfortunately, winning is what counts. Fassel’s 58-53-1 record over seven years wasn’t bad but the eight-game losing streak to kill another season was too much for ownership to bear. It was the first Giants team to finish the season with eight consecutive defeats since 1966, the worst season in franchise history (1-12-1).

“I feel maybe it is a better place than when I came in,” Fassel said. ” I know a lot of the older players have said that to me and that has stuck with me a lot.”

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Jesse Palmer makes bold prediction about Clemson offense

During halftime of Friday’s night’s game between Louisville and Central Florida Jesse Palmer discussed which team would win the ACC this season. The pick for the winner wasn’t surprising but he made a bold prediction during his comments. “I think it …

During halftime of Friday’s night’s game between Louisville and Central Florida Jesse Palmer discussed which team would win the ACC this season.

The pick for the winner wasn’t surprising but he made a bold prediction during his comments.

“I think it is going to be Clemson,” Palmer said on ESPN.  “We already know their defense is going to be dominant.  Their defensive line is going to reek havoc verses every opponent they play.  But I expect the true freshman Cade Klubnik to takeover at starting quarterback.  And because of his playmaking ability I think he is going to spark this offense.  I think he is going to galvanize them.

The former Gator believes the schedule helps the Tigers this season.

“When you look at the schedule big games against NC State and Miami at home this year for Clemson.  I think that is huge.  I think they will get back to being ACC champs.”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

These two Gators earned SEC honors for their Week 1 performances

Two Gators made big waves in the conference in their team’s season opener.

Florida football scored an epic win to open the 2022 season in the Swamp, outlasting their top-10 opponent, the Utah Utes, for an upset victory that hopefully sets the tone for the team in head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s first year at the helm.

It took a total team effort to score that victory, from the coaching staff all the way down to everyone else who contributed to the outcome on the field. Among the gridiron warriors who went to battle for the glory of the Orange and Blue Saturday night, two particular players stood out from their Southeastern Conference peers.

Quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] put up Heisman Trophy-worth stats against the Utes to earn the SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor, looking solid with his arm while setting a career-high in rushing touchdowns with his three scampers. Only five other Florida play-callers have achieved that accomplishment, a list that also includes [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Jeff Driskel[/autotag], [autotag]Jesse Palmer[/autotag] and [autotag]Tim Tebow[/autotag]. Of course, Tebow did it twice.

On the other side of the ball is defensive lineman [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]., who roped in his first SEC weekly honor — Co-Defensive Lineman — thanks to a career-best 10 tackles against Utah. The former Georgia Bulldog was expected to anchor the D-line for Florida this season and did not disappoint against the opening opponent, ending up just one of eight conference players to record double-digit tackles in Week 1.

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ESPN analysts react to Clemson’s loss to NC State

A few ESPN analysts gave their reactions to Clemson’s 27-21 loss to NC State in double-overtime on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. During College Football Final, Matt Barrie, Joey Galloway and Jesse Palmer discussed the Tigers’ upset …

A few ESPN analysts gave their reactions to Clemson’s 27-21 loss to NC State in double-overtime on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

During College Football Final, Matt Barrie, Joey Galloway and Jesse Palmer discussed the Tigers’ upset loss – which snapped their 36-game winning streak against unranked opponents – and talked about what’s gone wrong for quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and company through the first four games of this season.

“This has been building up with this Clemson team,” Galloway said. “We don’t really know what they are and why they’ve struggled, especially on the offensive side. Defense has been pretty good until (Saturday).

“But if you look at Clemson, against Georgia, great defense. It was like OK, that’s Georgia. Then it’s been South Carolina State, then it’s been Georgia Tech and NC State in this game. Clemson is last in the ACC in (total) yards per game (295.5), they’re last in the ACC in points per game (21.8). D.J. U doesn’t have a 200-yard passing game. (Will) Shipley doesn’t have a hundred-yard rushing game and Justyn Ross doesn’t have a hundred-yard receiving game.”

This marks the first time that Clemson (2-2, 1-1 ACC) has suffered two losses in September since 2014, when the Tigers fell to Georgia and Florida State.

After Saturday’s action around college football, the Tigers currently rank 105th among FBS programs in scoring offense (21.8 points per game), 99th nationally in rushing offense (126.25 rushing yards per game), 115th nationally in passing offense (169.3 passing yards per game) and 121st nationally in total offense (295.5 total yards per game).

“They literally look like they don’t understand at times,” Galloway said of Clemson’s offense. “We talked about Oklahoma being off schedule. That’s the way Clemson has looked early in this season where it looks like they’re just not clicking on all cylinders, as if they don’t understand the defensive looks they’re getting or something. It is completely off. That’s how you get two losses in September. But it is amazing what Clemson has looked like through four games with the amount of talent they have. To not have anybody have a big game in that schedule, four games, is amazing.”

Through four games, Uiagalelei is averaging 146.5 passing yards per game and has thrown for three touchdowns with three interceptions.

Not only was Saturday’s loss painful for the Tigers on the scoreboard, but it was painful from an injury standpoint as well.

“The scary part, too, they’ve got a lot of their impact players injured,” Palmer said. “In this loss against NC State, we saw Bryan Bresee up front, a D-tackle, go down. James Skalski went down again, a linebacker, a leader on that defense. And Will Shipley, he’s been one of the few bright spots for this offense early this year. He went down as well. I think D.J. U is just missing guys. He’s got guys open, he’s just missing them.”

Following the loss to NC State, Clemson now just has an eight-percent chance of making the College Football Playoff, according to ESPN’s FPI.

“I think Clemson now at this point, you can put them aside for the year in terms of the playoff, then see what they do towards the end of the season,” Barrie said.

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ESPN analysts react to Clemson’s narrow win over Georgia Tech

On ESPN’s College Football Final show, host Matt Barrie and analysts Joey Galloway and Jesse Palmer talked about sixth-ranked Clemson’s narrow 14-8 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday at Death Valley. The Tigers improved to 2-1 and 1-0 in the ACC …

On ESPN’s College Football Final show, host Matt Barrie and analysts Joey Galloway and Jesse Palmer talked about sixth-ranked Clemson’s narrow 14-8 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday at Death Valley.

The Tigers improved to 2-1 and 1-0 in the ACC despite a modest performance from quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who went 18-of-25 passing for 126 yards with no touchdowns through the air or on the ground, though he did rush eight times for 46 yards.

“He has really been struggling throwing the ball early this year, missing a lot of open receivers,” Palmer said. “Only 126 passing yards in this game.”

The Tigers, though, benefited from a strong rushing performance by freshman running back Will Shipley.

The former five-star prospect from Weddington (N.C.) High School recorded career highs in rushing attempts (21) and rushing yards (88) and tied his career high with two rushing touchdowns — Clemson’s only two scores of the game against Georgia Tech.

After recording his first two career touchdowns against South Carolina State on Sept. 11, Shipley became the first Clemson player to rush for multiple touchdowns in multiple games as a true freshman since Travis Etienne (three) in 2017.

“One of the best running backs in the country coming out of high school,” Galloway said. “They need everything they get on the ground because they have not been throwing the ball well.”

While Clemson’s offense continued to struggle on Saturday against the Yellow Jackets, the Tigers’ defense remained stout.

Clemson has now held three consecutive offenses without a touchdown for the first time since 1990 (Appalachian State, Duke and Georgia).

Per data available through Sports Reference, Clemson joined 2007 Iowa, 2008 Iowa and 2012 Florida State as the fourth team since 2000 to open the first three games of a season without allowing an offensive touchdown.

“Even though the offense is struggling, this is still one of the best defenses in the country,” Palmer said. “They’ve not allowed a touchdown yet this year.”

After surviving a test from Georgia Tech, Clemson will return to action this coming Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. road game against NC State in Raleigh, N.C.

“A win is a win is a win, I guess,” Barrie said.

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