Ex-Clemson QB Uiagalelei transferring to Oregon State
Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is transferring from Clemson to Oregon State, he announced on social media.
Uiagalelei, a former St. John Bosco standout, entered the transfer portal two weeks ago after an up-and-down two seasons as Clemson's starter. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
“Next stop ... Corvallis,” he tweeted Saturday, along with a picture showing himself in a Beavers uniform.
No. 17 Oregon State (10-3) used a two-quarterback system in its 30-3 victory over Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 17. Starter Ben Gulbranson was told beforehand that Tristan Gebbia would get at least two series. Gulbranson didn't let the decision faze him, completing 12 of 19 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. He was named game MVP.
Uiagalelei, meanwhile, was benched after two series in Clemson's 39-10 victory over North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship on Dec. 3, and coach Dabo Swinney announced that freshman Cade Klubnik would start for the 10th-ranked Tigers in the Orange Bowl against No. 6 Tennessee on Friday.
The Tigers (11-2) started 8-0, but Uiagalelei struggled in the Oct. 22 game against Syracuse and was pulled in the second half. Klubnik came off the bench to spark a 27-21 victory over then-ranked Syracuse.
Klubnik was called on again in relief two weeks later in a 35-14 loss at Notre Dame. Then, when Uiagalelei started with two three-and-out series against the Tar Heels with a league title at stake, Swinney put in Klubnik and never looked back.
Over 35 games in three seasons for Clemson, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Uiagalelei threw for 5,681 yards and 36 touchdowns with a 59.8% completion rate and 17 interceptions.
Middle Tennessee defeats San Diego St. in Hawaii Bowl
Zeke Rankin kicked four field goals, including a 37-yarder for the go-ahead score with 2:05 left, and Middle Tennessee State beat San Diego State 25-23 in the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday night in Honolulu.
The Blue Raiders (8-5) overcame a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to turn back the Aztecs (7-6) in a game that featured six lead changes.
Rankin converted four of his five field goal attempts to tie the Hawaii Bowl record for field goals. He made kicks from 44, 49, 26 and 37 yards and missed from 42.
“What a ball game,” Middle Tennessee State coach Rick Stockstill said. “I'm just really proud of our team. We struggled offensively up front protecting us at the line of scrimmage, but we found a way on that last drive to make things happen to get us down here and Zeke made a big-time field goal. It was just a very tough, hard-fought, competitive football game.”
San Diego State took a 23-22 lead with 5:43 to play on a 52-yard field goal by Jack Browning, but Middle Tennessee State drove 55 yards in 12 plays, capped by Rankin's 37-yard field goal to put his team ahead for good.
“We stayed positive, we stayed the course and there's going to be adversity in every game. We faced some adversity early, but we overcame it,” Stockstill said.
Middle Tennessee State finished with 170 yards of total offense to 364 total yards for San Diego State.
Chase Cunningham was 26-of43 passing with one interception for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylin Lane finished with 10 receptions for 111 yards and a 16-yard TD grab that put the Blue Raiders back ahead 22-17 with 13:25 left to play.
Lane's touchdown catch came two plays after Jordan Ferguson came down with an interception of a San Diego State pass that was tipped by linebacker Parker Hughes.
The Blue Raiders won despite allowing seven sacks and being held to minus-61 yards rushing. They were just 3 of 17 on third downs.
San Diego State was 4 of 16 on third downs.
“We got to play better football, especially offensively,” Aztecs coach Brady Hoke said. “I think it was a great game, it was a great bowl game to be in, especially with a really good Middle Tennessee State team.”
San Diego State led 14-13 at halftime.