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Watch: Florida State's Uiagalelei throws ugly INT
Florida State Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (4) throws the ball in the first half against the Boston College Eagles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Florida State QB DJ Uiagalelei throws ugly interception as season goes from bad to worse

Week 1 isn't over yet, and Florida State's season is already on life support.

Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei's nightmarish start against Boston College on Monday went from bad to worse when he was intercepted early in the third quarter.

The fifth-year senior, on his third college program, missed numerous easy throws early, including one to a wide-open receiver in the end zone on Florida State's most promising drive, which ended with a field goal.

The Seminoles trailed 14-6 at the time of Uiagalelei's interception. He panicked when facing pressure and threw straight to the Boston College defensive back Max Tucker, who returned the pick 58 yards to set the Eagles up with first-and-goal at the 7-yard line.

Two plays later, Boston College led 21-6.

With 10:33 remaining in the third, Uiagalelei is 11-of-27 for 130 yards and an interception.

The former five-star recruit was the No. 2 prospect in 247 Sports' 2020 recruiting rankings, only trailing former Alabama and current Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young while ranking ahead of former Ohio State and current Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.

He began his career at Clemson before transferring to Oregon State last season.

Uiagalelei entered 2024 with a sub-60 percent completion percentage in four seasons, and his accuracy issues have reared its head at Florida State.

While it's early in the year, it's becoming clear Uiagalelei isn't the answer at quarterback for the Noles.

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky has already seen enough. During Monday's game, he wrote on social media, "FSU needs to make a QB change."

Florida State's season could be on the line during the rest of the second half against Boston College.

During the broadcast, ESPN shared a graphic that revealed that, with a loss, Florida State, ranked 10th in the Associated Press preseason poll, will have a 1% chance of reaching the playoffs.

In Week 0, it lost to unranked Georgia Tech, 24-21, in Ireland.

The Seminoles need a spark to save their season, and Uiagalelei has already shown that he can't provide it.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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