DJ Uiagalelei, the former Clemson star quarterback, made an impressive debut for his new team, leading No. 18 Oregon State to a resounding 42-17 victory over San Jose State. Uiagalelei, who had spent three years with Clemson, showed great comfort and confidence on the field, throwing three touchdown passes and running for two more.
In his first drive, Uiagalelei completed all three of his passes and finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown run. He continued to dominate in the following drives, throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jack Velling and adding another rushing touchdown from the 1-yard line. This gave Oregon State a commanding 21-3 lead over San Jose State.
Uiagalelei didn’t slow down in the second half either. He threw two deep strikes, a 31-yarder to Jeremiah Noga in the third quarter and a 28-yarder to Anthony Gould in the fourth quarter, which matched his career high of five combined touchdowns. Overall, Uiagalelei completed 20 out of 25 passes for 239 yards, showcasing his skill and composure.
The victory was a promising start for Oregon State, as they aim to build upon their successful 10-win campaign from last season under coach Jonathan Smith. Uiagalelei’s performance undoubtedly played a crucial role in setting the tone for the season ahead.
Meanwhile, the San Jose State Spartans had a tough day on their home turf. They struggled to find their rhythm offensively and only managed to score two touchdowns in the final quarter when the game was already out of reach. The loss against Oregon State added to their disappointing start of the season, following a 56-28 defeat against No. 6 Southern California in the previous week.
Looking ahead, the Beavers will face their real test in the coming weeks when the Pac-12 season gets underway. Oregon State, having earned their second top 20 preseason ranking in over 50 years, will hope to maintain their strong performance against tougher conference opponents.
In an interesting turn of events, this matchup between Oregon State and San Jose State could become a more regular fixture. Oregon State’s conference status is uncertain, with 10 out of the 12 Pac-12 schools committing to leaving for new conferences before the next season. Joining the Mountain West conference seems to be the most likely option for Oregon State.
Overall, Oregon State’s victory highlighted the team’s potential and set a positive tone for the season. As they await the start of the Pac-12 season, they can take confidence from DJ Uiagalelei’s exceptional debut and look to build upon their recent success.
