FSU Football Transfer QB DJ Uiagalelei Has National Championship Expectations

While the Florida State Seminoles were an injury away from making the College Football Playoffs, their next chance to make the playoffs will come in a new era. Jordan Travis -- who suffered the season-ending injury for the Seminoles -- ran out of eligibility and made his way to the 2024 NFL Draft, where he's currently rehabbing and preparing to play pro football.

With this, the Seminoles had to turn towards a new era under center. This led to the program landing DJ Uiagalelei -- a transfer quarterback from Clemson and Oregon State -- in the transfer portal to lead the team in the 2024 college football season.

Uiagalelei joined College Sports Radio on Sirius XM to talk about the move to Tallahassee and understanding succeeding Travis while leading a program with steep expectations.

“I understand the expectation when you’re a quarterback here at Florida State and as a player,” Uiagalelei said on the show. That’s what you want. You want to be able to be able to be able to play at a place where the expectations are high and it’s ACC championship, national championship or bust. That’s the expectation Coach [Mike] Norvell has and that’s the expectation that the team has and including a fan base."

Florida State has undergone a recent turnaround under head coach Mike Norvell. The program has made its way back to the top of the ACC and college football, as it was many years ago, having won a National Championship just over a decade ago.

“So for me, man, it’s an opportunity. It’s a blessing to be able to go out there and it’s a challenge you know, each and every day. You got to put your best foot forward so at the end of the season you can be smiling," Uiagalelei said.

The Seminoles finished the last season ranked No. 5 and, if they can have another undefeated or near-undefeated regular season, they're going to be a College Football Playoff team in the new 12-team playoff format, which will see the Power Four conference champions earn automatic bids in the playoffs.