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FSU's DJ Uiagalelei and HC Norvell are mocked by CFB fans after losing in SMU's first ACC game | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

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Southern Methodist University celebrated the start of conference play in its first ACC season by upsetting Florida State and head coach Mike Norvell.

On the way to a 42:16 victory over the visitors, the SMU defenses tackled FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei three times.

Uiagalelei's third interception was returned 82 yards for a touchdown.

Uiagalelei connected on 12 of 30 pass attempts for 222 yards and two touchdowns and threw three interceptions before being replaced by backup Brock Glenn after the pick-six in the fourth quarter.

Undefeated attitude 🍢🍢🍢 @Eberly_M

DJ Uiagalelei may be a good kid, but if you're throwing more interceptions than touchdowns, that's potentially a big problem.

Future of retro @TraeK_

Dabo winning 10 and 11 games with DJ Uiagalelei at QB should have made him Coach of the Year in hindsight

Alterraun⚡ @Hockfan445

DJ Uiagalelei is built like a linebacker and moves like a running back. Unfortunately, the first legal forward pass was thrown in 1906.

Christian the Lion @PsilentAssassin

DJ Uiagalelei has to be replaced at some point, right?!

Lebby Billings @Billings Lebby

DJ Uiagalelei is a legend. He will keep a starting spot all season on a team that will win two games 😂

Florida State is now off to a 1-4 start in Mike Norvell's fifth season with the team. The loss drops his overall record in Tallahassee to 32-21.

Norvell, who led the Seminoles to three straight winning seasons between 2021 and 2023, signed an eight-year contract extension with FSU last year, which would require a buyout should the team attempt to part ways with him before 2029.

trunole77 @trunole77

All defense was stopped. Mike Norvell completely lost this team. I've felt like Miami for the last 20 years. No hope.

Brantley Goodrich 🍢 @bgoodrich210

Mike Norvell is putting his own career at risk by willfully refusing to make changes. If doing the same thing over and over again doesn't work, why keep doing it?

Jagnole (depressed FSU fan) @Tylergottea

Mike Norvell has completely weakened FSU athletics

Jordan Bice @JordanBice2

Mike Norvell looks like he doesn't care

💫🅰️♈️🆔 @ADavidHaleJoint

Mike Norvell looks like he just realized he's living in a simulation and none of it can be real.

Jim Bill @jwnejnssn38x3

Mike Norvell has lost all the goodwill from his fans that he earned over the last two years. If there was a worst coach of the year, Norvell would be the unanimous choice.

Disappointed cat fan no more @Sports pessimism

DJU wasn't great, but he was fine tonight. He wasn't the problem. The problem is Mike Norvell and only Mike Norvell. He has no idea what he's doing. Fire him.

Ryan Williams @Ryan A Williams

I don't know what happened to FSU. It took Mike Norvell four years to build this team, and in year five it completely collapsed.
And it's up to him.

Norvell leads a roster still reeling from the loss of 10 players to the 2024 NFL Draft, including quarterback Jordan Travis, receiver Keon Coleman and defensive end Jared Verse.

Uiagalelei, who began his college career with three seasons at Clemson and one at Oregon State before transferring to FSU before the 2024 season, has so far struggled to get to grips with the Seminoles' offense while working to fit into Travis' previous role to hatch.

Dru'Challa @DruDilly

Mike Norvell calls some of these plays as if he had the same personnel on the roster as last year…

Duvalnol @duvalnole_

Mike Norvell is overwhelmed. Don't let 2023 fool you.

Orlando Magic Guru. @OMagicGuru

Mike Norvell owes Jordan Travis every cent of his new contract

Producer Eric @EMunoz_20

Mike Norvell without Jordan Travis is Willie Taggart

Thanks to previous wins over Nevada, Houston Christian and TCU, SMU's record now improves to 4-1. The team's only loss this season came against No. 22 BYU in Week 2.

Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 16 of 23 for 254 yards and three touchdowns to secure the win.

UltimateCFBpod @cfb_ultimate

SMU credit is required. They didn't seem like a team that could compete week in and week out as an ACC member, but this team continued to improve. I like what I see from the ponies #PonyUp #PonyUpDallas

Jason Taylor @jtaylor4001

I don't bet on it. But. If SMU wins at Louisville next week, an ACC championship wouldn't be out of the question. Lots of “ifs” so don’t count on them. But the fact that we can even talk about it shows how far the SMU program has come.

ACC play continues next Saturday as Florida State faces an even tougher conference opponent when No. 17 Clemson arrives in Tallahassee.

Norvell will still have many questions to answer as the Seminoles offense seeks answers to the offensive struggles that have made them one of the best the least most productive teams in the FCS so far this season.

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