DJ Uiagalelei takes a look back at his first game against Notre Dame

This weekend won’t be the first time DJ Uiagalelei has crossed paths with Notre Dame in his college career. Due to a COVID-19 infection, Trevor Lawrence missed Clemson’s matchup with the Fighting Irish back in 2020. That forced Uiagalelei into the starting spot where he put up a solid performance that excited Tiger fans about his future.

Uiagalelei recalled the game and his performance during media on Monday. To the point that maybe his performance that game placed some big expectations on him, Uiagalelei said it was all good to him. It was fine for the fans to put those expectations on him at the time because they lined up with what he expected from himself.

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“I don’t think it put any pressure on me from the expectations,” said Uiagalelei. “I expect that out of myself. To be able to play my best game each and every day, every time I step on the field. So I don’t think it was any extra expectations they put on me.”

Uiagalelei threw for a career-high 439 passing yards along with two touchdowns on a 65.9% completion rate. He also rushed for a score against the Irish defense. It was a big moment for the then-freshman Uiagalelei. He stepped up big for his team when they needed him in a massive moment against a team they’d face again in the ACC Championship later that season.

However, there’s one part of that game that has stuck with Uiagalelei ever since. That part would be the outcome as, even with his stellar play, Clemson lost the double overtime game 47-40 in South Bend. With that as extra motivation, Uiagalelei is bent on being on the right side of the scoreboard this time around.

“I mean yeah I played great but the biggest thing for me was the loss. That was the biggest thing,” Finebaum said. “We had a chance to win the game. The biggest thing was just taking a loss to Notre Dame. So, hopefully, this time the outcome comes better. (We’ve) just gotta be able to put our best foot forward each and every day at practice and film study to make sure we come out with the W out there.”

Uiagalelei is looking for some redemption on Saturday. The Irish spoiled his career game as the quarterback of the nation’s No. 1 team. Clemson is Top-4 again as he and the Tigers head back to play in Indiana this weekend. It’s now up to Uiagalelei and his teammates to win and keep their playoff hopes alive for another week.