Aug 232 min read

Yellow Jackets Challenge Seminoles in an Overseas Battle

Seminoles battle Yellow Jackets — © Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK

Can you smell it? Football is in the air. When the Seminoles and Yellow Jackets take the field Saturday in Ireland for the Aer Lingus Classic, the college football season will have officially begun. The 2023 season saw the Seminoles win the Atlantic Coast Conference finishing the regular season 13-0. For the Yellow Jackets and coach Brent Key, the 2023 season saw the team finish fourth in the ACC and 7-6 on the season after a win in the Gasparilla Bowl.

For the Seminoles, head coach Mike Norvell and his staff have done a great job of reloading after cornerstones of the program departed for the NFL. Key has used a methodical approach for the Yellow Jackets. Who gets the win as the Seminoles battle the Yellow Jackets?

DJ Uiagalelei vs. Haynes King

Quarterback, the biggest spotlight for a reason and the matchup between King and Uiagalelei will be interesting to keep an eye on. Uiagalelei returns to the ACC after spending last season in the Pac-12 Conference with the Oregon State Beavers. Both quarterbacks have very different styles as King is more of a dual threat, and Uiagalelei,while he can use his athletic ability, is more of a pocket passer. Uiagalelei has thrown for at least 2,200 yards in three straight seasons. King has progressively improved each season and is coming off his best year with 2,842 yards passing and 737 yards rushing. Will a quarterback with a solid arm outperform the dynamic playmaking ability of the mobile quarterback?

Advantage: Uiagalelei

While King is underrated as a quarterback, facing Florida State for the first time in a huge game overseas is a tall task. Uiagalelei has gone 2-0 against the Yellow Jackets throwing for 336 yards and a touchdown.

Shyheim Brown vs. Jamal Haynes

Brown has had a great camp for the Seminoles and stepped up to be a leader in the secondary. Playing the "Buck" position, he is an extremely athletic rangy defender with great closing speed. He's a thumper who finishes his tackles. His ability to track the ball carrier through traffic and chase down the ball will be clutch. For the Yellow Jackets, Haynes has been a workhorse for the offense. The dynamic duo of Haynes and King has been dangerous for opponents.

Advantage: Draw

Both players are extremely talented and this will be a great matchup. The players match up well against each other and they will have to be on their best game to get the advantage. Get the popcorn ready for this one.

Who wins the 2024 Aer Lingus Classic?

The Seminoles get the win against the Yellow Jackets. It will be a battle, outside of the game in 2022, six of the last seven games have been decided by six points or less.