Boston College football has a lot to prove this season. Along with an almost entirely new coaching staff on the sidelines, the Eagles have lost crucial players to the transfer portal and the NFL draft. With AJ Dillon no longer with the Eagles, Anthony Brown’s decision still uncertain, and transfer Phil Jurkovec’s eligibility still up in the air, the remaining team members need to step up to the occasion.
After seven less-than-stellar seasons under head coach Steve Addazio, the Eagles finished with a .393 win percentage in the ACC. As the conference becomes more and more competitive with the likes of Clemson and Louisville leading the charge, it is up to Hafley and his new coaching staff to properly prepare the Eagles to join the rush rather than get left behind.
The program released its 2020 schedule Wednesday morning. The Eagles will start their 2020 campaign with five out of their first six games at home in Alumni Stadium. Alongside its ACC matchups, BC will also play in four non-conference games against Ohio, Kansas, Purdue, and Holy Cross.
2020 Schedule (Note: Italicization denotes ACC play):
Sept. 4 vs. Syracuse (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) *Home & ACC Opener
→ The Eagles will open up their 2020 campaign, along with the Jeff Hafley era, against conference opponent Syracuse in Alumni Stadium. BC played the Orange close to the end of the 2019 season, securing a comfortable 58-27 win in a game that had been crucial for the Eagles’ bowl eligibility.
Sept. 12 vs. Ohio (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
→ In their first non-conference game of the season, the Eagles will take on the Ohio Bobcats. These teams have met only once in their history, in a matchup at Alumni Stadium in 1966. Ohio maintains the sole win, taking the upper hand in a 23-14 victory over the Eagles.
Sept. 19 at Kansas (Lawrence, Kan.)
→ After an early 10-point lead for BC in its first-ever matchup against Kansas during the 2019 season, the Eagles allowed 41 points and fell to the Jayhawks, 48-24. BC looks to avenge itself, as the Eagles will travel to Lawrence to take on the Jayhawks for the second year in a row.
Sept. 26 vs. Purdue (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
→ The Eagles return home to Chestnut Hill to take on Purdue for the first time since 2018, when they fell to the Boilermakers in a 30-13 loss in West Lafayette, Ind. This matchup will also mark BC’s first home game against a Big Ten opponent since the Eagles faced Northwestern in Alumni Stadium in 2011.
Oct. 2 vs. Clemson (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
→ Clemson last visited the Heights in November 2018 when BC hosted College GameDay for the third time in program history. The Eagles’ last game against the Tigers, however, came during the 2019 season, when Clemson handed BC a devastating 59-7 loss in South Carolina. BC had been woefully outmatched by the then-undefeated Tigers, so something needs to change if the Eagles want a chance of competing with Clemson.
Oct. 10 vs. Louisville (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
Oct. 22 at Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.)
Oct. 31 vs. Holy Cross (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
→ The Crusaders will return to the Heights for the second time in the last three seasons. During Holy Cross’s last visit to Alumni Stadium, the Eagles steamrolled them in a 62-14 victory. Even though the teams have only met twice in the last three decades, the Crusaders remain as the opponent that BC as played the most, with the Eagles maintaining a 49-31-3 all-time series lead.
Nov. 7 at N.C. State (Raleigh, N.C.)
Nov. 14 at Florida State (Tallahassee, Fl.)
Nov. 21 vs. North Carolina (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
Nov. 28 at Wake Forest (Winston-Salem, N.C.) *End of Regular Season→ The Eagles will close out the regular season on the road for the second year in a row. BC fell to the Demon Deacons during the 2019 season in a close 27-24 loss. The Eagles last defeated Wake Forest in 2018—when they won 41-34—and they lead the all-time series 14-11-2 over the Demon Deacons.
