There’s quite a bit of uncertainty in the air as Boston College football prepares to open its season at home against Fordham on Saturday.
After taking a look at this year’s team and schedule, here’s what sports editors at The Heights are predicting for this fall.
Who Are the Standouts?
FitzGerald:
When the starting quarterback is announced later than anticipated, the running back position becomes more important than ever.
A name BC fans should be prepared to hear more often is Turbo Richard.
The speedy, stocky halfback sat behind three upperclassmen running backs last season as a true freshman, but he was still able to string together 55 carries for 278 yards. He found his rhythm early, seeing touches in BC’s 2024 season opener versus No. 10 Florida State.
Now a sophomore, Richard sits atop the depth chart and plays a prominent role in a backfield that will likely make-or-break this team.
Paired alongside senior Jordan McDonald and junior Alex Broome, splitting snaps is a tool BC can take advantage of if the quarterback situation looks shaky.
“We can all help [Bo and Mehki] get more to the playbook, learn pass protection, run schemes, things like that,” Richard said about his freshmen counterparts. “So we’re all gonna help each other.”
Richard stands out among the rest. His ability to find gaps within the offensive line is what kept the ball in his hands as a true freshman. Plus, his 5-foot-8, 207-lb build allows him to bounce off defenders and build momentum off big hits.
Richard has shown incredible patience and presence behind the line of scrimmage before finding a lane, a trait similar to NFL star Le’Veon Bell. He’ll let the magic happen in the trenches and choose a clearing to rip off solid 7–10 yard gains.
Stefanoudakis:
Fans should watch out for the Eagles’ tight end room this season.
Senior Jeremiah Franklin, a team captain, is poised to shine. This won’t be considered a breakout year considering he played great last season, catching 27 balls—the third most on the team—for 311 yards and three touchdowns.
Franklin has the opportunity to make an even bigger name for himself now, especially because of how much credit has been given to quarterback Dylan Lonergan’s arm and accuracy.
If Lonergan can correctly place the ball, Franklin will catch it. He and Kamari Morales registered zero drops last season.
It’s not just Franklin, though—the depth at the position is what’s special. And it’s a big leap from last year, when there were just four tight ends on BC’s depth chart.
Over the offseason, O’Brien added on Ty Lockwood, who played with Lonergan back at Alabama, as well as Zeke Moore from FAU. These two will play a big role alongside Franklin.
There are also five freshmen who could step up, especially in the games where the Eagles have a little bit more leeway (Week 8 vs. Connecticut, maybe).
Stationed next to veteran wide receivers Reed Harris and Lewis Bond, this tight end group contributes to a strong receiving core with the potential to win games.
How will BC fare in its big three home games?
FitzGerald:
Believe it or not, BC’s gauntlet ACC run later in the season depends upon the five games beforehand.
Last year, a Week 3 win versus then-No. 6 Missouri would have flipped the Eagles’ 2024 season completely upside down. In this hypothetical, BC most likely sits at a top-20 seed with a 5–0 record—those tide-turning losses to Virginia Tech and Virginia may have shaken out well.
This year, BC doesn’t have a “Missouri.” A 5–0 record is going to be incredibly crucial if the Eagles want a realistic chance at defeating No. 4 Clemson.
It’s hard to say how BC will actually stack up against Dabo and his powerhouse program since we haven’t seen a lick of the Lonergan-led offense, but five wins is completely reasonable to kick off the season for the Eagles.
After Clemson, the Eagles reset with UConn and Louisville before taking on No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 16 Southern Methodist back-to-back.
A win versus Notre Dame is much more plausible than Clemson in BC’s world. Rivalries mean more, and the Holy War hasn’t been played since 2022.
The run defense should be the main consideration against Notre Dame with X-factor Jeremiyah Love on the other side of the line.
SMU’s Kevin Jennings lit up the pass defense last year with 298 yards and three passing touchdowns. This means the defensive schemes on both sides of the playbook need to be furnished and ready for what’s to come in Week 10 and Week 11.
There is no doubt BC will be battle-tested by the end of this year. And in all honesty, the Eagles will be lucky if they get one win during that stretch.
But expectations aren’t exactly at their highest, and one of the three is all they need to satisfy the fanbase—preferably Clemson or Notre Dame.
Stefanoudakis:
I’d have to do a lot of searching to find a reason why the Eagles should beat Clemson. It’s their first game against an opponent of that caliber this season, and I don’t see BC coming out of the contest unscathed.
Don’t overanalyze the Eagles’ performance against Clemson in conversations about the Notre Dame and SMU games, though. Call me whimsical, but I’m a strong believer in the power emotions can have on a game.
Although the Holy War might lack some elements of true rivalries—tense back-and-forths, nailbiters, and regular meetings—this series is called a war for a reason. It’s not the “holy game, followed by Christian fellowship and light refreshments.” It’s called the Holy War because in the moment, winning feels like a matter of life and death, even to fans.
If all else fails, call in perhaps the most treasured tradition in BC sports—the annual Red Bandana game—to help the Eagles get a win.
That’s not to say that BC will win due to a tradition alone—SMU is still a tough opponent. But if the Eagles can win one of these three games, it’s this one. A win “For Welles” would be just as satisfying as a Holy War win.
What will BC’s record be?
FitzGerald:
Ceiling: 9–3
Floor: 4–8
In a perfect world, full of wonder and whimsy, BC goes 9–3. They squeak into the final AP Poll rankings. And then beat a middle-ground SEC team in the Gator Bowl.
But it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows around Alumni Stadium lately, and even that might be unrealistic expectations for this team.
The Eagles start off with an FCS school, two bottom-tier Pac-12 transfers to the ACC, and two teams they beat in 2024. I’m still going to stick with my 5–0 theory and fully believe BC will ride five-straight wins into Clemson week.
But then it’s Clemson week, and there’s not much to say. At this point, hopefully the quarterback situation is fully solidified and an identity is cemented before Notre Dame and SMU.
BC takes a much-needed breath of fresh air versus UConn after a loss to the Tigers, but Louisville in Week 9 just reeks of a trap game.
Miller Moss was a tremendous pickup for the Cardinals who are a not-so-much ACC sleeper pick to finish Top 25.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see BC put up a fight versus Notre Dame the week after, but a Louisville loss will bring them back down to earth and force back-to-back losses at home.
The final two games versus Georgia Tech and Syracuse will, unfortunately, be toss ups. But if Lonergan plays at his fullest potential, there’s no reason BC couldn’t finish 8–4.
They always say hope for the best, expect the worst—and obviously there’s a dark side to BC sports.
In a world where neither Lonergan nor James look to be ready as the main gunslinger, where the running back room falls apart, and where the defense operates like swiss cheese—BC goes 4–8.
The games versus Fordham and UConn are automatic. And out of the pool of Stanford, Cal, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, and Syracuse, the Eagles are bound to win at least two.
In O’Brien’s second go-around, the conference games should become more competitive as he becomes more familiar with the ACC play style.
Stefanoudakis:
Ceiling: 8–4
Floor: 5–7
Is there a world in which the Eagles can only pick up three losses?
That’s tough. It depends on whether you think BC can beat Clemson, Notre Dame, and SMU, which is definitely not something you should break the bank on. Winning even one of those games would be, well, a win, in my book.
If you pencil in three to those teams’ losses (which is not to say you should! Keep doing you, optimists), then it becomes a little easier to start penciling in wins, too. Maybe the Eagles go 5–0 to begin the season. Or maybe they lose to Michigan State, but are able to beat all ACC opponents outside of Clemson.
I have the Eagles losing to either Michigan State or Louisville, regardless of how they fare in their three biggest challenges.
If BC falters as the season nears its end and somehow drops the Georgia Tech and Syracuse games, a five-win season could be on the horizon. But if the Eagles can finish strong even after a tough midseason stretch, a seven-win season is completely attainable.
The key to seven, or even eight wins, will be bouncing back. No matter what happens from week to week, the focus must stay on the present. Or, better yet, the future—and maybe even an exciting postseason.
