1. Can Bill O’Brien breathe new life into the program?
With O’Brien’s arrival, the excitement surrounding Boston College football is at its highest in a long time.
A fanbase desperate for a jolt will be energized by the hire and excited to see what he can do both in the short and long term. While it’s important to remember that the Eagles haven’t played a game yet, there is reason for optimism.
O’Brien already has a track record of immediately strengthening programs. At Penn State, he brought stability after a child sex abuse scandal in 2012 and led the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record during a turbulent period.
With the Houston Texans, he took over a team that had a dismal 2-14 season in 2014 and orchestrated a 9-7 season in his first year.
O’Brien said that immediate success in a new place is largely due to the people around you.
“When we came to Penn State, it was probably the most challenging thing that ever happened to me personally in my career, but we had great people,” O’Brien said. “We had a great team and great players who stayed. Similar to here.”
O’Brien emphasized the continuity of the BC roster, with 99 percent of the players remaining when he arrived and 68 percent of the production from last year’s 7-6 season returning. He repeatedly raved about the steady improvement of quarterback Thomas Castellanos and said former coach Jeff Hafley told O’Brien this was probably his best team yet at BC.
O’Brien also has faith in his coaching staff and community, and it’s already clear that his confidence is contagious.
“I noticed how detailed he is and what he asks of each individual,” said BC running backs coach Savon Huggins. “He doesn’t ask you to do anything he wouldn’t do himself.”
2. Can the Eagles reach the eight-win mark?
It’s hard to believe given the success of several other programs on campus, but the Boston College football team is still waiting for its first eight-win season since 2009.
The Eagles have come close several times with seven-win seasons in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023, but they have failed to take the next step.
It’s a somewhat unusual start to the season, with road games against Florida State and No. 11 Missouri sandwiched between the theoretically easy game against Duquesne. After that, the game evens out, with plenty of crucial matchups that could go either way. One advantage for the Eagles is that they have seven home games, including four of their last five at Alumni Stadium.
“We’re all just trying to focus on the next game,” center Drew Kendall said. “Win the next game and go from there. We can’t think too far ahead.”
3. Could an upset at Florida State set the tone?
Boston College is seeking its first season-opening win against a seeded opponent since 1976.
The Seminoles are still the clear favorites, but the line dropped from -21.5 to -15.5 after FSU suffered a surprise loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin in Week 0.
The BC players gathered in the locker room after practice that day to watch the second half. Of course, their eyes lit up a little, but they remembered that the result didn’t change anything.
“We know it’s going to be a huge challenge for us to go there,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien acknowledged that FSU’s immediate presence ensured maximum focus throughout the offseason and training camp. The Eagles collectively understood they couldn’t dawdle and had a palpable sense of urgency with a perennial power in sight.
FSU has won five straight against BC, but interestingly, four of those five meetings were decided by single digits. Last year, the Eagles outplayed the Seminoles in many areas, but a whopping 18 penalties – a school record – ruined their chances of pulling off an upset.
O’Brien has placed tremendous emphasis on attention to detail throughout camp, repeatedly insisting that the Eagles must master the fundamentals.
“We have to be a lot more disciplined than last year,” said linebacker Kam Arnold.
4. Can they increase their sack count?
The Eagles finished second to last in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season with just 13 sacks.
While O’Brien noted that the sack statistic can be misleading – and that pressure and coverage also play a crucial role – he did offer some insight into how it could be improved.
“I think we’re on the right track with that,” O’Brien said. “We have a lot of different ways to get higher, whether it’s a four-man rush, sometimes a three-man rush, pressure, simulated pressure. We do all that on defense. It’s a pro-style defense.”
Arnold, fellow linebackers Daveon Crouch and Sione Hala, and defensive linemen Donovan Ezeiruaku, George Rooks, Cam Horsley and Neto Okpala have something to prove.
Their first chance at redemption comes against FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, an accomplished fifth-year senior with a talent for improvisation and game extension.
5. Will helmet communication improve the quality of play?
Players with a green dot on their helmet – one per team on offense and one on defense – can now communicate with coaches during games.
Conversations begin immediately and can continue until 15 seconds remain on the game clock or the ball is snapped. The goal is to improve the flow and quality of play on both sides.
While Castellanos will likely carry the point on offense, Arnold and safety KP Price will be on defense, according to O’Brien.
“It helps a lot to have that extra voice in your head announcing the call so you can call people faster,” Arnold said.
The schedule
September 2, Florida State, 7:30 p.m.
September 7, against Duquesne, 3:30 p.m.
September 14, Missouri, 12:45 p.m.
September 21, vs. Michigan State, TBA
September 28, vs. Western Kentucky, TBA
Oct. 5, in Virginia, TBA
October 17, Virginia Tech, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 25 vs. Louisville, 7:30 p.m.
November 9, vs. Syracuse, TBA
November 16, SMU, TBA
November 23, vs. North Carolina, TBA
November 30, vs. Pittsburgh, TBA
Trevor Hass can be reached at [email protected].
