Tag: BC

No. 16 Georgia Tech survives Boston College upset bid on last-minute FG

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Aidan Birr’s 23-yard field goal with 14 seconds left lifted No. 16 Georgia Tech to a 36-34 win over host Boston College in Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference game at Chestnut Hilll, Mass.

After Turbo Richard’s 43-yard touchdown run flipped the score back Boston College’s way with 4:09 left, the Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1) put together a 13-play, 69-yard drive in the next 3:58 to win the game.

Haynes King was 26-of-34 for 371 yards and a touchdown while leading Tech, which had a 628-537 advantage in total yardage. Eric Rivers (119 yards) and Malik Rutherford (121 yards, one touchdown) were his top targets, while Malachi Hosley rushed for 107 yards and a score.

Dylan Lonergan threw for 362 yards for Boston College (1-10, 0-7), including 142 to Reed Harris. Turbo Richard rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.

Lewis Bond finished with eight catches for 106 yards, becoming Boston College’s single-season and career receptions leader during the game.

Georgia Tech had erased a 28-17 deficit with three consecutive third-quarter scores, beginning with a 26-yard Burr field goal. After forcing a 3rd-and-9 incompletion to get the ball back, Eric Rivers caught King’s 35-yard ball to set up a Jamal Haynes 2-yard rushing score, but a 2-point attempt to tie failed.

Following a 3-and-out, the visitors needed one score — Jordan Allen’s 54-yard scamper up the sideline and a PAT — to take a 33-28 lead with 6:14 left.

The Eagles were not done. After Lonergan found Jeremiah Franklin on a 3rd-and-19 play to extend the drive, Richard broke off a 43-yard touchdown run with 4:09 left to flip the score again. The 2-point attempt failed.

Georgia Tech scored first on Hosley’s 27-yard touchdown with 4:59 left in the first quarter.

Boston College then logged an 11-play, 75-yard drive over 5:40, tying the game after Richard’s 1-yard touchdown on 4th down in the opening minute of the second quarter. He also broke free for a 42-yard run earlier in the drive.

After King aired out a 48-yard pass during the ensuing series, the Eagles were unable to turn Bryce Steele’s fumble recovery into points. However, Rutherford broke a tackle for a 71-yard touchdown run to flip the score back Georgia Tech’s way with 9:44 left in the second.

Lonergan led a 10-play, 93-yard drive — including Bond’s career milestone grab — in just 1:04 to tie the game at 14-14 late in the first half. The Alabama transfer connected with Harris three times before Kaelan Chudzinski’s 3-yard touchdown.

Early in the third, a big run into the red zone by Richard helped set up Jordan McDonald’s 14-yard run to give Boston College a 21-14 lead.

Redeeming himself for a 49-yard miss at the end of the first half, Birr kicked a 34-yarder to cap a 14-play drive with 4:35 left in the third.

The Eagles extended their lead as Harris broke multiple tackles on a 32-yard catch-and-run before the third quarter expired. On the other side of the break, a red-zone stand forced Birr to come on for a 26-yard field goal.

–Field Level Media

After upsetting Miami, SMU fixates on skidding BC

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When Atlantic Coast Conference foes SMU and Boston College renew acquaintances Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, Mass., the Mustangs will look to keep momentum following a major upset while the Eagles hope to find some.

SMU (6-3, 4-1) hits the East Coast after a thrilling 26-20 overtime win last week against then-No. 10 Miami. It marked the highest-ranked victory since 1983 for the Mustangs, who are 12-1 all-time in ACC games since joining the league last year.

TJ Harden carried the ball on five straight plays to close the game, including the deciding 1-yard touchdown. The UCLA transfer’s effort came after Kevin Jennings threw for a season-high 365 yards and one score.

“We were focused, we were intentional, we were urgent. (But) we want to be better this week than we were last week,” said SMU coach Rhett Lashlee.

In other words, the Mustangs’ attention has turned to finding the road win that eluded them two weeks ago in a 13-12 setback at Wake Forest.

“Get to go on the road,” Lashlee said. “Sixth straight (week with a) game. Get to go up to Boston. That’s a big challenge for us. Bill (O’Brien) is a championship-level coach at every level, and they’ve been really, really close a lot, so we’ve got our hands full there.”

The Eagles (1-8, 0-5) are on an eight-game skid following last week’s 25-10 loss to then-No. 12 Notre Dame in which they trailed just 12-10 in the third quarter. Only two of the eight losses have been decided by seven points or fewer.

With Grayson James starting at quarterback for the fourth straight game, O’Brien knows what it will take to get over the hump. Saturday will mark the Eagles’ second of three straight home games before the Nov. 29 finale at Syracuse.

“If you think back to those games, there were interceptions, there were fumbles. It comes down to that,” O’Brien said. “Last year, we were a lot better at that — taking care of the ball, taking the ball away. This year, it’s been the opposite, and we have to fix that.”

James threw for at least 200 yards and one touchdown in each of his first three starts. He was 25-for-37 against Notre Dame and found Reed Harris for a key second-quarter score, but six sacks and three giveaways did in the Eagles.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr, right, runs the ball as running back Jeremiyah Love (4) blocks during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

No. 12 Notre Dame rested, ready for rivalry game at Boston College

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Though No. 12 Notre Dame had no game to prepare for last weekend, coach Marcus Freeman knew there was no time for his team to rest on a five-game winning streak during its recent bye week.

The Fighting Irish (5-2) looked for every way to raise their level of play as they awaited Saturday afternoon’s road challenge against “Holy War” rival Boston College (1-7) in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

“We had to elevate during the bye week,” Freeman said. “I was pleased with the way we prepared. We worked on consistency in our fundamentals that will then determine more consistent play in our execution.”

Notre Dame has plenty to carry over from a 34-24 home win over then-No. 20 Southern California on Oct. 18, including a season-best rushing effort (306 yards) featuring touchdown runs by both Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price for the 11th time in their Irish careers.

Love led the way rushing for a career-high 228 yards, and the Irish defense forced three second-half turnovers, backing up quarterback CJ Carr, whose 136 passing yards were a season-low total.

“When their best was needed, they got it done,” Freeman said of the defense.

The Irish will look for more of the same against Boston College, which it shut out 44-0 at home in the teams’ last meeting in 2022.

Carr still threw his 14th touchdown pass — the second-most among FBS freshmen — and ran for another.

“He has done a wonderful job in his first seven games as a first-time quarterback in terms of leading this offense, in terms of what he has on his plate,” Freeman said. “He’s done a tremendous job, and there’s more. That’s the exciting part. There’s more to his game.”

Despite remaining winless against FBS competition this season, Boston College showed some signs of life before falling 38-24 at then-No. 19 Louisville last week.

Grayson James threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in his second straight start. The Eagles forced three turnovers but allowed 504 yards of total offense (317 rushing) and 10 points off Louisville takeaways.

“To me, it comes down to turnovers,” Boston College coach Bill O’Brien said. “We took the ball away very well against Louisville, but then we gave it right back to them. We have to continue to take the ball away when presented to us, but we have to do something with that.”

Unlike last week, O’Brien did not announce a starting quarterback for the upcoming game. Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan has not played in the last two games after starting the first six.

“I’d say it’s TBD based on a lot of things, not because of the way anybody played or anything like that,” O’Brien said. “What’s best for the team is to do the best job we can of … trying to win the game. The wins are more important than anything else.”

Regardless of the signal caller, the Eagles remain a top-30 passing offensive nationally. Against Louisville, Lewis Bond caught his first touchdown of the season, and Kaelan Chudzinski his third. Chudzinski’s 216 yards are tops among FBS freshman tight ends, including 80 last week.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2025; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles quarterback Grayson James (3) runs with the ball while UConn Huskies linebacker Aaron Key (5) defends during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Joe Fagnano leads streaking UConn past Boston College

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Joe Fagnano threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another as UConn beat New England rival Boston College for the second time in Huskies coach Jim Mora’s four seasons 38-23 on Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Fagnano was 23 of 31 for a season-high 362 yards to lead the Huskies (5-2) to their fourth straight victory, connecting with Juice Vereen for two of his three passing scores. Skyler Bell had 10 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.

After facing a 20-17 halftime deficit, the Huskies allowed just one field goal while forcing three punts and a turnover on downs across five series in the second half.

The Huskies totaled 455 yards of offense.

Grayson James was 16 of 28 for 204 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of the season for Boston College (1-6). Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan started the first six games.

Luca Lombardo kicked three field goals, and Jordan McDonald was the Eagles’ top rusher with 123 yards on 24 carries.

Fagnano and Edwards fueled the Huskies’ six-play, 75-yard drive in 3:09 to go ahead for good at the beginning of the second half, 24-20. The graduate quarterback and John Neider connected over the middle for a 43-yard touchdown.

After forcing a second consecutive punt with a three-and-out, Fagnano’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Vereen in the final minute of the third quarter gave UConn its first two-score lead at 31-20.

A following 14-play, 78-yard drive ended with a 25-yard Lombardo field goal, but the Huskies needed just 2:05 to respond with a dagger with 5:04 remaining. On third-and-4, Bell caught a Fagnano pass and broke free of a tackle behind the line to gain for a 38-yard touchdown.

Earlier, Boston College settled for Lombardo’s 47-yard field goal after a game-opening, 12-play drive stalled out inside opposing territory, but Fagnano hit a wide-open Vereen for a 50-yard touchdown on the visitors’ ensuing penalty-aided series.

After driving to the UConn 2-yard line during a 13-play string that ended without a touchdown, Lombardo kicked a 22-yard field goal to bring the Eagles to 7-6 late in the first quarter.

The Huskies finished an 80-yard march in a 3:47 span early in the second quarter as Fagnano scored on a 2-yard rush to the right. James responded by throwing a 9-yard strike to freshman Kaelan Chudzinski to make it a one-point game halfway through the quarter.

Chris Freeman booted a 40-yard field goal with 5:52 left before halftime, giving the Huskies a 17-13 lead before their defense made the first defensive stop of the game for either team.
The hosts took the lead with 21 seconds to go in the first half, as James launched a 39-yard pass to Reed Harris to punctuate a drive that lasted just 1:17.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Dylan Lonergan (12) throws a pass offensive lineman Joseph Ionata (69) blocking on Mercer Bears defensive lineman Andrew Zock (94) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

BC hopes to ride momentum from solid finish into 2025 campaign

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Year Two of the Bill O’Brien coaching era at Boston College begins Saturday afternoon with historic opponent Fordham visiting Chestnut Hill, Mass.

After winning three of their final four regular-season games and finishing 7-6 in 2024, the Eagles figure to present a different look at several key positions in the new season.

Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan will start at quarterback. He beat out the incumbent Grayson James, who took over following now-Florida State signal caller Thomas Castellanos’ transfer last November.

Lonergan played in three games at Alabama, where O’Brien originally recruited him while serving as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator from 2021-22.

“He’s got a great feel for the game,” O’Brien said of Lonergan in the preseason. “He’s got a really good arm. He’s got good anticipation, good accuracy. He’s a very poised guy. So is Grayson. … At the end of the day, in the passing game, Dylan was a little bit ahead of Grayson.”

Redshirt senior Lewis Bond, who is 75 catches away from Zay Flowers’ school record, is the top returning receiver target.

After tying for the ACC lead with 17 takeaways last season, Boston College will need new faces to step up with reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year Donovan Ezeiruaku off to the Dallas Cowboys. Defensive back KP Price was the team’s top tackler in 2024 with 85 total stops.

On both sides of the ball, though, there will be room for plenty of contributors in O’Brien’s diverse systems.

“A lot of guys are going to play. … We play so many different packages (in all phases of the game),” O’Brien said. “I don’t really look at it like that — where there’s a real delineation between ones and twos.”

Fordham is turning the page past a 2-10 campaign, though both of its wins across the final four games in Patriot League play.

“I was really proud of the team and how they responded to adversity (in 2024),” Fordham coach Joe Conlin said. “They’ve shown resilience, mental toughness and fortitude. That’s why I’m probably as excited for this season as I’ve ever been in my coaching career.”

The Rams have three preseason All-Patriot League selections in linebacker James Conway, defensive back Alex Kemper and punter Will Haslett — all seniors or graduate students.

Senior quarterback Jack Capaldi threw for 1,561 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

Saturday marks the 28th-ever meeting of the Boston and New York foes, but the first since 1954 when a six-year run in their series ended.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Reed Harris (4) celebrates his touchdown reception with quarterback Grayson James (14) during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Ascending BC aims to stay strong against reeling Pitt

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With bowl eligibility clinched for the second straight fall, Boston College looks to end its regular season with a third win in four games Saturday against Pitt in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Last week’s 41-21 triumph over North Carolina helped the Eagles (6-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) continue their late-season peak, while the Panthers (7-4, 3-4) have dropped four straight following a 37-9 loss at Louisville.

Boston College’s offense has continually developed in two full weeks with Grayson James taking over under center for the departed Thomas Castellanos. That has helped the Eagles extend their season beyond the task of facing a tough, physical Pitt team this week.

“For us in our first year, to be able to qualify for a bowl, says a lot about the players and the coaching staff. Those guys did a great job,” Boston College coach Bill O’Brien said. “We got hired in February. We’re just very proud of the fact that we’re able to go to a bowl.”

James threw for 192 yards and a touchdown while also running for a score last week. The FIU transfer targeted Lewis Bond for a career-high nine catches and 81 yards, and freshman Johnathan Montague grabbed his first career touchdown.

“He’s seeing it all (in the game),” O’Brien said of James. “That’s one of the things that you see with him — the more reps you get, the more improvement you’ll see. He works very, very hard.”

At stake is the Eagles’ first seven-win regular season since 2018.

Injuries have riddled Pitt of late, resulting in a skid dating back to an Oct. 24 win over Syracuse. Redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein missed the Clemson game, a 24-20 loss, two weeks ago before being carted off with a leg injury in the first quarter against Louisville.

However, Holstein has not been ruled out moving forward.

“(The injury) is not season-ending,” coach Pat Narduzzi said. “It’s not as bad as the one that he took a week ago.”

Nate Yarnell entered into both situations, producing a 350-yard game against Clemson before throwing for 96 with a touchdown versus Louisville. In the latter contest, the Panthers were outgained 507-265 and trailed 27-0 before scoring and threw three interceptions.

Attitude and effort have not wavered despite the depleted depth chart, which has also lost veteran lineman Branson Taylor.

“We’ve been unhealthy — we’ve been unable to stay healthy, really, since the Cal game (a 17-15 win on Oct. 12),” Narduzzi said. “It’s a perfect storm (at Louisville). I felt coming out, attitude was great. I think our guys played with great effort for four quarters. Our guys never quit, never gave up.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles running back Kye Robichaux (5) runs against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Boston College runs all over Syracuse to snap 3-game losing skid

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Kye Robichaux and Jordan McDonald combined for 331 rushing yards and three touchdowns as host Boston College beat Syracuse 37-31 in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash on Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

A 16-point third quarter lifted the Eagles (5-4, 2-3 ACC), who broke a three-game skid in a game of vastly contrasting styles.

Anchored by Robichaux (28 carries, 198 yards, two touchdowns) and McDonald (15 carries, 133 yards, one touchdown), Boston College logged 313 of its 378 total yards on 51 rushing attempts.

Quarterbacks Thomas Castellanos and Grayson James combined for just 65 yards through the air, but both threw touchdowns.

Kyle McCord threw for 392 of Syracuse’s 431 total yards during a 31-for-48, two-touchdown performance. Jackson Meeks (105 yards) and Oronde Gadsden II (102) were 100-yard receivers for the Orange (6-3, 3-3).

LeQuint Allen scored on a 4-yard run to finish an eight-play drive turning Syracuse’s 14-0 deficit into a 21-14 lead with 8:36 left in the third quarter. With James quarterbacking, Robichaux’s third run in a 49-second span — aided by an unnecessary roughness penalty — tied the score at 21.

The go-ahead points came on the next play from scrimmage when Donovan Ezeirauku strip-sacked McCord and knocked the ball through the end zone for the first Boston College safety since 2012.

The ensuing drive spanned 12 plays and 67 yards in 6:55, ending with McDonald bouncing to the left for a 13-yard touchdown in the final minute.

Syracuse covered 75 yards on its own 10-play drive to start the fourth, moving within 30-28 on McCord’s 12-yard pass to Darrell Gill Jr.

The Eagles ensured their lead with 6:51 remaining in regulation as James faked a handoff and found a wide-open Jeremiah Franklin for an 18-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1.

After Liam Connor missed a 29-yard field-goal attempt on Boston College’s opening drive of the game, Quintavious Hutchins recovered Allen’s fumble on the following series. The host Eagles scored first on Robichaux’s 34-yard run down the right side with 2:43 left in the first.

Two series later, the hosts doubled their lead after forcing McCord to throw an incomplete fourth-down pass. Five straight McDonald rushes set up Castellanos for his first completed pass of the game — a 9-yard touchdown to Lewis Bond.

McCord led back-to-back touchdown drives to make it 14-14 at halftime. The Ohio State transfer hit Gadsden for big bookending plays, scoring on a 17-yard pass to the right.

After the Eagles went three-and-out, McCord’s 25-yard run and a connection with Meeks helped Allen find the end zone on a 3-yard run with 2:10 left before intermission.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Boston College Eagles head coach Bill O'Brien looks on during the second quarter against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Close margins the norm as BC, Syracuse brace for another close one

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Two new Atlantic Coast Conference coaches go head-to-head for the first time Saturday when Bill O’Brien’s Boston College team hosts Fran Brown and century-old rival Syracuse at Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The teams enter their 58th all-time meeting as the Eagles (4-4, 1-3 ACC) have lost three straight and the Orange (6-2, 3-2) came back to beat Virginia Tech in overtime last Saturday for their fourth win in five games.

“I’ve been involved with a lot of rivalries, and this is one of those types of games,” O’Brien said. “It’s just two tough teams going against each other.”

Two of Boston College’s four losses and its last two wins have come in one-possession games. Syracuse has played in five such close encounters this season, winning two in overtime.

With three of the teams’ last four meetings decided by a single-digit margin, another close one is expected.

In a 31-27 loss to Louisville on Oct. 25, Thomas Castellanos threw three touchdowns. Three forced turnovers — including Quintayvious Hutchins’ fumble recovery and interception — helped the Eagles build 20-0 and 27-10 leads. But the Cardinals scored 14 fourth-quarter points.

O’Brien’s message has been simple following a second bye week.

“Attack,” he said. “These guys are in a great frame of mind. … We’re close. I realize close doesn’t count, but we’re making progress. I think these guys put a lot into (practice), so we want to … play as hard as we can and see what happens on Saturday.”

Four of the Eagles’ eight total interceptions came last season in a 17-10 win at Syracuse on Nov. 3, 2023. They have already grabbed 11 this season.

The Orange orchestrated an 18-point comeback last week, with Lequint Allen rushing for three touchdowns — including the tying and winning scores — after Kyle McCord threw for two to Justus Ross-Simmons in the second half as part of a 264-yard performance.

McCord bounced back from throwing five picks against Pitt to lift Syracuse to the comeback win and, for the third straight season, bowl eligibility.

The senior Ohio State transfer, who threw for 300 yards in a school-record seven straight starts, leads the FBS in completions per game (30.5).

“He just stays the same (every day),” Brown said. “He just focuses on his family and who’s in the building. At the end of the day, that’s who’s gonna be there with you through the ups and the downs. … He’s our leader.”

Despite playing in a pass-heavy offense, Allen became just the third ACC running back to rush for at least three touchdowns in a game this season. He has nine career 100-yard games.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Boston College Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1) hands off to running back Kye Robichaux (5) against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Boston College, Louisville try to brush off recent losses

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Boston College will host Louisville in a matchup of Atlantic Coast Conference teams hoping to return to the winning track on Friday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Eagles (4-3, 1-2 ACC) have had peaks and valleys throughout their back-to-back losses at Virginia and Virginia Tech, including turning the ball over three times in each. In last Thursday’s game, which followed a bye week, Bill O’Brien’s team trailed 28-0 before a second-half comeback by the Thomas Castellanos-led offense fell short.

“These are tough games, right? All of them are tough,” O’Brien said. “We have to limit our mistakes. … If we can limit our turnovers, penalties, stop the run better, obviously we’ll be in these games. If we don’t, we won’t.”

The Boston College defense allowed 532 total yards last week, but this season has intercepted nine passes — one more than its total from all of last season. Cameron Martinez added to that latter total last week while posting a fumble recovery and seven tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss.

However, the status of a defensive anchor in linebacker Kam Arnold (40 total tackles) is uncertain after he was spotted in a sling at practice earlier this week.

“I think that sling is kind of a precaution,” O’Brien said. “I’ll probably know more in a few days, but that’s probably a day-to-day deal.”

Louisville (4-3, 2-2) opens a three-game road swing after falling in a 52-45 Saturday shootout against Miami. The home loss came despite the Cardinals accounting for 400-plus yards of total offense for the fifth time this season.

“If you’re not prepared for the ups and downs going into (the season), it’s going to catch you off guard and you’re not going to be able to adjust,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said. “So, we talk about simple things: it’s got to be a one-game season … no matter whether we win or lose.”

Quarterback Tyler Shough was 31 of 51 for 342 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Hurricanes. Ja’Corey Brooks had two scores in his third 100-yard receiving game.

The Cardinals also saw Caullin Lacy return a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown, and they sacked Miami’s Cam Ward three times, but the flip side was allowing a season-high 538 yards.

“I just think all of us need to continue to work through some things that have not gone well, address it, work hard at improving on it because every little thing matters and we just in some of the losses we haven’t been good enough overall to get it done,” Brohm said.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) runs with the football against the Stanford Cardinal during the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech ‘excited’ for Thursday night fight with Boston College

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Following a mutual bye week, Atlantic Coast Conference rivals will clash when Virginia Tech hosts Boston College in a primetime Thursday game in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies (3-3, 1-1) return to action for the first time since defeating new ACC member Stanford 31-7 in their first-ever regular-season game in California on Oct. 5.

“Thursday night, a sold-out crowd, ESPN national television, Orange Effect — there’s a lot to be excited about,” Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry said.

Pry’s team will face the challenge of Boston College (4-2, 1-1), which last allowed 24 unanswered points in a 24-14 loss at Virginia and is seeking its first win in Blacksburg since 2018.

Kyron Drones had a three-touchdown game and Bhayshul Tuten ran for his league-leading ninth score of the season against Stanford, but Virginia Tech ran away thanks to a stout defensive effort that included five different players recording sacks.

Among them was first-year Kaleb Spencer, who has racked up eight tackles (four for loss), one sack, a forced fumble and an interception in the last two games.

“He hunts the ball, he’s got good instincts,” Pry said. “He hustles, he’s got a nose for it, he plays physical. I’ve got a lot of respect for the way he’s playing.”

Defense has also been a calling card of Boston College’s game.

Despite losing for only the third time in program history when leading by 14 or more points, the Eagles have still allowed the fewest points per game in the ACC (17.2) this season.

First-year coach Bill O’Brien knows his team will be ready to bounce back in a big-time game.

“You should embrace it. This is what college football is all about,” he said. “It’s a big, big challenge to go down there … but our guys should be very excited, and I believe they are.”

Defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku has led the Eagles’ defensive effort, entering the week with an ACC-best nine sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

Thomas Castellanos found two different receivers for first-half touchdowns at Virginia, but he turned the ball over three times and finished the game with negative rushing yards for the first time in his Eagles career.

“I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of being a quarterback,” Castellanos said. “I do feel like I haven’t been as dangerous as last year, and explosive, but it comes with me trying to show … I can throw the ball.”

Castellanos will be the focus of a Virginia Tech defense that is tied for the ACC lead with 20 sacks.

–Field Level Media