Three games into Bill O’Brien’s second season, Boston College football has had a dizzying series of ups and downs. The next nine games will show whether this team is building toward ACC contention or staying
lodged in the league’s crowded middle. Week one’s rout of Fordham showed off their big-play potential. A double-overtime battle at Michigan State revealed toughness but also several flaws. Then a mistake-filled loss at Stanford underscored how thin the Eagles’ margin is on the road. Here’s an early three-phase report card heading into Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. match-up with Cal on The Heights.
Offense — C
Opening-week opponents can sometimes give a false read, but the first game still looked promising. Dylan Lonergan delivered on time and on target against Fordham, receivers separated, and the offense piled up explosive gains. BC’s 66 points were its highest in a decade, they topped seven yards per snap, and showed the tempo this staff wants. Still, a mid-half stretch of four punts and a sluggish ground game hinted at balance issues that would matter later.
At Michigan State, the passing game pushed further forward. Lonergan worked through reads, found open spots, and kept BC in rhythm. He spread the ball around and finished with a composed two-minute drive for a field goal. The problems came elsewhere. Short-yardage execution slipped, the run game lacked punch, and protection frayed as the game wore on.
Stanford made those concerns costly. BC moved the ball at times, but three turnovers allowed their opponent 21 points. One was a goal-line fumble, another a pick-six right after the broadcast noted their shutout, and a bad snap set up another score. Even in a 20-point second quarter, the ground game had no staying power. The passing game is real, but until the run game provides balance and they cut down on turnovers, the offense sits in the middle.
Defense — C-
Against Fordham, the defense did what it should — tightened space, scored on a pick-six, and allowed little after the catch. Against Michigan State, they got exposed. The Spartans hit chunk plays and extended downs with Aidan Chiles escaping the pocket too easily. Missed tackles on cutbacks and scramble plays hurt, though a few timely sacks kept BC alive.
Stanford showed similar cracks. Missing defensive backs, the Eagles gave up big plays early and lost contain. A 75-yard run right after a turnover summed it up. The defensive line had moments, but gaps widened on big downs and miscommunication allowed an easy bootleg touchdown. The Eagles were able to force field goals to keep things close, but the issues in tackling and edge play remain.
Special Teams — B
The special teams unit has been BC’s steadiest so far. Luca Lombardo has been perfect on extra points and hit every field goal, including from 51-yarder in a late clock-pressure spot against Michigan State. The newfound reliability in the kicking game is very refreshing, and changes how the Eagles can manage end-of-half and end-game sequences, something they have not had in a long time.
The kicking operation looked organized in protection and had sound on holds and snaps in the first two weeks. Coverage is the caveat. Returns tilted field position in favor of Michigan State, and leaks reappeared at Stanford after offensive turnovers placed the unit in stress situations. Those swings do not erase the net positives, but they trim the grade. The Eagles could also still use improvement in kickoff returns — their 18.4 yards per return ranks 13th of 17 ACC teams. That said, their 11.2 yards per punt return ranks fifth in the conference.
Overall — C
Three weeks in, BC has mixed promise with lapses, leaving them squarely in the ACC’s middle ground. The passing game can drive the ball, the defense plays hard but struggles in space, and special teams offer stability. The path to better results is straightforward: protect cleaner, finish drives, create a downhill run game, wrap up in space, and keep special teams steady. If those corrections land, the next stretch can look much different — though the schedule is only getting tougher.
