Welcome to the final three weeks of college football – otherwise known as chaos season. We enter this final stretch with an impressive 8-1 record, coming off our second and final bye of the year. Now the spotlight
shifts to how this team responds to its first setback as we head north to take on the Boston College Eagles. With our most anticipated matchups coming at the end of the schedule, this game has all the makings of a classic trap game. BC has yet to win an FBS game this season, and we do NOT want to be their first victim. As the Jackets rested during their off week, chaos erupted across the ACC. Wake Forest stunned Virginia, and Cal took down Louisville. Just like that, Tech controls its own destiny. Win, and we’re in. Here is what I think I know as the Jackets look to bounce back, redeem themselves, and prove they deserve a place in the playoff conversation.
Sure, Boston College is downright awful, but they are not the walk-in-the-park that I thought they would be.
Boston College has had a rough year, and I initially chalked this one up as an automatic win. But after Week 10, when the Eagles pushed Notre Dame to the brink before the Irish finally pulled away, this matchup doesn’t feel quite as comfortable as it once did. Our defense has a lot of work to do, but thankfully, Boston College’s offense will likely give them some much-needed confidence. There has been a quarterback battle going on the last few weeks between Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan and FIU transfer Grayson James. Against Notre Dame, Lonergan started but was benched in the second quarter. Against SMU, James started but was then benched for Lonergan. As of Wednesday, Bill O’Brien has not named a starter for Saturday. Needless to say, neither has impressed, and the Eagles sit at 86th in total offense, averaging 361 yards per game. They do have a stout running back in Turbo Richard, who has 710 total yards and seven touchdowns on the season. If our run defense still has no pulse, Turbo could show the world where his name came from. They also have a speedy receiver, Lewis Bond, who leads the ACC in receptions per game and has 733 yards on the year. In my opinion, Blake Gideon is fighting for his life the rest of the season, and the defense needs to show up strong in this game to help save him, as well as our season. We are facing a team without a quarterback, so there should be no excuse for our defense not to put on a redemptive performance.
On the topic of defense, the Eagles are also not looking so hot in that position. They are giving up an average of 38.3 ppg to conference opponents and losing by an average of 22 points per game. Their run defense ranks 95th in the country, allowing 162.6 yards per game. I’ll give it to them; they’re still better than us in this category. They did find some life against Notre Dame, only giving up 25 points and 458 yards to their high-powered offense. This could be a day for Haynes King to keep flashing his Heisman campaign, but we must still play at the top of our game to do so.
The team’s mindset will be different this week, as pressure is lifted and we now have to prove ourselves.
It is no secret that this team plays with a chip on its shoulder when there is any sort of doubt against them. While the loss to NC State has left many fans’ hopes gashed, this could be precisely what we need to get the team motivated again. There were many doubters even when we were undefeated, and now it seems as though everyone has written us off. The two big upsets in the conference this past week have improved our chances at making the conference title game, but the Jackets still have a long way to go before anyone takes us seriously. On Tuesday night, when the rankings came out, Miami jumped us and was therefore put into the playoffs ahead of us. That was a move that proved the playoff committee cares more about conference and strength of schedule than record. Everyone is now writing off the ACC this year, as even college football influencer Brandon Walker said he thinks the ACC Champion should lose their automatic bid this year and have no one get in. If the ACC is going to continue to get disrespected, that puts us at a disadvantage and gives us more to prove. Thankfully, these are the situations we thrive in.
The coaching rumors are swirling
If you have any form of social media, you have probably seen rumors from some Penn State fans that Brent Key spent this past bye week interviewing for the head coaching job at Penn State. Most of us Tech-faithful knew it was probably a bunch of bologna, and Brent Key shut down those rumors in the best way possible. He started by saying that people around the building laugh off rumors that he is leaving or taking a different job. He then went on to say the quote that has rocked the college football world: “Slice me open and see what colors I bleed.” This is precisely what every program wants to hear from its coach. Obviously, money talks, but Brent Key clearly wants to see success for his alma mater. We will see in the coming weeks what happens with this season’s coaching carousel fiasco.
Tech fans, gear up. These next three weeks have the potential to make this one of the most historical seasons in our program’s history. We will either earn respect or prove the doubters right. It starts now with Boston College.
Go Jackets.
