For the Patricks Star of the world out there living under a rock, our beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has reached the final quarter of the season, and righted the Playoff ship last Saturday after the Great BYU Derailment of October.
In an amazing atmosphere both pregame, during game, and post-game, the then-11th-ranked Irish jumped out to a big lead over the #1, undefeated Miami Hurricanes, nearly let them come all the way back, but ultimately put the clamps on the ‘Canes and won 31-24.
The victory catapulted Marcus Freeman’s squad to #5 in this week’s CFP rankings while Miami tumbled, even with the caveat that Mario Cristobal and co. were without their best player in Malachi Toney (the Irish were missing some very key folks too, so it’s hard to go too crazy with the asterisks to prop up Miami).
Anyway, now ND continues their 3-game homestand by hosting the 4-5 Boston College Eagles, who’ve occasionally shown some life this season while also very much not shown up for some games…
Any Irish fan who knows his or her history will tell you that despite how unthreatening it looks on paper, playing a not-good BC team the week after beating the #1 team in the country can be very, very dangerous. And so even if we don’t think BC will necessarily be able to upset the Irish this weekend (still knocking on wood as I type that, just for good measure), it’s best we prepare for a letdown/trap game, especially with a decent SMU team and Steve Angeli both on the horizon to distract the focus of this squad. So, I reached out to old friend of the program Niraj Patel, a writer over at BC Interruption, SB Nation’s one-stop-shop for all things Boston College.
Niraj answered questions about how BC fans now feel about Bill O’Brien, how fun their QB is, how their defense looks, whether they have any recruits worth poaching, whom he would choose to run a Sausage race in inflatable eagle costumes, and much more.
Let’s get right into it, I’ve babbled long enough.
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1. The last couple decades post-Tom O’Brien have largely been a rough go for the Boston College football program. How do BC fans feel about Bill O’Brien so far, almost 3 years into his tenure? Do you feel he’s improving the program and has it on the right track, and what are your thoughts on this 4-5 start in 2026? What do you think the ceiling/peak of the program is under O’Brien as he keeps working to improve it?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: It started off strong but overall I think we see a poorly coached team, and have since last season. It’s the same mistakes over and over — penalties galore, mostly procedural, and inconsistent play calling. He took over play calling this year and I think it’s too much for him to handle. Personally I think he gets over-emotional and it impairs his decision making. Go for it, don’t, kick a field goal, don’t, there doesn’t seem to be a guiding philosophy. He stops running the ball despite its effectiveness and he doesn’t make things easy for his offense. That should be his bread and butter.
There’s obviously been progress from last season’s debacle, but right now it’s hard to say we’re on the right track when you see what a team like Wake Forest is doing right now. I can’t see an O’Brien led team doing that well, but I can see getting back to 7 wins.
He’s not going anywhere soon, but I have the smallest bit of hope that this year was an expected down year. They didn’t spend too much and yet still found some solid pick ups in the portal. There might be a bigger pool to play with next season, so maybe he’ll be able to get back to stability.
2. How has starting QB Mason McKenzie looked this season? What does he do well, and what limitations or weaknesses in his game can the Notre Dame defense potentially exploit?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: McKenzie is a baller. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and with an unbelievable amount of heart. The guy’s tough and always thinks he can make the play. In the end, you live and die by that.
His mobility is a real weapon, and I actually see more arm talent than he might get credit for or what shows up on paper. His receivers have ultimately let him down. He can hold the ball too long or take a sack in a place he can’t.
2a. Who are his go-to targets in the passing game? Are there any receivers the Irish faithful should be afraid of making some big plays on Saturday?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: Tight end Kaelen Chudzinski is still the best and most reliable pass catcher on the team despite miraculously coming back a couple weeks ago from an Achilles injury this offseason. He was a freshman All-American last season and has been sorely missed.
Among wideouts, no one player has stepped up but Javarius Green and John Montague have led the pack. I’ll also give a small shout to Nedrick Boldin Jr. who has come up with some big plays the past few weeks.
3. How has the BC offensive line looked, both in the run game and in protecting the QB? Do you think BC has a chance to run the ball with much success against Notre Dame, and who are the ball carriers you expect to do some damage?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: They’ve held up ok, but some injuries have set them back. We’ll hope Michael Crounse is back for this one — he’s been a real leader.
Losing RB1 Evan Dickens a few weeks ago meant Bo MacCormack has taken on a lion’s share and he’s been really strong. With McKenzie’s legs as well, they should still find some* success running the ball between the two of them.
4. What position groups on the BC defense are strengths? Are there any top players you want to call out so Irish fans know whom to look out for while the Irish offense is on the field?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: It would have to be the secondary unit. There’s a few genuine playmakers there like KP Price and Charlie Comella. They have 7 interceptions together and Price in particular is a team leader.
Anthony Palano at linebacker is the individual star though. The guy is everywhere constantly making plays. He’s the heart and soul of the BC defense.
5. Does BC have any committed high school recruits Notre Dame should take a look at, a la Boubacar Traore, Nolan James, etc.?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: No comment, but whoever they have you’ll get them in the portal later.
If so, a finder’s fee applies.
6. Please power-rank the following BC alumni/former students using whatever criteria you see fit:
- Gary Gulman (1993): comedian, runner-up in 2004’s Last Comic Standing
- Elisabeth Hasselbeck (1999): former reality show contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, former co-host of talk show The View; host on Fox & Friends
- Bruce Pearl (1982): former Auburn, Tennessee, and UW-Milwaukee head basketball coach
- Leonard Nimoy (1952): actor, Spock in Star Trek
- Harold Connolly (1952): 1952 and 1956 Olympic gold medalist in the hammer throw
- Mike Mayock (1980): NFL Network analyst, former NFL safety
- Amy Poehler (1993): repertory player for Saturday Night Live and Upright Citizens Brigade; star of Parks and Recreation
- Nancy Walls (1988): comedian, actress, wife of Steve Carell
- Mike Lupica (1974): author; sports columnist, New York Daily News
- Bob Ryan (1968): sports columnist for the Boston Globe
- Ronald MacDonald (1898): second winner of the Boston Marathon, has an awesome name
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption:
- Amy Poehler, certified good hang
- Nancy Walls, a gem
- Ronald MacDonald, agreed awesome name
- Leonard Nimoy, for his iconic Simpsons role
- Harold Connolly, hammer throwing is sick
- Mike Lupica, enjoyed his work in my youth
- Bob Ryan, some strong Around the Horn appearances
- Elizabeth Hasselbeck, thanks to Tim
- Mike Mayock, not sure why he isn’t GM’ing BC yet
- Gary Gulman, sorry Gary I’m not familiar with your work
- Bruce Pearl, get bent
7. Baldwin the Eagle questions:
a. What does it say about the BC football program that the first three live eagle mascots they had: escaped, broke a beak trying to escape, and died of a virus?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: It was foreshadowing that we should have seen coming.
b. At 9’5″, Baldwin Jr. seems like he’d be a menace in the paint. Does he have any eligibility and has BC ever tried using him as a rim protector on the hardwood?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: This is going to be a major weak spot for the basketball team too, so BJ could be the missing piece.
c. Did you know that “Baldwin” is a combination of “bald” (as in bald eagle) and “win”? I thought that was a great fun fact in the Wikipedia article.
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: This is some high quality research. Thank you for sharing, I was unfamiliar.
d. If you were going to choose 5 current or former BC football players to run a Milwaukee Brewers “Famous Racing Sausages”-esque race while wearing Baldwin Jr. 9’5″ inflatable costumes, whom would you choose and who would ultimately win the race?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: BJ Raji, John Fadule (check him out on Twitter), Andre Williams, Glenn Foley (😉) and Steve Addazio if coaches are allowed
8. Alright, let’s get down to it — who wins, what’s the final score, and how does it happen?
Niraj Patel, BC Interruption: Alas, the Irish take it 38-13
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Alrighty friends, that’s all we’ve got for this week. I want to give a major shout-out to Niraj for answering a number of questions, including entirely too many (or maybe not enough???) questions based entirely on a bald eagle mascot’s Wikipedia page.
I highly encourage you all to head over to BC Interruption to check out some fantastic coverage of BC sports they’ve got going on over there, including a potential Q&A with yours truly at some point leading into this matchup. Furthermore, definitely give both the site and Niraj some follows on Twitter so you can be entertained to your hearts’ collective content with excellent insight, analysis, and jokes as these two old foes clash once again.
Otherwise, let’s wrap this up the only way we know how: GO IRISH, BEAT (BALD) EAGLES!!!
