Boston College has built plenty of its offense around Mason McKenzie’s legs, and the next step is obvious: the Eagles need the rest of the unit to catch up.
Through four weeks, McKenzie ranks 12th in the country in rushing attempts with 74, which is also the second-most among quarterbacks. His 26-carry outing against Virginia Tech stood out in part because of the weather, but it also underscored a bigger truth about BC’s attack - too often, it leans on one player’s ability to improvise instead of forcing defenses to account for more.
That lack of balance has shown up in the numbers. The Eagles are averaging just 19.8 points per game, the lowest mark in the ACC. They also sit second to last in completion percentage at 56.5 and third to last in passing yards with 759.
That’s the backdrop for Saturday’s trip to face No. 21 Southern Methodist at Gerald J.
Ford Stadium at noon. SMU is bringing a fast, productive offense of its own, led by Kevin Jennings, who has the second-most passing yards in the nation with 1,453.
A grind-it-out, low-scoring game does not look like Boston College’s best path.
“We have to be better offensively,” said BC coach Bill O’Brien. “We know that.
We’re working hard together to really try and improve it, whether it’s schematically or techniques or maybe different players, whatever it is. We’re all in it together.”
BC has pieces in the backfield. Evan Dickens and Bo MacCormack give the Eagles real options at running back, but they combined for 11 carries and 13 yards last Saturday and couldn’t create much against a strong Virginia Tech front seven.
The offensive line has had its moments, but the inconsistency has been a problem. Tackle Kristian Phillips has stepped into a leadership role, yet shaky protection at times has pushed McKenzie into scramble mode and kept him from working deeper into the passing game.
The receiving production has been spread thin. Javarius Green leads the team with 13 catches, while Dawson Pough, Johnathan Montague, and Landon Wright have flashed speed in spots.
But BC still lacks a clear go-to target, the kind of steady presence Lewis Bond or Reed Harris has been. Jaedn Skeete and Reed Swanson entered the season with expectations to lead the team in receptions, and they have combined for only five.
McKenzie’s ability to create is a weapon, but it can also steer the offense into a predictable lane if BC falls back on it too often. Tight end Zeke Moore said adjusting to that style changes everything.
“Learning how to play with Mason is definitely different,” said tight end Zeke Moore. “When to block, when to stay open, how to get open, it’s a lot different. He’s going to run, he’s going to hit it in different ways.”
SMU’s defense presents another difficult test. The Mustangs lead the ACC in opponent third-down conversion percentage at 20.4 and rank second in sacks with 12. That’s the kind of front that can punish a one-dimensional offense.
Boston College may see SMU invite McKenzie to beat it through the air and try to turn the game into a track meet. The Eagles can’t afford to take that bait. They need the run game to set the tone, quick passes to build rhythm, and McKenzie in short-yardage spots to keep drives alive and keep Jennings and the Mustangs on the sideline.
“By him being as dual threat as he is, it really opens up the playbook a lot,” Dickens said. “He really makes those off-schedule plays to help our offense be explosive.”
One of the biggest concerns is how the scoring has broken down by quarter. BC has outscored opponents 30-3 in the first quarter, but has been outscored 89-49 the rest of the way, including 38-22 in the fourth. Late in games, defenses seem to know what’s coming, and the offense has too often stalled when it needs answers most.
O’Brien said the staff is trying to get everyone on the same page, from route running to blocking to quarterback reads. He also said the Eagles have a “much better feel” now for what they do well on offense and expects improvement in the weeks ahead.
“I do think we’re improving,” O’Brien said. “Offensively, it’s been a struggle.
No doubt about it. Everybody sees that.
But there are some things we’ve done well. We’ve tried to tweak a lot of things this week.”
In Other News...
Boston College Heads To SMU With A Defensive Concern Growing
Boston College heads to No. 21 SMU on Saturday carrying a few familiar personnel questions, and the latest ACC availability report only sharpened the concern on defense. The Eagles are 2-2 as they prepare for the trip to Gerald J. Ford Stadium, but the list of unavailable players includes defensive back Cameron Martinez and defensive tackle Chris Marable Jr., leaving the group short on depth before it gets a major road test.
Linebacker Bodie Kahoun remains unavailable, continuing a stretch that has forced Boston College to adjust without one of its defensive pieces. The report also listed Torrence and Clough as questionable, adding another layer of uncertainty as the Eagles try to sort out who will be available against an SMU team ranked 21st and playing at home. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Fans Get A Flutie Nostalgia Hit Before A Huge SMU Test
As Boston College heads into a major early test against SMU, there is at least a little nostalgia in the air for Eagles fans who remember when Doug Flutie was the standard for football celebrity in Chestnut Hill. Flutie Flakes are making a return to Tops Markets starting Oct. 4, a small but fitting reminder of one of the programs most recognizable alumni, with proceeds going to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.
The timing lands in the middle of a wider college sports conversation, too, after the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, which would create a federal framework for NIL compensation and put guardrails around conference size. For BC, the bigger immediate focus is still SMU and what the Mustangs have shown through four games on both sides of the ball, which is why the old Flutie buzz feels like a nice backdrop rather than the main event. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Volleyball Faces Its Toughest ACC Reality Check Yet
Boston Colleges first week of ACC volleyball gave the Eagles a little of everything, and now the schedule turns far less forgiving. After opening conference play with a win over Notre Dame and then running into a much harsher night against Louisville, the Eagles are back at home for another difficult stretch that will test how much of that early momentum can carry into the leagues upper tier.
The next few days bring a different kind of measuring stick, with two of the conferences highest-ranked teams coming to Chestnut Hill. Boston College has already shown it can compete in spots, and the individual numbers from recent matches suggest there is enough talent to make things interesting, but the larger question now is whether that can hold up when the opponent quality keeps climbing and the pressure comes fast. [Read more 🡒]