Boston College’s season has gone from promising to precarious in a hurry, but the defense has still given the Eagles a few things to hang onto.
After opening with wins over Pitt and Georgia Tech, Boston College has dropped back-to-back games to Duke and Florida St, including a 45-point loss to Duke. Now the challenge only gets steeper with fifth ranked Notre Dame on deck this weekend.
Even with the recent slide, there have been a few clear standouts on that side of the ball.
Anthony Palano has been the centerpiece. The sophomore linebacker, who is also one of the team’s captains, has emerged as the leader of the defense and is up to 76 tackles, which ranks fourth in the ACC.
His biggest game came against Rutgers in the second week of the season, when he piled up two interceptions and a sack. That performance earned him ACC player of the week honors for Week 2, and he has continued to serve as the heartbeat of the Eagles defense.
Up front, Demetrius Ballard and E’Lla Boykin have formed a disruptive pair. Both defensive linemen have produced 4.5 sacks this season, leaving them tied for 15th in the ACC. Their ability to generate pressure has been one of the steadier parts of Boston College’s defense.
The secondary has also held up well by conference standards. The Eagles have allowed the second fewest passing yards in the ACC at 1,686, and their 187.3 passing yards allowed per game also ranks second.
Their schedule hasn’t exactly been loaded with elite passing attacks, but Boston College has still done the job back there. KP Price, Marcus Upton, Charlie Comella, and Carter Davis have all played strongly.
In Other News...
Boston College Has A Chance To Turn Momentum Into An Early Statement
Boston Colleges women have a chance to keep an encouraging start rolling after handling UMass Lowell 86-57 behind Jocelyne Griers 23-point night. The Eagles looked in control throughout that one, and now they get to see whether that performance can carry over when Providence comes to Chestnut Hill for an early-season home test.
Providence arrives with Erin Batths group coming off a loss to Bryant, which gives Boston College an opening to build momentum and improve its record in front of its own crowd. The matchup also carries a little extra edge because the Eagles have had success against the Friars recently, and this one offers another chance to make a statement before the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Fans Witnessed A Notre Dame Moment Bigger Than The Game
The broadcast booth carried a different kind of weight during Notre Dames game against Boston College, with NBC Sports stepping in after the sudden death of longtime lead play-by-play voice Dan Hicks at age 64. Hicks, who had been with NBC since 1992, had become a familiar presence on Notre Dame home football telecasts, while also leaving his mark on PGA Tour coverage and the Olympics. His absence was felt immediately in a setting where the game itself was only part of the story.
Jason Benetti filled in for Hicks on the NBC call and used the moment to acknowledge the loss on air, giving Boston College viewers a reminder that some nights in college football are about more than the scoreboard. Hicks reputation reached well beyond South Bend, and the tribute underscored how deeply he had been woven into the networks biggest events and into the rhythm of fall Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Let A Winnable ACC Fight Slip Away
Boston College volleyball had a real chance to make a statement in Tallahassee, pushing Florida State through a tight four-set ACC match before coming up short. The Eagles dropped the opener 25-17, answered with a narrow 27-25 win in the second, and stayed in the fight from there, showing enough competitive edge to suggest this was the kind of conference match they could have turned into a road win.
Audrey Ross gave Boston College a steady offensive lift, finishing with 16 kills as the Eagles kept the pressure on into the final set. Instead, Florida State held on late and left Boston College with a tough result to absorb, especially in a league where close matches can swing the standings quickly. The Eagles now head home to face Miami, with another chance to turn that competitiveness into something more tangible. [Read more 🡒]