Boston College Football 2026 Preview: Bill O’Brien Faces a Full Rebuild in Year Three
Year three of the Bill O’Brien era at Boston College isn’t shaping up as a simple reload-it’s a full-blown rebuild. After a promising 7-6 campaign in 2024 that ended with a tight loss to Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl, the Eagles crashed hard in 2025, finishing 2-10 with just one win in ACC play. Now, with a roster gutted by graduations and portal exits, O’Brien and his staff are tasked with reshaping a team that’s lost the bulk of its offensive production and faces a schedule that doesn’t offer much breathing room.
Let’s break down where things stand in Chestnut Hill heading into the 2026 season.
2025 Recap: From Bowl Team to Bottom of the Conference
The 2025 Eagles took a major step back from their bowl-eligible form the year prior. Despite having some serious talent at the skill positions, Boston College couldn’t find consistency on either side of the ball, managing just two wins all season and finishing 1-7 in conference play.
The regression was especially stark on offense, where the Eagles struggled to find rhythm and stability. That instability has carried into the offseason, with just two offensive starters returning for 2026.
Offense: A New Cast, A New Identity
Returning Starters:
- WR Jaedn Skeete
- C Michael Crounse
Key Departures:
- QB Grayson James
- QB Dylan Lonergan (Portal to Rutgers)
- RB Turbo Richard (Transfer to Indiana)
- WR Reed Harris (Transfer to Arizona State)
- WR Lewis Bond
- TE Jeremiah Franklin
- LT Jude Bowry
- LG Eryx Daughtery (Transfer to Louisville)
- RG Logan Taylor
- RT Kevin Cline
Let’s be blunt-losing nine of 11 starters on offense is a massive blow. Boston College has to replace both quarterbacks from last season and nearly every impact skill player. That includes Turbo Richard, who was a workhorse in the backfield with over 700 yards and nine touchdowns, and Lewis Bond, who led the team in receptions and yards.
The offensive line has been almost completely wiped clean, with only center Michael Crounse returning. Crounse started nine games last season and brings some much-needed experience to the middle of a line that will be rebuilt from top to bottom through the transfer portal.
At receiver, Jaedn Skeete is the lone holdover. He caught 13 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns last year and will be expected to step into a much larger role as the Eagles look for new playmakers on the outside.
The quarterback position remains wide open heading into spring, and with so many moving parts on the offensive line and skill positions, chemistry will be a major storyline to watch in camp.
Defense: Secondary Stability, Front Seven Questions
Returning Starters:
- **DT Chris Marable Jr.
**
- CB Max Tucker
- CB Isaiah Farris
- DB Carter Davis
- S KP Price
Key Departures:
- EDGE Edwin Kolenge (Portal to Vanderbilt)
- EDGE Quintayvious Hutchins
- DT Sedarius McConnell
- LB Daveon Crouch (Portal to Kansas)
- LB Owen McGowan
- S Omar Thornton (Transfer to Miami)
If there’s a silver lining, it’s on defense-specifically in the secondary. Boston College returns four of five starters on the back end, giving new defensive coordinator Ted Roof a solid foundation to build around.
Safety KP Price is the heartbeat of the defense, coming off a 93-tackle, two-interception season. Carter Davis brings physicality and range at defensive back, while corners Max Tucker and Isaiah Farris return with valuable starting experience. Farris defended six passes last season, while Tucker added an interception and 24 tackles.
Up front, though, it’s a different story. The Eagles lost several key contributors in the trenches and at linebacker, including Sedarius McConnell, who led the team in sacks, and Owen McGowan, who was a steady force at linebacker. The front seven will need to be retooled, and that effort has already begun through the portal.
Transfer Portal: Plugging Holes Across the Board
Boston College hit the portal hard-and had to. The Eagles brought in an entirely new offensive line from programs across the country, including:
- LT Veguer Jean-Jumeau (Tennessee State)
- LG Owen Snively (Eastern Michigan)
- RG Kristian Phillips (Michigan State)
- RT Reggie Jackson (Jacksonville State)
This group may not come from Power Five blue bloods, but they bring starting experience and size, which BC desperately needs up front.
At running back, Evan Dickens is a big-time addition from Liberty. He rushed for over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns last season and brings the kind of production that can help stabilize a new-look offense. Nolan Ray from Maryland adds depth behind him.
At receiver, Javarius Green (UNC), Reed Swanson (Colgate), and Landon Wright (Washington State) will all compete for snaps. Swanson, in particular, is one to watch.
At 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, he’s a big-bodied target who racked up nearly 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns last season at Colgate. He could slide into the role vacated by Reed Harris.
Defensively, the Eagles added Ballard from Buffalo and Sampson from Florida State to help bolster the defensive line. Sampson, at 6-3, 309 pounds, brings the kind of size BC needs to compete in the trenches. At linebacker, Bodie Kahoun (Notre Dame) is an under-the-radar addition who could carve out a significant role early.
Recruiting and Schedule Outlook
Boston College’s 2026 recruiting class ranks in the mid-50s nationally, a respectable showing given the team’s recent struggles. But the immediate impact will come from the transfers.
The schedule? It’s no cakewalk.
Road trips to Cincinnati, SMU, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, and Miami will test this young, reshaped roster early and often. There’s little margin for error, and the Eagles will need to gel quickly if they want to avoid another long season.
Bottom Line: A Test of Patience and Progress
Bill O’Brien’s third year at Boston College is shaping up to be one of the most challenging of his coaching career. With a roster overhaul on offense and a defense in transition, the Eagles are counting on their portal additions to hit-and hit fast.
There’s experience in the secondary and a potential workhorse in Evan Dickens, but questions remain everywhere else. If O’Brien and his staff can find a quarterback, solidify the line, and get the defense to hold the line while the offense finds its footing, this team could surprise a few people. But make no mistake-2026 is about laying the groundwork for the future.