In Bill O’Brien’s first season at the helm, Boston College is set to go bowling despite a mid-season QB controversy and a tough second-half stretch to the season.
The former New England Patriots offensive coordinator returned home to Massachusetts this past offseason, and it doesn’t look like he’ll have to go very far this bowl season, with my bowl game projection for the Eagles being so close to home.
Boston College Eagles season to date
It was a hot start to the season for Boston College with a 28-13 upset win over then No. 10 Florida State. In retrospect, that win wasn’t as impressive as it first appeared, but BC proved to be a tough out for other ranked teams like Missouri and SMU.
Ultimately, the 4-1 start to the season that had the Eagles ranked didn’t last long, with them losing four of their next five and QB Thomas Castellanos being benched and hitting the transfer portal.
Still, O’Brien has already won as many games in one season (seven) as Hafley did in any of his four years atop Chestnut Hill.
Boston College Eagles bowl game projection
Pinstripe Bowl
Jeff Hafley’s years of mediocrity rule out exactly one bowl from Boston College’s possibilities: the Fenway Bowl. The Eagles were in it a year ago, their only bowl game since before the pandemic.
However, they have not played in New York City since 2017. The closest they have come was at Rutgers in New Jersey in 2019. That alone should be enough logic for the Pinstripe Bowl to chase down Boston College, pitting the Eagles against a worthwhile Big Ten foe, although it won't be Rutgers.
ACC bowl tie-ins and affiliations
- Pop-Tarts Bowl (vs. Big 12)
- TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (vs. SEC)
- Duke’s Mayo Bowl (vs. Big Ten)
- Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl (vs. TBD - formerly Pac-12)
- Pinstripe Bowl (vs. Big Ten)
- Holiday Bowl (vs. TBD - formerly Pac-12)
- Fenway Bowl (vs. AAC)
- Go Bowling Military Bowl (vs. AAC)
- ReliaQuest Bowl (vs. SEC or Big Ten)
- Alternate affiliation: Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (vs. AAC or SEC)
- Alternate affiliation: Birmingham Bowl (vs. SEC or AAC)
- Alternate affiliation: SERVPRO Firest Responder Bowl (vs. SEC or AAC)
Pinstripe Bowl info
- Date: Saturday, December 28, 2024
- Time: 11:00 a.m. ET
- Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
- Network: ESPN
