Predicting the 2026 Boston College football season, game by game

Boston College football enters the 2026 season with the lowest expectations the program has had in years.

Coming off a woeful 2-10 campaign, the Eagles are determined to shift the narrative and prove that last year was a fluke. Even if this team is objectively better, which appears likely, the schedule is packed with formidable foes. No game is a freebie (at least in theory), outside of Maine.

Reaching eight wins for the first time since 2009 feels like a long shot. Finishing with two wins again also seems unlikely. Las Vegas has the projected total set at 3.5, which feels about right, but don’t be surprised if the defense gives the Eagles a shot at more.

This is a particularly difficult season to predict, but here goes nothing …

This is an ideal opener for the Eagles. If they go into Cincinnati and lose respectably, it would still be a step in the right direction. If they pull off the upset, it could have a ripple effect and potentially yield a 3-0 start. BC proves it belongs before Cincinnati delivers in the clutch to win by single digits.

For fans looking to attend one BC game this season, this is it. The Eagles will honor hero Welles Crowther with their annual Red Bandanna Game on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. They also will welcome former BC quarterback and current Rutgers starter Dylan Lonergan to town. This one has all the makings of a classic.

Don’t sleep on the Black Bears, who defeated Towson in their opener. OK, maybe sleep on them a little bit. Something would have to go dramatically wrong for the Eagles to lose this one.

This feels like one of the pivotal points of the season. If BC is able to outlast the Hokies and move to 3-1, it could yield some long-term momentum. If not, it could swing the pendulum the other way. Virginia Tech has won each of the last three meetings by double digits, and there is no compelling reason to think that will change.

The Eagles and Mustangs split compelling battles in 2023 (Fenway Bowl) and 2024, then SMU throttled BC last year. This year’s Mustangs — picked to finish second in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with quarterback Kevin Jennings somehow still in college — may be the best yet. SMU rolls in Dallas.

BC will be prepared coming off a bye, and Pitt may overlook the Eagles with a trip to Miami on the horizon. Last year’s massacre will become a distant memory, as BC makes Mason Heintschel look human this time to earn a statement victory.

This is where the schedule goes from somewhat difficult to very difficult. The Yellow Jackets, who averaged the most yards per carry (5.5) in the ACC last year, return key pieces on their offensive line. While the Eagles’ defensive line has improved, this is still a daunting matchup.

The Blue Devils stunned everyone last season by winning their first outright ACC title since 1962. This year’s team may not be quite as potent, yet it still has the firepower to beat BC in a relatively close and low-scoring game.

This one is tempting. Florida State is not what it used to be, and the Eagles prevailed, 28-13, in 2024 to open the Bill O’Brien era. FSU’s offensive and defensive lines looked dynamic against New Mexico State and will have a chance to dictate the action against BC. This will end up feeling like the one that got away.

This year’s Notre Dame team seems particularly special, with quarterback CJ Carr and cornerback Leonard Moore anchoring a roster that returns 14 starters. BC tries to spoil the perfection but falls well short.

Much like last year, a matchup with the Orange comes at an ideal time. Quarterback Mason McKenzie has a strong game against a defense that allowed opponents to complete 66.2 percent of their passes last year.

There is an alternate timeline where this one carries true significance for both teams. In this timeline, the matchup features teams trending in opposite directions. The Eagles sputter to one final disappointing loss, leaving fans craving more once again.

From the source Trevor Hass can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @TrevorHass.