Boston College at a crossroads in Year 3 of Bill O’Brien era following worst record since 2012
Boston College finds itself at a crossroads in its third year under head coach Bill O’Brien, following the team's worst record since 2012 in the 2024 season. O'Brien's program suffered a significant setback, finishing 2-10 and enduring a 10-game losing streak, which also resulted in the lowest ACC record (1-7) shared with Syracuse. Athletic director Blake James expressed confidence in O'Brien's abilities, stating that he believed O'Brien was the "right man" to lead the team.
In response to the disappointing season, O'Brien initiated a roster overhaul, bringing in 27 new players via the transfer portal and 23 freshmen. He parted ways with defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, offensive line coach Matt Applebaum, and wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt. The team's defensive struggles, yielding an ACC-worst 467.3 yards per game in conference play, prompted O'Brien's decision to let go of Lewis. Other coaches were also removed from their positions.
The overhaul included the departure of starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan to Rutgers, along with several other starters. This transformation creates a clean slate for transfer quarterbacks Mason McKenzie and Grayson Wilson to work with. McKenzie, arriving from Division II Saginaw Valley State with more than 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns in three seasons, is likely to start in Week 1. O'Brien plans to call plays for the first time since his final season with the New England Patriots in 2023.
The Eagles' offense has taken a significant hit, losing about a third of its production from the previous season. They averaged 25.4 points per game and were outscored 393-305 by opponents. The defense will also need to come together quickly, with defensive coordinator Ted Roof (UCF) guiding the unit.
The 2025 season will see Boston College take on SMU (Oct. 3) at home, Notre Dame (Sept. 26) away in the Big Game, and Miami (Nov. 28) away. As the season unfolds, O'Brien's ability to make BC relevant in the ACC will be put to the test.
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