Boston College Football: Seminoles’ Season in Crisis as Eagles Thrive Under O’Brien

The 2024 season for Florida State has devolved into a calamity. Ranked 10th, the Seminoles now find themselves languishing with an 0-2 record following a disheartening 28-13 defeat at the hands of Boston College football on Monday evening. The Eagles dominated both offensively and defensively, amassing 268 rushing yards against a beleaguered Florida State defense, while the Seminoles’ newly acquired quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei, continued to falter for the second consecutive week.

As the second half commenced, Florida State, down 14-6, faced a pivotal opportunity. Instead of seizing the moment to narrow or even equalize the score, Uiagalelei’s ill-fated pass on fourth down resulted in a critical interception by Max Tucker, who returned the ball to the Seminoles’ 7-yard line. Just two plays later, the Eagles extended their lead to 15 points.

Florida State briefly rekindled hope with a trick play that set up a 29-yard touchdown pass to Kentron Poitier. Yet, this spark proved ephemeral as Boston College’s run game continued to dismantle the Seminoles’ defense. The Eagles responded to Florida State’s solitary touchdown of the night—their first passing touchdown since the ill-fated North Alabama game in 2023—with a methodical eight-play drive that chewed up over four minutes.

Florida State’s subsequent attempts to recover were thwarted. A promising connection between Uiagalelei and Poitier was negated by an intentional grounding penalty, leading to a turnover on downs. The Seminoles’ plight was underscored by a perplexing decision to punt with just over six minutes remaining, trailing by 15 points, following a fourth-and-20 predicament exacerbated by a penalty on offensive lineman TJ Ferguson.

What exactly is amiss at Florida State? Identifying any semblance of cohesion within the team is increasingly difficult. The Seminoles’ disarray was palpable once more on Monday night. Uiagalelei was under constant duress, his accuracy faltered, and his receivers struggled with catchable passes. The ground game was virtually non-existent, the defensive line was overwhelmed, and the linebackers appeared disoriented. Additionally, Florida State committed seven penalties compared to Boston College’s solitary infraction.

Initially, the Week 0 loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin could be dismissed as an anomaly. New teams often face challenges early in the season, and transatlantic travel can be disruptive. However, the deficiencies evident against the Yellow Jackets were glaringly present against Boston College football. Florida State is currently a football team rife with systemic flaws.

The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff offers a glimmer of hope for teams that stumble early but improve over the course of the season. Yet, Florida State’s 0-2 start is particularly troubling. The Seminoles are now only the fourth team in the past decade to start 0-2 after a preseason top-10 ranking, and both losses have been within the conference.

For most teams, an 0-2 start might not significantly impact conference standings. However, due to a unique schedule, Florida State must now navigate a challenging path against the remaining 17 ACC teams to even contend for a conference title and a playoff berth.

Do we have faith in Florida State’s ability to rebound? Currently, skepticism prevails, even among those who anticipated the Seminoles as preseason ACC champions and playoff contenders.

Boston College’s New Era Shines

Bill O’Brien’s inaugural season at Boston College has commenced with a notable triumph. Having been appointed as head coach following Jeff Hafley’s move to Green Bay, O’Brien has already secured a marquee victory. The former Houston Texans head coach and Alabama offensive coordinator showcased his strategic acumen early, orchestrating a series of inventive plays that consistently yielded substantial yardage.

O’Brien’s most significant achievement was on the line of scrimmage. His team excelled both offensively and defensively, a critical factor in their triumph over Florida State. “We won the game up front, we established the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” O’Brien remarked on “SportsCenter” post-game.

This dominant performance is a promising sign for a Boston College team seeking its first eight-win season since 2009. Despite being forecasted in the lower tier of the ACC, the Eagles face No. 11 Missouri and Michigan State in the coming weeks, following a matchup against FCS opponent Duquesne. Given their current form, Boston College might well challenge Missouri and potentially overcome Michigan State.