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· collected 2026-08-19 · by Kyle Hightower The Associated Press
Boston College's coach Bill O'Brien is entering his third season at the helm of the Eagles, who finished last year with a 2-10 record, their worst since 2012. This marks a significant decline from his first season, when they went 7-6 and played in a bowl game. Athletic director Blake James has expressed confidence in O'Brien, but he will need to show improvement if he wants to keep his job. The team is undergoing a major overhaul with 27 new players via the transfer portal and 23 freshmen joining the roster.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Boston College's football team is struggling under the leadership of Coach Bill O'Brien, who is entering his third year at the helm. The team finished last season with a 2-10 record, its worst since 2012, and included a 10-game losing streak. This was tied for the worst record in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with Syracuse. Despite this poor performance, athletic director Blake James expressed confidence in O'Brien's ability to lead the team, calling him the "right man" for the job. James also announced that the athletic department would increase revenue sharing with players to the maximum permissible level. In an effort to turn things around, O'Brien has made significant changes to the roster, bringing in 27 new players via the transfer portal and adding 23 freshmen. Additionally, he parted ways with defensive coordinator Tim Lewis and other coaches, including offensive line coach Matt Applebaum and wide receivers coach Dar.
Written for “Boston College Football Struggles” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 1250 · logged 2026-08-24
BOSTON (AP) — 2026 record: 2-10
Expectations
After going 7-6 and playing in a bowl game in his first season in charge of the Eagles inƒ 2024, coach Bill O’Brien’s program stalled significantly in Year 2.
asserted
program → go → Year
The 2-10 finish was BC’s worst since 2012 (also 2-10), included a 10-game losing streak and was tied with Syracuse for the worst record (1-7) in the ACC.
asserted
finish → include → ACC
The Orange were the only team BC beat in league play and it came in the Eagles’ season finale at home.
asserted
it → beat → home
Athletic director Blake James pledged his confidence in his coach, saying in a letter to fans that he believed O’Brien was the “right man” to lead the team.
asserted
O’Brien → pledge → team
He also announced that the athletic department would increase its revenue sharing with players to the “maximum permissible level” following the House settlement.
asserted
department → announce → settlement
O’Brien went to work in the spring, blowing up a roster that’s brought in 27 new players via the transfer portal.
asserted
that → go → portal
After watching his defense yield an ACC-worst 467.3 yards per game in conference play, O’Brien parted ways with coordinator Tim Lewis.
asserted
O’Brien → watch → Lewis
Other coaches let go were offensive line coach Matt Applebaum and wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt.
asserted
Applebaum → let → ?
How much it will all move the needle is an open question.
asserted
move → move → needle
But it will need to bear some fruit if O’Brien is going to continue to have time to prove he can make BC relevant in the ACC.
asserted
BC → need → ACC
Strengths include O’Brien calling plays again
The overhaul of the roster included the departure of quarterback Dylan Lonergan to Rutgers along with several other starters.
asserted
overhaul → include → starters
It creates a virtual blank slate for transfer quarterbacks Mason McKenzie and Grayson Wilson to work with.
asserted
McKenzie → create → slate
McKenzie will likely be the Week 1 starter and arrives with exciting numbers having thrown for more than 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns in three seasons at Division II Saginaw Valley State in Michigan.
asserted
McKenzie → arrive → Michigan
There will almost certainly be some bumps as he adjust to FBS competition.
asserted
he → adjust → competition
He’ll have O’Brien to guide him through it, as he plans to call plays for the first time since he took over at BC.
asserted
he → have → BC
He last did it his final season with the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2023.
asserted
He → do → 2023
Weaknesses include major defensive overhaul
asserted
Weaknesses → include → overhaul
The Eagles lost about a third of their offensive production from last season, so there is much to make up after averaging 25.4 points per game and still being outscored 393-305 by opponents.
asserted
Eagles → lose → opponents
The defense will be a work in progress and will need to pull together quickly.
asserted
defense → need → progress
