2026 FSU Schedule Preview: Boston College Eagles

2026 FSU Schedule Preview: Boston College Eagles

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

2026 FSU Schedule Preview: Boston College Eagles
TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 02: Boston College Eagles running back Treshaun Ward (0) runs into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown after a reception against the Florida State Seminoles during a college football game on September 02, 2024 at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Florida State and its similarly-colored foes from New England have met 21 times previously, with the Seminoles prevailing in 15 of those matchups. FSU is 12-2 against the Eagles since 2010, with five of those wins coming by five points or less. Florida State will look to avenge the ugly 2024 loss in Tallahassee, although this contest will come after arguably the toughest three-game stretch of the season and FSU will likely be banged up following two road games against Louisville and Miami and a home game against Clemson.

Florida State vs. Boston College Eagles

Date: Saturday, Nov. 7, TBD

Location: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Previous matchup: Boston College won 28-13 in Tallahassee behind the legs of former Seminole running back Treshaun Ward (138 yards of offense and a receiving touchdown) and future Seminole quarterback Tommy Castellanos (179 total yards and three touchdowns). Florida State was ranked 10th at the time, while Boston College was unranked. It was the debut game for coach Bill O’Brien, snapped a five-game winning streak in the series for FSU, and was easily one of the most frustrating losses of a frustrating season.

All-time series: 15-6 in favor of FSU.

Boston College Eagles: 2026 Team Preview

2025 record: The Eagles were one of the few ACC teams worse than FSU in 2025, finishing 2-10 with a win over Fordham to begin the year, a surprising win over Syracuse to end the year, and nothing but losses in between.

Two things to know:

  • Two new quarterbacks will begin the season battling for starting reps, but one will likely be cemented as starter by the time FSU and BC play. Junior Mason McKenzie (Saginaw Valley State) and redshirt-freshman Grayson Wilson (Arkansas) are the top two options. McKenzie is a dual threat who ran for 662 yards and six touchdowns last season. Wilson didn’t collect any stats at Arkansas last season but was a multi-sport athlete in high school, leading his basketball team to a state championship and also showcasing a dual threat mentality. Regardless of who starts, the edge rushers and linebackers will need to focus on containment.
  • Ted Roof is BC’s new defensive coordinator. Roof is extremely well-traveled and has experience over the past couple of decades facing Florida State from prior stints at Duke, Georgia Tech, and NC State. “Leaky” Roof is known as one of the masters of bend-but-not-break schemes that tend to break, often employing cover 3 or cover 4 zones come hell or high water. Boston College finished 128th in total defense last year. There will certainly be some improvement but Roof won’t be able to do a complete 180 by the time the Seminoles come to town.

Three key players

  • Running back Evan Dickens: After starting his career at Georgia Tech, Dickens rushed for 1,339 yards and 16 touchdowns on 229 carries, earning first team all-conference honors for the Liberty Flames in 2025. He was one of the big portal acquisitions for the Eagles and will be a key part of their offense.
  • Safety K.P. Price: A Chestnut Hill lifer, Price led the team with 94 tackles and two interceptions last season and was named to the All-ACC Second Team. He started games at strong safety and linebacker and is a team captain and senior leader on defense. Price is an excellent open field tackler.
  • Defensive tackle K.J. Sampson: If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Sampson is a former Seminole who transferred up north for the 2026 season. He will be counted on to play a big role in the middle of the defensive line for the Eagles and in order to be successful for them, he will need to show far more than he did in Tallahassee.

Florida State vs. Boston College Eagles: Game preview, predictions

Best Case

Florida State will be coming off what promises to be a physical home game against the Clemson Tigers and Boston College should offer a solid chance for victory regardless of how the Clemson game unfolds. FSU employs balanced play-calling to keep the Eagles honest and exposes the zone defense in the short-mid passing game, setting up several key deep ball opportunities for Duce. The defense is able to limit the pass and key in on the Eagle’s running game, forcing BC to become unbalanced. The Seminoles take an early lead and stay ahead of the pace throughout, beating the Eagles comfortably and moving into a short week against the Pitt Panthers.

Realistic Case

Another tossup, close context with the winner prevailing by a touchdown or less. This should be one of the more winnable games on FSU’s schedule, assuming reasonable health, but should be isn’t the same as will be. The Boston weather in early November is never a safe bet and BC will be coming off games against Georgia Tech and Duke, certainly easier than what FSU will be facing prior to the matchup in Chestnut Hill. Both teams are likely to have turnovers and it may end up as a shoot out if FSU can’t stop the run. At least FSU dodges the “Red Bandana” commemorative event this year, which will fall on the 25th anniversary of September 11.

Worst Case

FSU enters the game quite banged up and on a losing streak. Bad weather and a lack of morale doom the Seminoles from the start, and they drop a stinker in Massachusetts. Poor conditions lead to sloppy turnovers and missed kicks, and head-scratching coaching decisions on both sides of the ball see Boston College capitalize to beat FSU by several touchdowns. Bill O’Brien moves to 2-0 against the Seminoles.

2026 FSU football schedule

  • Saturday, Aug. 29: New Mexico State Aggies (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 7:00 p.m. (The CW)
  • Monday, Sep. 7: SMU Mustangs (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
  • BYE
  • Saturday, Sep. 19: Alabama Crimson Tide (Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.) | 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
  • Saturday, Sep. 26: Central Arkansas Bears (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
  • Saturday, Oct. 3: Virginia Cavaliers (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
  • Friday, Oct. 9: Louisville Cardinals (Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Ky.) | 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Saturday, Oct. 17: Miami Hurricanes (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
  • BYE
  • Saturday, Oct. 31: Clemson Tigers (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
  • Saturday, Nov. 7: Boston College Eagles (Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
  • Friday, Nov. 13: Pitt Panthers (Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa.) | 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Saturday, Nov. 21: NC State Wolfpack (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
  • Friday, Nov. 27: Florida Gators (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos