Oct 43 min read

Boston College, Virginia Hope to Extend Hot Starts in Clash

The Boston College Eagles (4-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) travel to face the Virginia Cavaliers (3-1, 1-0) on Oct. 5 as conference play kicks into full gear for both teams. The Eagles have dominated the all-time, head-to-head series 7-1 and won the most recent meeting 27-24 last year. The teams will meet at noon EST in Charlottesville, Va.

What's at Stake?

With a convincing win, the Eagles can show that they are a legitimate contender in the ACC title race. After a competitive loss to the No. 9 Missouri Tigers (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) and an impressive win over the Michigan State Spartans (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten Conference), expectations have been high for Boston College in head coach Bill O'Brien's first year at the helm. A win would give the Eagles their first 5-1 start since 2008.

The Cavaliers are off to a similarly promising start to the season after struggling in head coach Tony Elliott's first two years at the helm. Virginia has already equaled their win total from the 2022 and 2023 seasons with their 3-1 start. Elliott needs to continue showing improvement in order to stay off the hot seat in the near future. A win against Boston College would give the Cavaliers a 2-0 start in conference play and show the rest of the ACC that they are ready to be taken seriously.

Key Players: Boston College Eagles

Treshaun Ward, Running Back

Ward was uncharacteristically quiet against Western Kentucky (3-2) last week, getting just 7 total touches on a slow day for the offense. With questions surrounding quarterback Thomas Castellanos' health, the Eagles would do well to rely more on the sixth-year senior running back. Ward has averaged 6 yards per rush and 17.6 yards per reception so far in 2024.

The Eagles offense has started slow in nearly every game this year, scoring just seven total points in the first quarter across the four FBS opponents they have faced. The Eagles may not be able to afford a slow start against a Virginia team that is full of potential. They will need to rely on the explosive ability of Ward to keep them from falling behind early.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, Defensive End

The senior defensive lineman was electric against Western Kentucky with a 14-tackle, 3-sack game that included a forced fumble. He currently leads the nation with 8 sacks in just five games. Against Virginia, Ezeiruaku and the rest of the defensive line will be tasked with slowing down one of the more efficient rushing attacks in the conference.

Key Players: Virginia Cavaliers

Xavier Brown, Running Back

After missing the entire 2023 season due to injury, the junior running back has exploded back on to the scene. In a 43-24 victory over Coastal Carolina (3-1), Brown led the Cavaliers with just 9 carries for 171 yards. The dynamic back gives the Cavaliers offense an element of explosiveness that it has been missing over the last two seasons.

James Jackson, Linebacker

The senior linebacker has been forced to step up as a leader on the Cavaliers defense so far this season.

With Castellanos potentially not at full health, the Eagles may rely more heavily on the rushing attack to move the ball. Boston College thrives when they are able to move the ball methodically down the field and control the pace of the game. Jackson and the rest of the front six will have success if they can keep the Eagles offense behind the sticks and get off the field on third downs.

Trends to Watch

The Cavaliers are one of the top rushing offenses in the nation, averaging 195 yards per game. Boston College has one of the best rushing defenses, allowing just 101.4 rushing yards per game to opposing offenses. The winner of this battle in the trenches may decide who emerges victorious in a fairly even matchup between the two ACC teams.