The Eagles won their third season opener in a row against regional rival FCS Maine. While the Eagles offense struggled to find their footing under the new leadership of sophomore quarterback Darius Wade, the defense was stifling, holding the Black Bears to 91 total yards on offense, and only 7 yards rushing. Maine opened up the scoring with a field goal on their opening drive, but that would be all they could muster for the entirety of the game. Wade managed to incorporate a passing attack that complemented the Eagles' now well-known running game, throwing 14/25 and 155 yards, including a touchdown pass to Bobby Swigert, who returned to the field after a two season-long injury. Sophomore power back Jonathan Hillman struggled to put up yards, only rushing for 47 yards on 16 carries, but Junior Tyler Rouse picked up the slack, ripping off two fourth quarter touchdown runs, totaling 81 yards on 8 carries, including a 45-yard rush for a score.[3]
The Eagles trampled over an outmatched Howard team in their second game of the season, scoring 41 first quarter points and 62 points in the first half, the most by any FBS team in the last ten seasons. After the first half concluded, the two teams agreed, per NCAA rules, to shorten the second half of play by 10:00 minutes. After Tyler Rouse scored his third rushing touchdown (just 11:00 into the game), the Eagles starters were able to take an early rest, letting backups and freshman showcase their talents for the rest of the game. Quarterbacks Jeff Smith and Troy Flutie both took snaps, with Smith rushing for 89 yards and 3 scores on 5 carries and Flutie throwing 7/8 for 88 yards and a TD. The Eagles defense held the Bison to just 11 total yards of offense, only becoming a positive number until late in the game.[4]
Boston College's hopes of an upset on an emotional "Red Bandana" night, honoring alum and 9/11 hero Welles Crowther, were defeated as the Seminoles stuffed the Eagles 14–0 in an extremely tight defensive contest. After former Notre Dame QB Everett Golson led a drive for a touchdown after the game's opening kickoff, neither team would put up any points offensively during the rest of the entire game; the Noles would pad their 7–0 lead in the 4th quarter with a touchdown off a fumble recovery. The Eagles produced a tremendous defensive performance against the #9 ranked Seminoles, allowing only 217 total yards of offense and holding running back Dalvin Cook to 54 yards rushing. This effort was in vain, though, as BC's offense struggled to start drives and move the ball down the field; only passing midfield three times. Starting QB Darius Wade left the game in the 4th quarter with an injury, and for the second week in a row, both backups Jeff Smith and Troy Flutie took snaps to finish off the contest. The win was the 6th in a row for the Seminoles in the series.[5]
In the second ever matchup between the two schools, the Eagles and Huskies struggled through a close defensive battle, which is quickly becoming a trend for the season as the BC defense continues to lead the FBS in total yards allowed. After trading punts throughout the 1st quarter, the Eagles broke through with the first score of the game, when Troy Flutie, who started in lieu of Darius Wade after suffering a broken ankle in the previous week against FSU, threw a 27-yard touchdown to Charlie Callinan. The Huskies would answer back with a rushing score shortly before the end of the half, set up by a long interception return to the 4 yard line. The Eagles would take the lead again with a 21-yard rushing score by Jonathan Hilliman in the 3rd. It seemed all but over after BC tacked on a field goal late in the 4th to make it a 17–7 game, however, the Huskies would make it interesting, returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to come within 3 points. After forcing a 3-and-out, NIU got the ball back with 2:20 on the clock, but failed to convert on a 4-and-10, sealing the victory for Boston College. Hilliman lead the way for the Eagles, rushing for 119 yards and a score on the day. Flutie went 5 for 11, throwing 92 yards and a score, and Jeff Smith, who also took snaps with Wade out, ran for 56 yards on 9 attempts. The Eagles defense remained stellar, holding the Huskies to just 153 yards of offense for the game.[6]
In yet another defensive showdown between two top defensive teams in the nation, BC was edged out by Duke in a low scoring 9–7 contest. It was a tale of two halves, as Duke scored 3 field goals in the first half but did not score in the 2nd, and as BC scored a touchdown in the second half, after having been shut out of the first. The Eagles missed two field goal attempts during the game (the first on a muffed snap and the other on a shanked kick), which proved to be pivotal points lost. On the flip side, Duke lost potential points after failing to pound the ball in the end zone on a short fourth-and-1 from the goal-line. Both freshman quarterbacks shared snaps again, with Jeff Smith making the start. After Smith failed to complete a pass during the entire first half and struggled to move the ball down the field, the switch was made to Flutie, who completed 5 of 8 passes for 129 yards, one of which was the game's only touchdown, a 66-yard score to Thadd Smith. The team combined for 164 yards rushing. The Eagle's defense was stifling, allowing just 33 yards rushing on 35 attempts, less than a yard per carry average. They also held the Blue Devils to just 74 yards of offense in the second half, giving the Eagles plenty of opportunity, in vain, to take the lead late in the game.[7]
