Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Boston College vs Nebraska

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Last Sunday, college football released the bowl schedule for the 2024 season. On December 28 at Yankees Stadium, the Boston College Eagles (7-5) will meet the Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-6) in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. This will be the 14th edition of the game, and the 10th straight year that the game will pit the ACC vs the Big 10. The two teams in this year’s game will mark the first time they have met on the football field.

The Cornhuskers went 3-6 in the league this season and the Associated Press ranked them on two different occasions. Week 3 of the season at #23, then Week 4 at #22. This marked the first time that Nebraska had been ranked since 2019. They punched their ticket to bowl eligibility with a 44-25 win on November 23 against Wisconsin. In their history, Nebraska is no stranger to playing bowl games. This will be their 54th bowl game and their record is 26-27. This will be the first time they have been invited to play at the Pinstripe Bowl. However, this is not the first time playing in New York or Yankees Stadium. Back in 1962 at the Gotham Bowl, the Cornhuskers defeated Miami, 36-34.

Nebraska’s offense centers around QB Dylan Raiola who has thrown for 2,595 yards and 12 touchdowns. He ranks third in the Big-10 in pass attempts with 380, and in completions with 253. His completion percentage of 66.6% is seventh-best. The ground game is led by Dante Dowdell with a team-leading 614 yards and 12 TDs. The touchdown number is tied for fourth-best in the league. His best game was the team’s last one where he had a three-touchdown effort vs the Badgers on Nov.23. On defense, Ty Robinson, a defensive lineman, was the team leader in sacks with six. Their secondary was good all year getting 11 interceptions as a group and returning three for them for scores. Junior defensive back Malcom Hartzog Jr. had four of those picks which tied for second in the conference.

Boston College is 4-4 in the ACC and they are making their 31st trip to a bowl game. Their record is 15-13 with two other appearances canceled due to bad weather and Covid-19. This will be the Eagles’ third trip to Yankees Stadium. The previous two vs Penn State in 2014 and Iowa in 2017 both resulted in losses. They are the first ACC team to make three trips to this game and the third overall to make that claim. Syracuse and Rutgers are the other two. Boston College clinched their spot in the bowl season by winning their last two games of the season. Both at home, over North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

The Eagles feature a punishing running game. They lead the ACC in rushing attempts with 503 and averaged 176.3 rushing yards per game, seventh in the league. They have scored 22 times on the ground, good for eighth in the conference. Senior RB Kyle Robichaux crossed the goal line ten times this season which ranked him eighth in the league. On defense, this group is led by senior defensive lineman and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Donovan Ezeiruaku. He led all of FBS with 16.5 sacks this year. That ties for the most in a single season in BC history. The Nebraska offensive line will need to know where he is at all times. The defense also had 16 interceptions to their credit which was the second-most in the conference and the ninth-most in FBS. They forced 11 fumbles, tied for sixth in the league, and allowed 113.6 yards on the ground, fourth best in the ACC. Redshirt freshman Carter Davis led the secondary with three interceptions, tied for sixth in the league.

For Boston College, this game represents a chance at an eight-win season. Something that this program has not had in a while. For Nebraska, this game gives them a chance at finishing the season above .500.