Stanford Holds On: Cardinal Topples BC 30-20 in ACC Opener

Stanford edged Boston College 30-20 Saturday night in a matchup that revealed both promise and frustration for the Eagles. The Cardinal handed interim head coach Frank Reich his first victory in college football, behind a powerful running performance and defensive stands at key moments.

What Went Right for Stanford

Micah Ford’s Breakout Night: The sophomore running back ran for a career-high 157 yards and a touchdown. His explosiveness—highlighted by a 75-yard burst—helped shift momentum Stanford’s way.

Defense Rising When It Counts: Stanford’s defense came up big. A huge goal-line stop in the third quarter and a pick-six by Collin Wright (19 yards) turned the tide. Their ability to force turnovers and make stops gave BC fits in the second half.

Efficient Passing Game: Ben Gulbranson was 13-of-22 for 186 yards, doing enough to keep drives alive and open opportunities for the rush attack.

Where Boston College Fell Short

Turnover Trouble: BC’s offense hurt itself in critical stretches. A fumble near the goal line and other miscues led directly to Stanford scores or momentum swings.

Second-Half Stagnation: After a promising first half—Boston College tied it up 20-20 by halftime with a big 51-yard field goal and two touchdowns—the Eagles were unable to generate much offense after the break. Zero points in the second half would loom large.

Missed Opportunities: There were stretches where BC looked capable—long passing plays, solid drives—but when it mattered (third downs, inside the red zone, near the end of drives), they couldn’t close.

Key Players

For Boston College

Dylan Lonergan: The redshirt sophomore QB threw for 333 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Many big throws in the first half. Reed Harris & Turbo Richard: Harris pulled down 7 catches for 141 yards; Richard had multiple roles—rushing, receiving—and found the end zone.

Micah Ford (RB): As above, he was the catalyst, especially in the ground game and the long run, that set up a touchdown drive.

Collin Wright: His interception return was a defining play that helped flip the momentum just before halftime.

What This Means Going Forward

For Boston College, this game exposed the depth of what needs fixing: consistency in half-to-half play, ball security, and finishing drives. It’s tough losing the opener in conference play, especially after showing flashes. The Eagles will have to regroup in their bye week and address both schematic and discipline issues.

On Stanford’s side, this is more than just a win—it’s validation of Reich’s early work, especially under pressure. The running game looks viable, the defense has moments, and closing this one out properly will give them confidence in ACC play.

Final Take

BC fought hard and showed promise at times, but Stanford’s balanced attack and opportunistic defense edged them out in the second half. A 30-20 loss stings, but there were positives in BC’s first two quarters that they’ll want to build off. Meanwhile, Stanford gets its ACC opener and carries momentum into its next game.