Boston College Searching for Answers as Clemson Comes to Town

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Things are not going right for the Boston College football team at the moment. A 1–4 overall record, coupled with an 0–3 conference mark and a four-game losing streak, has the team and coaching staff searching for answers. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get any easier this Saturday night when the Clemson Tigers visit Alumni Stadium.

Clemson leads the all-time series 21–9 and has won the last four meetings. But before looking ahead to the Tigers, it’s worth looking back at a rough afternoon in Pittsburgh.

A Tough Day in the Steel City

One thing became clear in Pittsburgh — the Panthers may have found their quarterback of the future. True freshman Mason Hentschel, a surprise starter, put on quite a show. He completed 30 of 41 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns, leading an offense that racked up 503 total yards.

Pitt jumped out to a commanding 31–0 halftime lead, scoring on five of six first-half drives. For Panthers fans, it was the “perfect storm.” For Boston College, it was the complete opposite. The Eagles managed just 69 yards of total offense in the first half and finished the game with only 27 rushing yards — including minus-9 in the first two quarters.

All three Boston College quarterbacks saw action, but none had much success. Defensively, it wasn’t much better. The Eagles’ defense struggled all day as Pittsburgh’s offense moved the ball with ease and efficiency.

Now, the Eagles must regroup and prepare for another powerhouse opponent — the Clemson Tigers.

Clemson Back on Track

The Tigers snapped a two-game losing streak last week with an emphatic 38–10 win over North Carolina. Clemson jumped on the Tar Heels early, scoring 28 points in the first quarter — a season-high output that set the tone for the night.

Clemson’s offense found its rhythm through the air, throwing for 398 yards — their most since 2020. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was nearly flawless, completing 22 of 24 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns. His 91.7% completion rate was also a season high.

Defensively, Clemson was equally dominant. After allowing a field goal on North Carolina’s opening drive, the Tigers forced four straight three-and-outs, holding the Tar Heels to a combined minus-5 yards over that span.

The Tigers’ consistency under head coach Dabo Swinney continues to be remarkable. Clemson is now 41–10 in true road games, 80–12 against conference opponents since 2015, and 89–8 when scoring first. Even more impressive — when holding opponents under 23 points, they are 122–3 over their last 125 games.

BC Needs a Total Team Effort

For Boston College to pull off an upset, major improvements are needed — and fast.

The defense must tighten up in the red zone. Opponents have scored on 20 of 21 trips inside the 20-yard line (95%), with 15 of those (71%) resulting in touchdowns. The Eagles have also struggled with turnovers, allowing 42 points off giveaways this season.

Another concern is their inability to get off the field. During the four-game losing streak, Boston College’s opponents have punted fewer than four times per game, with Pittsburgh punting just three times last week.

If the Eagles hope to stop the slide, they’ll need a total team effort. The offense must find balance, the defense must get timely stops, and the team as a whole must protect the football.

Saturday night’s game at Alumni Stadium offers Boston College a chance to reset — and perhaps surprise everyone by playing their best football against one of the ACC’s perennial powers.