EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW (2025): Louisville v. Boston College

Pregame Prep: Things You Should Know Before the Game

• Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV / Radio: ACC Network / 93.9 The Ville
• Weather: Temperatures around the 50s for game-time; low chance for rain
• Odds: Louisville -25.5, O/U 55.5 (FanDuel)

Last Time (Louisville v. Boston College): 2024

Trailing 20-0 midway through the second quarter, Louisville rallied with the biggest comeback win since 2015 in Chestnut Hill. Isaac Brown had 85 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and quarterback Tyler Shough threw the go-ahead six-yard touchdown pass to Nate Kurisky with 7:12 left, as Louisville escaped with a 31-27 win over Boston College.

Notable Numbers:

• Louisville leads the all-time series 10-7. Louisville has won the last three games at home against Boston College.
• Louisville WR Chris Bell continued his hot stretch last week versus Miami. With nine receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns against the Hurricanes, he now has 29 receptions for 441 yards and five touchdowns in his last three games. He also has had 100+ receiving yards in five of his last ten games.
• The Louisville defense has also been on a hot streak. Dating back to November 23rd, 2024 versus Pitt, Louisville has forced at least two turnovers in six of its last nine games. They’ve also allowed 350 or fewer yards in all but one game during that same stretch.
• RB Isaac Brown had 113 rushing yards last week versus Miami, which is one yard less than the 114 he accumulated total in the prior three games (18 versus Bowling Green, 20 versus Pitt, and 66 versus Virginia).

First Down: Meet the 2025 Boston College Eagles

To put it bluntly, things have not gone well for Boston College in their second season under head coach Bill O’Brien. After finishing last season with a 7-6 record, the Eagles are currently 1-6 in 2025. Boston College is riding a six-game losing streak into this weekend, most recently losing 38-23 to UConn at home.

Second Down: Boston College Offense Breakdown

Boston College has had struggles at the quarterback position throughout Bill O’Brien’s run. Thomas Castellanos was benched after eight games in favor of Grayson James last season, who helped the Eagles win three of its last final four regular season games to clinch bowl eligibility. In the offseason, O’Brien brought in Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan, who won the starting job in the summer over James.

While Lonergan started hot with eight touchdowns and no interceptions through the first two games (and a completion percentage of 76% in that stretch), he struggled in the next four games against better competition. Lonergan would throw just one touchdown and three picks in that stretch, with a completion percentage of 61%. That would lead to James once again taking the reins as the starting quarterback for the Eagles, starting with their loss to UConn last week.

James, listed at 6’1 and 200 lbs., is a capable passer with more of a running ability than Lonergan provides. He’s a veteran that will be making his 17th career start, and was a starter for the 2022 season at his previous school (FIU).

Lewis Bond returns yet again as Boston College’s top wide receiver. Bond has led the team in receiving each of the last two seasons, and so far he’s on pace to do the same again this year. Bond is a reliable target that can get separation and finish plays. He’s had 7+ receptions in five of Boston College’s seven games so far, so expect him to get his share of targets again.

Reed Harris and Jeremiah Franklin also return to give the Eagles a solid receiver corps to work with. Harris is a tough matchup for any secondary at 6’5″, and can stretch the field, with over 21 yards per catch in his collegiate career. Franklin (26 rec., 266 yards, TD) is the leading tight end in a position group that Boston College likes to frequently use in their passing game, along with freshman Kaelan Chudzinski (11 rec., 136 yards, two TDs). Even with Jaedn Skeete (five rec., 67 yards, three TDs) out for the season, this is a receiver group that can make plays.

Boston College’s running game hasn’t been very consistent up to this point, but they’ve got some talent with Turbo Richard and Jordan McDonald as their lead backs. Richard is a quick back that can also be utilized as a receiver (19 rec., 175 yards, two TDs), with McDonald as more of a downhill, off-tackle runner. McDonald is also coming off a 123-yard outing against UConn last week, with the Eagles rushing for a season-high 191 yards in that game. Richard had a career-high 171 rushing yards against Cal last month, but exited the UConn game with an injury last week. That’s something worth monitoring over the week, as Richard’s possible absence could limit the checkdown options for James in the passing game.

Players to Watch:

• QB Grayson James (62% completion, 180.7 YPG, 12 TDR, three INTs in Boston College career)
• WR Lewis Bond (50 rec., 505 yards)

Third Quarter: Boston College Defense Breakdown

Boston College’s defense has struggled immensely against FBS competition in 2025. They’ve given up an average of 37.8 points per game against FBS foes, and are currently 117th in pass defense nationally (256.3 YPG allowed).

Sedarius McConnell leads the defensive line inside, with 6.5 TFLs. He’s a solid run stopper and an okay pass rusher, but the Eagles have had a noticeable drop off in creating havoc since their overtime loss to Michigan State in week two. Boston College had seven sacks and 16 TFLs in their first two games, but have produced just five sacks and 15 TFLs since. Louisville looked better last week against a stout Miami front seven last week as far as limiting negative plays, but it’s still worth noting given they’ve had issues in the first half of the season with it.

Boston College will still be without star linebacker Daveon “Bam” Crouch again this week, after missing the last four games with an injury. Bill O’Brien also announced in his weekly presser on Monday (per Boston College on SI) that the Eagles will also be without Syair Torrence and possibly two of their starting offensive lineman. Crouch’s absence leaves the Eagles without their third-leading tackler from last season, and a rounded linebacker that can make plays in both run and pass.

The Eagles do have defensive backs KP Price and Omar Thornton available, as well as Carter Davis and linebacker Owen McGowan. Price is an in-the-box safety that can handle himself in pass coverage and stopping the run. All four guys lead the team in tackles entering this week, but Boston College has struggled against the pass due to injuries and overall lapses in coverage.

Players to Watch:

• DL Sedarius McConnell (6.5 TFLs, two sacks, FF)
• DB Omar Thornton (45 tackles, six TFLs, sack, INT, FF)
• S KP Price (56 tackles, three TFLs, INT)

Fourth Down: Keys to the Game

When Louisville has the ball…

Last week was a breakthrough game for Louisville’s offense. Isaac Brown finally nabbed his first 100-yard rushing game in over a month, and the offensive line looked much improved against a stout Miami front seven. Most importantly, Miller Moss delivered a cathartic performance in Louisville’s biggest game, throwing for 248 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Thus, my main thing I’m looking for from Louisville’s offense this week is simple: carry that momentum forward. Louisville has every reason to build off their huge win and let it galvanize the team into the second half of the season. But what does that look like?

For Moss, you’d like to see Saturday be a game similar to the one against Bowling Green last month; a night where he can get the ball to his playmakers in space, and lean on a steady run game to complement that. Pitt and UConn’s performances showed that a methodical passing game like the one Louisville has used this season can work against Boston College’s back seven, I’d expect more of the same with Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy once again being the focal points here.

When Boston College has the ball…

Look for the Eagles to try and get some plays going in the passing game. Lewis Bond and Reed Harris are reliable targets that can win some matchups outside, I’d expect them to get open and get chunk plays from time to time. Boston College’s utilization of their tight ends could also provide a wrinkle that Louisville hasn’t faced too much of this season, but I think the Cardinals are better equipped to handle that than in previous years.

The matchup to watch, though, will be Louisville’s front four against Boston College’s offensive line. The Eagles have given up 12 sacks in their last two games, including seven against UConn last week. While James is a capable playmaker with his feet, Boston College’s injuries on the offensive line could be detrimental this weekend. Louisville will have to limit the running game and force Boston College into third-and-long situations to force them to become one-dimensional.