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Will Mike Norvell, Bill O'Brien see each other in November? FSU-BC preview - Boston College enters the 2026 season following a disappointing 2-10 record in 2025.
- Head coach Bill O'Brien is in his third season with the Eagles, holding a 9-16 record.
- Florida State will face Boston College in a key road game on Nov.
7.
By the time Florida State arrives in Chestnut Hill on Nov.
7, the Seminoles should have a clear understanding of where the program stands entering the final stretch of the 2026 season.
Standing in their way will be a Boston College team facing its own pivotal moment under coach Bill O'Brien.
The Eagles are coming off a disappointing 2-10 campaign in 2025, including just one ACC victory, and enter O'Brien's third season needing significant improvement.
For both programs, the matchup at Alumni Stadium could carry major implications as November football begins.
Head coach: Bill O'Brien O'Brien enters his third season leading his alma mater with a 9-16 record at Boston College.
A Massachusetts native, O'Brien guided the Eagles to a 7-6 record in his first season before the program regressed to 2-10 and a last-place finish in the ACC in 2025.
Despite the recent struggles, O'Brien remains one of the most respected coaches in both college football and the NFL.
He first gained national prominence at Penn State, where he took over the program following the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the departure of longtime coach Joe Paterno.
O'Brien led the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record in 2012 and earned multiple national coach-of-the-year honors.
O'Brien left for the NFL in 2014, serving as head coach of the Houston Texans through 2020.
He also briefly held general manager duties before his departure.
After leaving Houston, he returned to the college ranks as offensive coordinator at Alabama before spending the 2023 season with the New England Patriots and the 2024 season at Ohio State.
His coaching resume also includes stops at Duke, Maryland, Georgia Tech and Brown, where he played linebacker and defensive end.
Last meeting Florida State dropped its most recent meeting with Boston College, falling 28-13 on Sept.
2, 2024.
Key returning players Offense - OL Michael Crounse - Robert Smith IV Defense - DL Chris Marable: 0.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup - DB KP Price: 94 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery - DB Carter Davis: 59 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups - DB TJ Green: 25 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups - DB Max Tucker: 25 tackles, 1 interception - DB Charlie Comella: 17 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 blocked kick Key losses Offense - RB Turbo Richard, Indiana: 749 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns; 213 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns - WR Lewis Bond, Houston Texans: 88 receptions, 993 yards - WR Reed Harris, Arizona State: 39 receptions, 673 yards, 5 touchdowns - TE Kaelan Chudzinski: 24 receptions, 313 yards, 4 touchdowns (out for the season) - TE Jeremiah Franklin: 49 receptions, 506 yards, 2 touchdowns - OL Eryk Daugherty, Louisville - OL Jude Bowry, Buffalo Bills - OL Dwayne Allick - OL Logan Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers - OL Kevin Kline, Miami Dolphins Defense - DB Omar Thornton, Miami: 82 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 interception - LB Owen McGowan: 54 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack - DL Sedarius McConnell: 31 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks - DL Quintayvious Hutchins, New England Patriots: 35 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks - DL Edwin Kolenge, Vanderbilt: 31 tackles, 1 sack - LB Daveon Crouch, Kansas: 12 tackles, 1 interception - CB Amari Jackson, Maryland: 4 pass breakups Key additions Offense - QB Mason McKenzie, Saginaw Valley State: 2,076 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions; 942 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns - RB Evan Dickens, Liberty: 1,339 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns - WR Reed Swanson, Colgate: 57 receptions, 939 yards, 8 touchdowns - OL Trevon Humphrey, North Carolina Central - OL Kristian Phillips, Michigan State - OL Veguer Jean-Jumeau, Tennessee State - OL Reggie Jackson, Jacksonville State - OL Owen Snively, Eastern Michigan Defense - DL Alex Degrieck, Harvard: 24 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks - LB Justin Medlock, SMU: 25 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 TD - LB Anthony Palano, Washington State: 65 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks - P Bryce LaFollette, Towson Outlook Boston College enters 2026 with one of the ACC's biggest turnaround challenges.
The Eagles lost much of their offensive production and several key defensive contributors from a team that struggled to a 2-10 record.
However, O'Brien attacked those deficiencies through the transfer portal, adding a dual-threat quarterback in Mason McKenzie, a proven 1,000-yard rusher in Evan Dickens and several experienced offensive linemen.
Whether those additions are enough to spark a rebound remains to be seen.
The Eagles should be more competitive offensively, but replacing so much proven production on both sides of the ball is a difficult task.
For Florida State, this game represents a dangerous November road test against a desperate team looking to salvage its season.
If O'Brien's rebuild gains traction, the Eagles could make Alumni Stadium a difficult place to play.
If not, this is the type of matchup the Seminoles must win as they push toward a strong finish in the ACC race.
Florida State 2026 schedule - Aug.
29: vs.
New Mexico State, 7 p.m.
(CW) - Sept.
7: vs.
SMU, 7:30 p.m.
(ESPN) - Sept.
13: Bye - Sept.
19: at Alabama, 3:30 p.m.
(ABC) - Sept.
26: vs.
Central Arkansas, TBD - Oct.
3: vs.
Virginia, TBD - Oct.
9: at Louisville, 7 p.m.
(ESPN, Friday) - Oct.
17: at Miami, TBD - Oct.
24: Bye - Oct.
31: vs.
Clemson, TBD - Nov.
7: at Boston College, TBD - Nov.
13: at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
(ESPN, Friday) - Nov.
21: vs.
NC State, TBD - Nov.
27: vs.
Florida, 3:30 p.m.
(ABC, Friday) Peter Holland Jr.
covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat.
If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don't hesitate to get in touch with him via email at [email protected] or on X @_Da_pistol.