​Next up in the opponent preview series is Rutgers’ second game of the season, a showdown with Boston College. This matchup promises to be especially captivating for the Scarlet Knights for a number of reasons. First, it marks the Eagles’ annual Red Bandanna game, dedicated to BC alumnus and hero Welles Crowther, and it falls on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Rutgers has also endured a poignant connection to 9/11, having lost 37 alumni in the World Trade Center attacks and paying tribute to them in a prior game on the anniversary when they defeated Syracuse 17-7 in 2021. Beyond the emotion of the date, this will be Rutgers’ first road game of the season and one of the most intriguing nonconference matchups on the slate. The Knights have shown resilience against ACC competition in recent years, including a comeback 22-21 victory the last time they visited Chestnut Hill to begin the 2022 season.
Rutgers will also feature a former Boston College quarterback on their roster this year. Dylan Lonergan, who previously backed up at Alabama before transferring to Rutgers, is part of a quarterback battle that will continue through training camp, with AJ Surace and Lonergan competing for the starting role. Whether Lonergan will see action against his former team remains to be seen, as the competition is ongoing.
Turning to the Boston College Eagles, there is little doubt that the program is facing a challenging stretch. After finishing last season with a 2-10 record, BC faced a rough start that underscored the uphill climb ahead. They opened with a blowout win over FCS Fordham, 66-10, but then fell to Michigan State in East Lansing in a back-and-forth 42-40 decision that favored the Spartans. The Eagles struggled to find traction in ACC play as well, not recording a conference victory until the final game of the regular season against Syracuse. They were defeated by Pittsburgh and endured a lopsided loss to a struggling Clemson squad, and even dropped a contest to UConn, though they did nearly upset No. 22 Georgia Tech. The campaign ended on a high note, with BC knocking off Syracuse 34-12.
A continuing storyline for Boston College this season is the shakeup in the quarterback room. Last year’s Rutgers transfer, Lonergan, faced inconsistency and was benched multiple times in favor of Grayson James. This year’s quarterback situation looks different, as the Eagles bring in Mason McKenzie, a transfer from Saginaw Valley State (Division II), to anchor the offense. McKenzie is a bona fide dual-threat, standing 6-foot-1 and showing versatility with both his arm and legs. He accumulated over 2,000 passing yards and 17 touchdown throws while rushing for 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns in the GLIAC, earning Conference Player of the Year honors. Behind him, Arkansas transfer Grayson Wilson—a former four-star recruit at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds—projects as the primary backup and could push for playing time if McKenzie encounters any early-season bumps. The supporting cast around the two signal-callers is undergoing significant change as well, with the Eagles aiming to replenish their skill positions and offensive line to provide better support for their new quarterback.
In sum, Rutgers’ meeting with Boston College will be a key early-season test, featuring emotional significance tied to 9/11 remembrance, the trajectory of Rutgers’ evolving quarterback landscape, and a BC program striving to rebound from a difficult 2023 campaign under a refreshed leadership and an ambitious roster overhaul.