As the college football season approaches, Boston College is gearing up for its opening game against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, September 5. This matchup marks the first time head coach Bill O'Brien will face off against Cincinnati's Scott Satterfield, both of whom are looking to secure early victories to energize their fan bases.
O'Brien, who has an extensive coaching background that includes stints at notable programs like Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Alabama, has a keen eye on the Bearcats' roster. He noted that both teams are entering the season with many new players, creating an air of uncertainty about their performance. "Just like us, they have a lot of new players. Their secondary is out of the portal. They have a veteran offensive line that’s very, very good. They have some transfers at wide receiver. So, we don’t really know (about UC). We have an idea, but it’s the first game, and there are a lot of unknowns," O'Brien stated.
The history between the Boston College Eagles and the Cincinnati Bearcats is evenly matched, with the series tied at four wins apiece. However, Cincinnati has had the upper hand in recent encounters, winning the last two games, including a decisive 38-6 victory in the Birmingham Bowl on January 2, 2020. In that game, quarterback Desmond Ridder showcased his skills by scoring three rushing touchdowns and passing for another, earning MVP honors.
O'Brien expressed his respect for the Bearcats, highlighting their strength across various positions. He remarked, "They’re really strong everywhere. They went out and got some really good players. They’ve got one guy that was a safety last year (Antwan Peek Jr.) that’s going to play outside backer. Offensive line, defensive line, they’ve got depth. They’ve got at least five receivers of different sizes that are good route runners. They have a punter and placekicker who are NFL prospects and they have JC French (quarterback) who was so productive at Georgia Southern. It’s a big challenge." This assessment underscores the challenge that awaits the Eagles as they prepare for the Bearcats.
Boston College is coming off a tough season, finishing with a record of 2-10. Their only road victory came against Syracuse last November, and they will be looking to improve significantly this year. In contrast, Cincinnati finished the previous season with a solid 9-4 record, although they faced a coaching change when Luke Fickell left for Wisconsin. Satterfield is now tasked with building on that success and establishing his own identity within the program.
As the Eagles prepare for the matchup, quarterback Mason McKenzie, who previously played at Saginaw Valley State, is eager to make an impact. He threw for over 2,000 yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns last season. McKenzie is confident in his team's preparation, stating, "I’ve got a lot of confidence in our team. We’ve been watching a lot of film on his (UC defensive coordinator Nate Woody) prior schools. We’ve been able to see a little bit of what he’s done in the past. We have an idea about who they’re bringing out there, but that’s the hardest part about week one. There’s always a little of the unknown with the transfer portal."
Safety KP Price echoed McKenzie’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for readiness despite limited film on the Bearcats’ new roster. "We’re ready, no doubt. We don’t have a lot of film on them. We’ve got film on last year. (It’s) the same offense, same coach. But they can come out and do whatever they want. We play defense so we’ve got to be ready for anything and everything," Price said.
Following their encounter in Cincinnati, the two teams are scheduled to meet again next year on September 18 in Chestnut Hill, marking Cincinnati's first visit to Boston College's campus in nearly 31 years. The anticipation surrounding this opening game is palpable, as both teams aim to set a positive tone for the season ahead.
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