Treshaun Ward powers Boston College to a 28-13 victory over No. 10 Florida State.

 Bill O’Brien reminded everyone that it was just one win, but what a monumental victory it was for Boston College—and the beginning of the O’Brien Era.

In a stunning upset, the Eagles defeated No. 10 Florida State 28-13 on Monday night, led by Treshaun Ward, who racked up 138 yards of total offense, including a 13-yard touchdown catch against his former team. A Tampa native, Ward contributed 77 yards rushing and 61 yards receiving as Boston College (1-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) amassed 263 rushing yards.

O’Brien's debut as head coach was impressive, having taken over in mid-February after Jeff Hafley left to join the Green Bay Packers as defensive coordinator. “I’m very proud of these guys,” O’Brien said. “They were resilient tonight. To come down here against a team that really had to have this win is a tremendous statement for BC. But it’s just one win.”

The Eagles’ offense showcased its prowess with touchdown drives of 71, 68, and 60 yards. BC defensive back Max Tucker also made a critical play, intercepting DJ Uiagalelei and returning it 58 yards to set up another touchdown for the Eagles.

Florida State, which had won five straight matchups against Boston College, struggled on both sides of the ball. The Seminoles, considered contenders for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2021.

“I’m sick about how this season started,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “I failed in preparing the team to respond tonight.”

Uiagalelei completed 21 of 42 passes for 272 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Kentron Poitier in the third quarter, narrowing BC’s lead to 21-13. However, Boston College responded with a 60-yard drive, capped by Kye Robichaux’s 2-yard touchdown run, extending their lead to 28-13 with just over a minute left in the third quarter. The Seminoles managed to score on only one of six second-half drives.

In last season's matchup, Thomas Castellanos nearly led Boston College to an upset, throwing for 305 yards and rushing for another 95 yards in a narrow 31-29 loss. On Monday, while not as dominant, Castellanos completed 10 of 16 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, along with 73 yards rushing and a 4-yard touchdown run. “Everything we did this offseason, from winter workouts to summer workouts, led up to this,” Castellanos said. “This is what we prepared for, and it all panned out.”

Injury Report: Boston College was without Logan Taylor, who started 12 games at Virginia last season and has 23 career starts. Florida State missed starting right tackle Jeremiah Byers and two reserve linebackers, Omar Graham Jr. and Shawn Murphy. Wide receiver Hykeem Williams sat out for the second consecutive game. Specifics about the injuries were not provided.

Poll Implications: After starting the season with two losses, Florida State is likely to drop out of the top 25.

Takeaways:

• Boston College: The Eagles averaged 5.4 yards per play and converted 9 of 16 third-down attempts, which fueled the upset.
• Florida State: A pre-season strength became a liability as the Seminoles managed only 21 yards rushing on 16 carries.