By Colin McGuigan
Match-Up: Boston College (7-5, 4-4 ACC) vs. Nebraska (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten)
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 28 • Noon ET
Location (Stadium): Bronx, N.Y. (Yankee Stadium)
Television (Stream): ABC (https://es.pn/4gXZwWf)
Radio: WEEI 93.7 FM, ESPN Radio
GAME NOTES
FIRST-AND-10
» Boston College takes on Bowl Season for the second consecutive season with its first-ever match-up against Nebraska in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 28 at Noon ET.
» The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC. Mike Monaco (play-by-play) and Kirk Morrison (analyst) are on the call with sideline reporter Dawn Davenport.
» Coverage on the Boston College Sports Network begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff on WEEI 93.7 FM. Jon Meterparel (play-by-play) is joined on the call by former BC linebacker Pete Cronan in the booth.
» The Eagles are 15-13 all-time in bowl games following a win over SMU in the 2023 Fenway Bowl. The Pinstripe Bowl marks BC’s 31st all-time bowl appearance.
» BC is 41-48-2 all-time against teams currently in the Big Ten and 10-18 against teams in the Big Ten at the time of competition.
» The Eagles are 2-2 in bowl games against Big Ten opponents with wins over Michigan State (2007 Champ Sports Bowl) and Maryland (2016 Quick Lane Bowl).
» Boston College previously appeared in the Pinstripe Bowl in 2014 against Penn State and 2017 against Iowa.
» BC is 4-0 all-time when playing on Dec. 28; all bowl games, including last season’s Fenway Bowl win over SMU.
» Defensive end and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Donovan Ezeiruaku led FBS with 16.5 sacks in the regular season. His 30.0 career sacks are second most in BC history.
» In the last four games, Kye Robichaux has rushed for 442 yards and six touchdowns, while averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
Nebraska will make its return to the postseason in New York City as the Huskers have been selected to play in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. Nebraska will meet Boston College in the game, set for Saturday, Dec. 28 at Yankee Stadium. The game will kick off at 11 a.m. CT (Noon ET) with ABC providing the television coverage.
Nebraska’s trip to the Pinstripe Bowl marks the 54th bowl trip in school history and the Huskers’ first since the 2016 postseason. Nebraska finished the season with a 6-6 record, highlighted by victories over Colorado and Wisconsin.
This is the first-ever meeting between Nebraska and Boston College. It marks Nebraska’s first meeting with a current member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2015, and the 17th all-time bowl game against a current ACC team.
“Our team is looking forward to the opportunity to spend the bowl season in New York City and play in the Pinstripe Bowl,” Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule said. “This is a great connection between two iconic brands in Nebraska football and Yankee Stadium, and it will be a memorable experience for our players. I have great respect for the Boston College program and the success Coach O’Brien has had in his first season.”
Nebraska’s postseason history includes a trip to New York City. Nebraska defeated Miami in the 1962 Gotham Bowl, marking the third bowl appearance in school history and the first victory.
“The University of Nebraska is proud to accept a bid to the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl,” Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said. “Nebraska’s first-ever bowl victory occurred at the original Yankee Stadium in 1962, and we are excited to return to the postseason this year at one of America’s iconic sports venues. This bowl game will be a great opportunity for our players, staff and our fans.”
Nebraska has a strong alumni presence on the East Coast, with the New York City metro area home to nearly 1,800 University of Nebraska alumni.
“Nebraska asked for a bowl game, and this incredible group of student-athletes sure delivered,” University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold said. “I am so proud of our team and our coaching staff, and like so many others in this state, I’m thrilled to be a part of Husker Nation and eagerly anticipating the historic moment when the sea of red floods Yankee Stadium.”
Boston College comes into the game with a 7-5 record, including a 4-4 mark in the ACC. The Eagles won three of their final four games to close the regular season, with the only loss coming against SMU. BC also posted a non-conference victory over Michigan State.
The Eagles are under the direction of first-year head coach Bill O’Brien who previously served as the head coach at Penn State and with the NFL’s Houston Texans. The head coaching matchup between O’Brien and Rhule will mark only the second meeting in college football this season between two former NFL head coaches. The first of those was Nebraska’s regular-season victory over Rutgers.
Boston College boasts a strong run defense, ranking 22nd nationally in that category while rushing for 176.0 yards per game on the offense. The Eagles have also been strong in the turnover department, ranking 12th nationally in takeaways and 20th in turnover margin. BC also ranks among the nation’s least penalized teams, ranking 12th in the country in fewest penalties. Defensively, Boston College features the nation’s sacks leader in Donovan Ezeiruaku.
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