Boston College football news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Boston College hosts Rutgers Friday, Sept. 11, for the 13th annual Red Bandanna Game, both teams.
The game marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and honors alum Welles Crowther.
Background
Boston College opened its season with a 34-15 road loss at Cincinnati on Sept. 5, while Rutgers lost 37-21 at home to UMass. The annual Red Bandanna Game honors Welles Crowther, a BC alum and former lacrosse player who worked as an equities trader in the South Tower of the World Trade Center and was credited with saving more than a dozen lives before it collapsed. This year's game falls on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, and both teams will wear special uniforms for the occasion.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026Boston College loses its season opener 34-15 at Cincinnati; Rutgers loses 37-21 at home to UMass.
- Sep 8, 2026Boston College Athletics announces game notes for the Week 2 home opener against Rutgers.
- Sep 10, 2026Boston College Football posts a tribute to Welles Crowther ahead of the game.
- Sep 11, 2026Boston College hosts Rutgers at Alumni Stadium for the 13th annual Red Bandanna Game, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Coach Bill O'Brien said the game is incredibly important because of the memory of Welles Crowther and what he did, and that it means a lot to BC, its alums, and fans.
- Analysts
- CBS Sports framed the matchup as an opportunity for both teams to bounce back from disappointing season-opening losses.
- Caution
- One preview described it as a 'sickos game of the decade,' noting the loser drops to 0-2 after losing to a team that lost to UMass.
Still unverified
Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan was injured late in the Week 1 loss to UMass and will be replaced by AJ Surace, according to CBS Sports; the nature and severity of the injury are not detailed in the material. One report says Greg Schiano's job is now in jeopardy, which is a single-source opinion.