12 p.m. | ABC
Yankee Stadium Bronx, New York
Boston College Eagles 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-byplay) is joined on the call by former BC linebacker Pete Cronan in the booth and quarterback Scott Mutryn on the sideline. • 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.
GAME 12 RECAP
• Saturday, Nov. 30: Boston College 34, Pittsburgh 23 Alumni Stadium (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) » Boston College added to its bowl resume with a wire-to-wire victory over Pittsburgh behind a career day from Grayson James, who went 20-for-28 for 253 yards and two touchdowns. • The win completed a 6-1 home season at Alumni Stadium; BC’s first season of six or more wins at home since 2009. • BC, who defeated UNC 41-21 a week earlier, scored 30 points in back-to-back ACC wins for the first time since defeating Louisville and Virginia in 2017. • Kye Robichaux ran for 71 yards and his team-leading 10th rushing touchdown to become the first BC running back with double digit rushing touchdowns since AJ Dillon (2019). • Donovan Ezeiruaku posted a career-high 3.5 sacks as he tied Harold Landry (2016) for the single-season program record.
BOWL SEASON NOTES
• All-time, the Eagles have been selected for 31 bowl games and are 15-13 in completed bowl contests. • BC won its last bowl game, a 23-14 victory over SMU in 2023. • BC is bowl eligible under a first-year head coach for the fifth consecutive coach, dating back to 2007. • BC is 0-2 all-time in the Pinstripe Bowl and 2-2 against the Big Ten in bowl games. • As an assistant coach or coordinator, Bill O’Brien has coached in nine bowl games; most recently as the offensive coordinator at Alabama in the 2022 Sugar Bowl.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
• A win would get BC eight wins for the first time since the 2009 Eagles went 8-5. » A win would give BC bowl wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since winning eight consecutive bowl games between 2000 and 2007. • A win would give BC its first-ever win against Nebraska and first over a Big Ten team in a bowl game since defeating Maryland in the 2016 Quick Lane Bowl. • A win would give BC two wins over Big Ten opponents in the same season for the first time in program history. In 1992, BC defeated Michigan State and Penn State; in the Nittany Lions’ final year as an independent.
THE O’BRIEN ERA
• Head coach Bill O’Brien was hired on Feb. 9 and introduced as the Eagles’ 37th head coach on Feb. 15. • Two games into his tenure, O’Brien had BC back in the AP Top-25 for the first time in seven years. • BC sold out the second home game of O’Brien’s tenure; a win in the annual Red Bandanna Game over Michigan State. It was just the second sellout at BC in the last six years. • The Eagles’ game against Syracuse (11/9) was the second sellout of the season and the first time since 2006 that BC sold out multiple games in a season. In 2006, the Eagles sold out home games against Clemson, Virginia Tech and Maryland.
TURBO TIME
• Explosive freshman running back Turbo Richard is fourth on the team in rushing with 271 yards on 51 carries. » He carried the ball 15 times for a game-high 74 yards in the Eagles’ week two win against Duquesne (9/7). • He scored his first career TD against Michigan State (9/21). » Richard, who is from Hickory, N.C., was the South Carolina Upper State Champ in the 100m with a 10.90 as a senior at Northwestern HS. • Richard last saw game action Oct. 17 at Virginia Tech.
RUN-FIRST OFFENSE
• BC is 50th in FBS in rushing yards per game (176.0) and has surpassed 300 rushing yards twice and 200 yards four times. • The BC offense has run the ball 503 times to 289 passing attempts; the second most rush attempts in the league behind SMU, which has played one additional game, and fewest pass attempts in the league. • The Eagles’ 1.44 run-to-pass ratio is the highest in the league with SMU second at 1.44. • BC is the only team in the league with four running backs over 250 rushing yards on the season.
TIGHT ENDS IN THE END ZONE
• In back-to-back games, tight end Kamari Morales found the end zone against Duquesne (9/7) and Missouri (9/14). • Morales is second on the team in receptions at 26, while leading the team in receiving touchdowns at six. • At North Carolina, Morales set the program record for most career touchdown receptions by a Tar Heel tight end with his 10th back in 2022. Morales now has 16 career touchdowns. The BC record is held by Pete Mitchell at 20. • Morales’ six touchdown receptions match Sean Ryan (2003) for the most in a season by a BC tight end since Mitchell’s seven in 1994. • Junior Jeremiah Franklin hauled in his third touchdown reception of the season vs. Syracuse (11/9), which is tied for third most on the team. • Franklin has caught 21 passes for 255 yards on the season. • Morales and Franklin are the second highest ranked duo in the ACC for receptions and receiving yards among tight end pairs with at least 20 receptions each. Their combined nine touchdown receptions are first in the league among tight ends with at least 10 receptions each.
DEPTH ON THE LINE
• Since left guard Logan Taylor returned from an offseason injury after week two, the Eagles have started the same five offensive lineman in each of the last seven games. • BC started the same five players on the o-line in 11 of 12 regular season games a year ago. In 2022, the Eagles did not repeat a starting combination until a week-10 win at NC State. • Ozzy Trapilo, a two-year starter at tackle, is coming off an All-ACC Second Team season. He posted a team-best 81. pass block grade and overall, 75.0 rating from PFF. • Drew Kendall has started 36 of the Eagles’ last 37 games at center. He earned CFN Freshman All-America in 2022. • Taylor, who transferred to BC from Virginia, started all 13 games at left tackle in 2023. Taylor was out week one at FSU (9/2) but came in off the bench against Duquesne (9/7). • Sixth-year lineman Jack Conley has started 31 games over the last four seasons. He started all 12 games of 2022 at four positions and five starts last year with four as an eligible tight end plus the Fenway Bowl, when he returned to guard. BC O-Line Career Starts: Ozzy Trapilo (36), Drew Kendall (36), Logan Taylor (33), Jack Conley (33), Jude Bowry (14), Dwayne Allick (13), Kevin Cline (2).
INTERCEPTIONS: BY THE NUMBERS
• The Boston College defense ranks ninth in FBS and second in the ACC with 16 interceptions. It is the most interceptions by a BC defense since 18 in 2018. • The Eagles last posted more than 10 interceptions in a season with 18 in back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018. • BC has five multi-interception games this season and has at least one interception in nine of 12 games. • The Eagles’ three pick-six interceptions returned for touchdowns are the second most in the ACC behind Pitt (4).
Nebraska Cornhuskers Notes
Nebraska returns to the postseason on Saturday, Dec. 28, when the Huskers take on Boston College in the 2024 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. The game will be played at Yankee Stadium in New York City, with kickoff set for shortly after 11 a.m. CT (Noon ET). The Pinstripe Bowl will be telecast by ABC, and the game can also be heard on the Huskers Radio Network and the Husker App. Nebraska is making its first postseason appearance since the 2016 season, after completing the regular season with a 6-6 record. Nebraska surged to a 5-1 record through the first half of the season and secured bowl eligibility with a November victory over Wisconsin. On the season, five of Nebraska’s six victories have been by 18 points or more, while five of the Huskers’ six losses have been by eight or fewer points. Nebraska’s bowl trip marks the continuation of improvement in Head Coach Matt Rhule’s second season at each of his three college coaching stops. Nebraska improved its win total by one game this season to return to a bowl game, and his Temple and Baylor teams also made big jumps in his second season. Boston College posted a 7-5 record in the 2024 regular season, including a 4-4 mark in ACC games. The Eagles won three of their final four games, including victories over Syracuse, North Carolina and Pittsburgh. BC is strong at the line of scrimmage, rushing for 176.0 yards per game, while ranking 22nd nationally in rushing defense. The Eagles are a disciplined team, ranking 12th nationally in fewest penalties and 20th in turnover margin. Boston College is in its first season under Head Coach Bill O’Brien, who previously served as head coach at Penn State and with the NFL’s Houston Texans.
HUSKERS RETURN TO POSTSEASON IN 54TH BOWL GAME
• Nebraska is making its 54th all-time bowl appearance in the 2024 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl and its first postseason appearance since the 2016 season. Nebraska’s 54 bowl appearances tie for eighth nationally, and the Huskers have been victorious in a bowl game 26 times in school history. • Nebraska played the first of its 54 bowl games in the 1941 Rose Bowl when No. 7 Nebraska lost to No. 2 Stanford, 21-13. • Nebraska’s first-ever bowl victory occurred at the old Yankee Stadium in the 1962 Gotham Bowl. Coach Bob Devaney’s first Nebraska team posted a 36-34 victory over Miami in a game played in frigid temperatures before a crowd of just more than 6,000 fans. • Nebraska had a streak of 35 consecutive seasons with a bowl game spanning from 1969 to 2003. The Huskers’ streak began in the 1969 Sun Bowl and continued through the 2003 Alamo Bowl. • Nebraska most recently played in the postseason following the 2016 season when Nebraska faced off against Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. The Music City Bowl appearance was the last in a streak of nine straight seasons with a bowl appearance. The Huskers’ most recent bowl victory was a win over UCLA in the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl. • Nebraska’s Pinstripe Bowl opponent, Boston College, has been selected for a bowl game for the 31st time in school history. The Eagles have a 15-13 record in bowl games, with two cancellations.
HUSKERS LOOK TO EVEN BOWL RECORD
• Nebraska will be looking to pick up a win against Boston College to even its all-time bowl record at 27-27. • Coach Matt Rhule is the 10th Husker head coach to guide the Huskers to a bowl game. • By coach in bowl games, Nebraska was 0-1 under Biff Jones, 0-1 under Bill Glassford, 6-3 under Bob Devaney, 12-13 under Tom Osborne, 2-3 under Frank Solich, 1-1 under Bill Callahan, 4-3 under Bo Pelini, 0-1 under Barney Cotton and 1-1 under Mike Riley.
ACC SCHOOLS ARE FAMILIAR NEBRASKA BOWL OPPONENTS
• The matchup with Boston College will mark Nebraska’s first game against a current member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since a 2015 overtime loss at Miami. However, Nebraska has a long history of facing current ACC schools in bowl games. • The Pinstripe Bowl will be Nebraska’s 18th bowl game against a current member of the ACC, and first matchup with the conference in the postseason since a victory over Clemson in the Gator Bowl to conclude the 2008 season. • Against current ACC schools in bowl games, Nebraska is 0-1 vs. Stanford, 0-1 vs. Duke, 2-4 vs. Miami, 1-0 vs. North Carolina, 1-1 vs. Clemson, 0-4 vs. Florida State, 0-1 vs. Georgia Tech and 1-0 vs. Virginia Tech.
BIG RED IN THE BIG APPLE
Nebraska has played two games in New York City in its history, including one game at old Yankee Stadium. The Huskers are 2-0 in the Big Apple, including a 1-0 record in bowl games. In the 1962 Gotham Bowl at Yankee Stadium, Nebraska notched its first-ever bowl victory in Bob Devaney’s first season, a win that propelled the Huskers to five national championships and 21 conference titles over the next 35 years.
Nebraska 14, Rutgers 0 (Nov. 2, 1920 at the Polo Grounds)
In Nebraska’s first-ever game east of Michigan, the Cornhuskers shut out Rutgers 28-0 at the Polo Grounds. The game was played on Election Day when Warren G. Harding was elected President of the United States by the largest popular-vote percentage margin in history. The Huskers traveled by train to the game and had a travel roster of 25 players.
Nebraska 36, Miami 34 (Gotham Bowl – Dec. 15, 1962 at Yankee Stadium)
In Bob Devaney’s first season, Nebraska won its first-ever bowl game with a 36-34 victory over Miami inside old Yankee Stadium. It was the second – and final – Gotham Bowl ever played and the only one played in Yankee Stadium. Nebraska was not selected as Miami’s opponent until Dec. 4, just 11 days before the game. Each team scored at least one touchdown in all four quarters in a back-and-forth contest that saw Nebraska overcome three deficits. Willie Ross had a 92-yard kickoff return in the game, which is the longest bowl game punt return in school history.
NOTABLES FROM THE 2024 SEASON
Nebraska’s 2024 season featured several notable moments, including reaching the postseason for the first time since 2016, a 3-0 non-conference season and a 5-1 record in the first half of the season. Highlights for the 2024 season include: • Nebraska secured a bowl berth with its November win over Wisconsin and will play in the postseason for the first time since 2016. The bowl trip will be Nebraska’s 54th all-time bowl appearance. • Nebraska opened the season with three consecutive non-conference victories, marking its first 3-0 start to the season since 2016. It was also the first time Nebraska was unblemished in nonconference play since 2016. The Huskers did not trail in their three non-conference games and outscored the opposition by a total of 102-20 in non-conference play. • Nebraska won each of its first three games by at least 18 points. It marked the first time NU won three straight games by at least 18 points since the 2014 season, when the Huskers defeated Northwestern (21), Rutgers (18) and Purdue (21). The Huskers added two additional wins by at least 18 points with a 28-10 win at Purdue and a 44-25 victory over Wisconsin. • The Huskers’ 5-1 mark at the midpoint of the season was NU’s best six-game record since 2016, when Nebraska began the season with seven wins. The 5-1 start marked the 10th time since 2000 Nebraska has been 5-1 or better through six games. • Nebraska’s early-season success was largely a result of fast starts. Nebraska outscored its first six opponents in the second quarter by a total of 65-3. For the season, Nebraska has a 116-51 edge in the second quarter. • Nebraska has pitched four first-half shutouts (Colorado, Purdue, Rutgers and Iowa). Dating back to 2023, Nebraska has allowed just six first-quarter touchdowns in its past 18 games. • Nebraska was ranked in both national polls for two consecutive weeks (Sept. 8, Sept. 15). Nebraska rose as high as 22nd in both polls. The No. 22 AP ranking was Nebraska’s highest since being ranked 17th entering the 2016 regular-season finale at Iowa. • The Sept. 20 game with Illinois was the first matchup of two AP ranked teams at Memorial Stadium since 2013 (vs. UCLA) and the first Big Ten games between two ranked teams since 2011 when 13th-ranked Nebraska defeated No. 9 Michigan State.
BLACKSHIRT DEFENSE STRONG AGAIN IN 2024
• For the second straight year, Nebraska has featured one of the Big Ten’s top defenses. • Nebraska allowed just 20 points in its first three games, the fewest through three games since allowing 16 points in the first three games in 2005. NU enters the Pinstripe Bowl ranked 18th in scoring defense at 19.8 points per game. • Nebraska has held five opponents to 10 or fewer points. The five opponents held to 10 or fewer points is the most in a season since the 2009 team held eight of 14 opponents to 10 or fewer points. • With an overtime touchdown, Illinois ended a streak of 10 straight opponents Nebraska had held to 24 or fewer points. It was the longest stretch Nebraska had limited the opposition to 24 points or less since a 14-game stretch spanning the 2009 and 2010 seasons. • Nebraska’s defense was dominant at home this season. Since the start of the 2023 season, just four of 14 opponents at Memorial Stadium have scored more than 14 points. • Before the Oct. 19 game at Indiana, Nebraska held 13 straight opponents to less than 400 total yards dating back to last season. The last time Nebraska held more than 13 straight opponents to less than 400 yards was part of a 14-game stretch spanning the final three games of 2008 and first 11 contests of 2009. Overall, Nebraska held nine of 12 opponents this season and 15 of its last 18 opponents to fewer than 400 yards. • Nebraska held five opponents this season to less than 300 yards, including limiting Ohio State to a season-low 285 yards after the Buckeyes entered the game averaging better than 500 yards per game. In the regular-season finale, Iowa gained just 164 total yards, the fewest by a Big Ten opponent in Nebraska’s 14 seasons in the conference. Iowa also picked up just five first downs, the fewest by a Nebraska opponent since 2010. • Nebraska has gone 22 consecutive games without allowing 300 passing yards, dating back to last season. That is the longest streak for the Huskers since a 29-game stretch without allowing 300 passing yards spanning the 2008 to 2010 seasons. • Nebraska is allowing 315.4 yards of total offense per game, which ranks 18th nationally. • Nebraska has allowed 40 plays of 20+ yards (10 rush, 30 pass), the 14th-fewest in the country.
SHUTTING DOWN THE RUN
• Nebraska’s defense has been strong against the run over the past two seasons, and that has been a key for Nebraska this season. The Huskers rank 11th nationally in rushing defense at 105.6 yards per game. In its six victories, Nebraska has allowed just 75.7 rushing yards per game. The Huskers held Iowa to just 43 rushing yards in the regular-season finale. • Nebraska held its first six opponents without a rushing touchdown, before Indiana reached the end zone on the ground. The six-game stretch tied for the longest season-opening streak in FBS without allowing a rushing touchdown in the past 10 seasons. Prior to this year, the last team to not allow a rushing touchdown through its first six games was Georgia in 2019. The last Big Ten team to not allow a rushing touchdown in its first six games was Iowa in 2013. • Dating back to last season, the Huskers have not allowed a rushing touchdown in 15 of their past 19 games. Nebraska allowed a rushing touchdown in just two of 12 games this season. • Nebraska did not allow a rushing touchdown in its seven home games this season. This year marked the first time since 1939 that Nebraska went an entire home season without allowing a rushing touchdown. Nebraska was the only team not to allow a rushing TD at home this season. • Nebraska held Colorado to 16 rushing yards, the fewest rushing yards by an opponent since Purdue had -2 rushing yards in 2020. NU has also held UTEP (56), Purdue (50), Rutgers (78), Ohio State (64) and Iowa (43) to less than 80 rushing yards. In 24 games under Head Coach Matt Rhule, the Huskers have held the opponent to less than 100 rushing yards 14 times, including 10 with 75 yards or less. • Nebraska has allowed just three individual 100-yard rushers in 24 games over the past two seasons.
TURNOVER MARGIN REMAINS A KEY TO VICTORY
• Nebraska’s strong first half of the season was fueled in part by a +6 turnover differential through six games. Nebraska owned a positive or even TO margin in each of its first six games. In the second half of the season, Nebraska was -7 in turnover margin and enters the Pinstripe Bowl at -1 for the season. In 2023, Nebraska finished at -17 in turnover margin. • The Huskers had a takeaway in the first eight games, Nebraska’s longest streak since a nine-game stretch spanning the 2021 (final game) and 2022 (first eight games) seasons. • Nebraska’s defense posted multiple takeaways six times in 2024 (UTEP, Colorado, Illinois, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin), and single takeaways against UNI, Purdue, Indiana and Ohio State. • The multiple takeaways in consecutive games (UTEP, Colorado) marked the first time the Husker defense accomplished that since 2020 when Nebraska had multiple takeaways against Northwestern and Penn State. Nebraska once again had multiple takeaways in consecutive games against USC and Wisconsin. • Nebraska has had a positive turnover margin six times in 2024. The Huskers were positive in turnover margin in their first three Big Ten games, marking the first time Nebraska had a positive turnover margin in three straight games since late in the 2018 season. • The Huskers did not allow the opposition to score a point off turnovers through the first six games. However, Indiana scored 28 points off Husker turnovers in the loss in Bloomington. Nebraska has outscored opponents 51-38 in points off turnovers this season, including three interception returns for touchdowns. • Junior defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. has four interceptions this season and ranks 18th nationally in interceptions per game. His four picks are tied for the most by a Husker since Nathan Gerry had five interceptions in 2015. • Nebraska’s 51 points off turnovers, includes three interceptions for touchdowns and a safety. In the season opener against UTEP, NU recorded a safety and followed up with a pick-six by Tommi Hill against Colorado. John Bullock added an interception for a touchdown at Purdue, and Ceyair Wright had a 45-yard return for a score at USC. • Hill’s interception for a touchdown against the Buffs was Nebraska’s first pick-six since Cam Taylor-Britt had a pick-six against Iowa in 2019. It was Nebraska’s first defensive touchdown of any kind since Deontai Williams returned a fumble for a score against Penn State in 2020. Nebraska’s three interceptions for touchdowns this season is its most since having four in 2013. • In the 40-7 win over UTEP in the opener, defensive lineman Ty Robinson had a tackle for loss for a safety. It was Nebraska’s first defensive safety since 2015. • With scores in back-to-back games to open the year, it marked the first time the defense scored in consecutive games since 2015, when Joshua Kalu had an interception return for a touchdown at Minnesota, and a week later the Huskers had a safety against Northwestern in Lincoln.
