Notre Dame football is set to host the Boston College Eagles on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish should hope for a boring afternoon, the kind where they show up and take care of business without much drama.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Notre Dame vs. Boston College matchup hasn’t drawn much conversation this week. The Irish just knocked off No. 1 Miami, and they sit at No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Life is good in South Bend.

Boston College has a history of being a pesky opponent, though. Last season, the Eagles took Notre Dame to a one-score game going into the fourth quarter. The Irish need to be ready.

Boston College has something to play for

Notre Dame Stadium probably won’t carry the same electric feeling it had against Miami. Boston College is an underwhelming team, but it has plenty of motivation.

Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien is in his third year with the program after some early momentum. He needs a couple of strong showings down the stretch, or his job security could be in a tough spot heading into the offseason. Expect the Eagles to come out ready.

The key name on that side is quarterback Mason McKenzie, a Division II transfer who arrived this offseason after Boston College swung and missed on a couple of other transfer portal options. McKenzie is not a good passer.

He is a dangerous runner, though, and he leads the team with more than 600 rushing yards. If Notre Dame gives him room to operate, he can be a real problem.

Notre Dame’s defense needs to stay aggressive

There has been plenty of debate, both inside and outside the fan base, about defensive coordinator Chris Ash. The criticism has centered on a passive approach at times, with a lot of zone coverage and not much blitzing.

Against Miami, Notre Dame looked like a different unit. Even though the Hurricanes found some success in the second half behind Heisman Trophy candidate Darian Mensah, the Irish played far more aggressively.

They leaned on press man coverage and brought pressure from the second level. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa had several pressures, and EDGE Boubacar Traore had a huge game rushing off the edge and playing the run.

That is what I want to see against Boston College. Notre Dame doesn’t necessarily need it to win this game, but an attacking, aggressive defense is who this team is at its best.

The path is straightforward. Force McKenzie into second- and third-and-long situations, keep him in the pocket, and make him throw. That is where Leonard Moore, Luke Talich, Adon Shuler, Jayden Sanders, and Christian Gray can thrive and potentially create turnovers.

I’m not asking for man coverage on every snap. Zone coverage creates its own chances for pass breakups and interceptions. Set the tone with aggression, pick your spots with zone, and be opportunistic.

Establish the run and ease CJ Carr in

Boston College isn’t a physically talented defense, but it doesn’t give up many explosive plays in the passing game. That makes this a perfect week to get the ground game rolling early.

Notre Dame didn’t run the football particularly well against Miami, which made sense given how strong the Hurricanes are up front. This is a chance for an uptick. I want to see Nolan James Jr. and Jonaz Walton getting downhill and picking up chunk plays, ideally with a couple of explosives early.

From there, ease quarterback CJ Carr into the game. He showed against Miami that he can take advantage of what’s in front of him and be the engine of the offense. Here’s the thing about the big picture: if Notre Dame finishes 11-1 and reaches the College Football Playoff, plenty of big games await.

A balanced offense creates headaches for any defense. Once Boston College starts loading the box, the explosive plays should follow.

Notre Dame vs. Boston College final score prediction

My prediction is Notre Dame 38, Boston College 7.

The Irish establish the run early and have success, which keeps the clock moving. If McKenzie picks up a couple of early first downs with his legs, that also shortens the game. That is why I don’t see Notre Dame reaching the 40s.

That shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of offensive firepower. The Irish should have a nice day, just a more methodical one. This game is about getting things balanced and building a strong foundation for the final stretch of the 2026 season.

I don’t expect Boston College to have much success offensively. I’ll give the Eagles one touchdown, whether it comes late or from an early lapse by Notre Dame.