Boston College and Cincinnati enter Week 1 with rebuilt teams and pressure on coaches
Cincinnati hosts Boston College on FOX as both teams seek to recover from disappointing 2025 seasons and substantial roster changes.
Cincinnati will host Boston College on Saturday in a Week 1 college football matchup broadcast on FOX, with both programmes entering the 2026 season after difficult campaigns and significant roster turnover.
The Bearcats opened last season 7–1 before losing their final five games. Coach Scott Satterfield is entering his fourth season with more than 46 new players, including 22 transfers and 24 freshmen.
JC French IV is expected to start at quarterback for Cincinnati after starting all 13 games for Georgia Southern last season. He completed 63.8 per cent of his passes for 2,929 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while adding 315 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Boston College finished 2–10 in 2025. Its defence allowed 433.3 yards and 32.8 points per game, figures that placed the Eagles near the bottom of national and conference rankings cited by Fox Sports.
The Eagles have reworked their roster, including the defensive line, through the transfer portal and the addition of younger players. Mason McKenzie is expected to start at quarterback after recording 2,086 passing yards and 17 touchdowns at Division II level last season, along with 942 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Fox Sports Research identified pressure on Boston College coach Bill O’Brien and Satterfield to improve their teams’ results, and recommended taking the Eagles with the points. The supplied preview does not include the full betting figures.
