1. Can Bill O’Brien revive the program?

The buzz surrounding Boston College football is louder than ever because of O’Brien’s arrival.

A fan base desperate for a shock is galvanized by the appointment and curious about what he can do in the short and long term. While it is important to remember that the Eagles have yet to play a game, there is certainly reason for optimism.

O’Brien has a track record of immediately bolstering programs. At Penn State in 2012, he brought stability to the school after a child sex abuse scandal, guiding the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record during a time of turmoil.

At the Houston Texans in 2014, he inherited a program coming off a disappointing 2-14 season and led a 9-7 campaign in his first year.

According to O’Brien, being instantly successful in a new place is all about the people around you.

“When we got to Penn State, it was probably the most challenging thing that’s ever happened to me in my career, personally, but we had great people,” O’Brien said. “We had a great staff and we had great players that stayed. Similar to here.”

O’Brien emphasized the continuity of BC’s roster, with 99 percent of the players remaining when he arrived and 68 percent of the production returning from last year’s 7-6 season. He repeatedly raved about the steady improvement of quarterback Thomas Castellanos and said former coach Jeff Hafley told O’Brien that this would likely have been his best team yet at BC.

O’Brien also has confidence in his coaching staff and the community, and it’s already clear that his confidence is contagious.

“The level of detail and what he demands of every person, that’s what stood out to me,” BC running backs coach Savon Huggins said. “He’s not going to ask you to do anything he wouldn’t do himself.”

2. Can the Eagles reach the eight-win mark?

It’s hard to believe, given the success of several other programs on campus, but Boston College Football is still looking for its first eight-win season since 2009.

The Eagles have come close several times, with seven wins in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023, but they have yet to take the next step.

It’s an unusual start to the season, with road games against Florida State and No. 11 Missouri sandwiched between what should theoretically be a cakewalk against Duquesne. After that, it’s evened out, with plenty of crucial matchups that could go either way. One advantage the Eagles have is that they have seven home games, including four of their last five at Alumni Stadium.

“We’re all just trying to worry about the next game,” center Drew Kendall said. “Win that next game and go from there. We can’t think too far into the future.”

3. Can a surprise against Florida State set the tone?

Boston College is hoping for its first season-opening win over a ranked opponent since 1976.

The Seminoles are still the heavy favorite, but the line dropped from -21.5 to -15.5 after FSU’s surprising loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin in Week 0.

BC players gathered in the locker room after practice that day to watch the second half. Sure, their eyes lit up a little, but they reminded themselves that the result didn’t change anything.

“We know it will be a huge challenge for us to get there,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien acknowledged that having FSU right away provided maximum focus during the offseason and training camp. The Eagles collectively understood they couldn’t dawdle and had a palpable sense of urgency, with staying power looming.

FSU has won five straight games against BC, but interestingly enough, four of those five games have been decided by single digits. Last year, the Eagles outscored the Seminoles in many ways, but a whopping school-record 18 penalties ruined their chances of an upset.

O’Brien has placed a tremendous emphasis on attention to detail throughout training camp and has repeatedly urged the Eagles to master the fundamentals.

“We have to be a lot more disciplined than we were last year,” linebacker Kam Arnold said.

4. Can they increase their number of bags?

The Eagles finished second to last in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season with just 13 sacks.

While O’Brien noted that the sack statistic can be misleading — and that pressure and coverage also play a crucial role — he provided some insight into how it could be improved.

“I think we’re on the right track with that,” O’Brien said. “We have a lot of different ways to get it up, whether it’s four-man rush, sometimes three-man rush, pressure, simulated pressure. We do it all on defense. It’s really a pro-style defense.”

Arnold, his fellow linebackers Daveon Crouch and Sione Hala, plus defensive linemen Donovan Ezeiruaku, George Rooks, Cam Horsley and Neto Okpala, have something to prove.

Their first chance at redemption comes against FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, a bright fifth-year student with a talent for improvising and extending plays.

5. Will helmet communication improve the quality of the game?

Players with a green dot on their helmet (one on offense and one on defense per team) can now communicate with coaches during games.

Conversations begin immediately and can continue until 15 seconds remain on the play clock or the ball is snapped. The goal is to improve the flow and quality of play on both sides.

While Castellanos will likely be the point guard on offense, Arnold and safety KP Price will be on defense, O’Brien said.

“It helps tremendously having an extra voice in your head telling you to make the call so you can get the call out to the guys quicker,” Arnold said.

The scheme

September 2, Florida State, 7:30 p.m.

September 7, vs. Duquesne, 3:30 p.m.

September 14, in Missouri, 12:45 p.m.

September 21, vs. Michigan State, TBA

September 28, vs. Western Kentucky, TBA

October 5, in Virginia, TBA

Oct. 17, Virginia Tech, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 25 vs. Louisville, 7:30 p.m.

November 9, vs. Syracuse, TBD

November 16, at SMU, TBA

November 23, vs. North Carolina, TBA

November 30, vs. Pittsburgh, TBA

Trevor Hass can be reached at [email protected].