Penn State head coach James Franklin isn’t surprised by the initial success his predecessor, Bill O’Brien, is having at Boston College. “I’ve known Bill for a long time,” Franklin said this week, when asked about O’Brien’s 2-1 start leading the Eagles.

In his first season as Boston College's head coach, O'Brien is 2-1 with an early win over Florida State, a week in the AP Top 25 and a tight loss at No. 7 Missouri. Franklin, watching from afar, had some kind words for O'Brien.

The Boston College Eagles have been one of college football’s biggest surprises this season, cruising to a 2-0 start after wins over the Florida State Seminoles and Duquesne Dukes. The Eagles’ early-season success has resulted in them being ranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 2018.