Grayson James Takes the Helm as Boston College Eagles Face No. 14 SMU

Grayson James has been announced as the new starting quarterback for the Boston College Eagles, following the decision by Thomas Castellanos to leave the program and enter the transfer portal. This change was made public after Coach Bill O'Brien declared James the starter for the upcoming game against the No. 14 SMU Mustangs on Saturday, November 16[1][3].

The Eagles, currently with a 5-4 record and 2-3 in the ACC, are looking to become bowl eligible and face a significant challenge against SMU, which is 8-1 and undefeated in ACC play. SMU is also a strong contender for the ACC Championship and the College Football Playoff, sitting just two spots out of the playoff rankings[3].[5].

James has already shown promise, as he came into the game against Syracuse and helped the BC offense find success, leading to a 37-31 victory. He has thrown for two touchdowns and 219 yards this season. This will be his first start as the designated quarterback for the rest of the season[4][5].

The game against SMU will be a crucial test for James and the Eagles, especially given the injuries to the team’s linebacker corps. Boston College lost linebacker Owen McGowan for the season due to an upper body injury, but they are expected to have linebacker Bam Crouch back for the contest[5].

The matchup is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas, and will be broadcast on ESPN. The Eagles are seeking to build on their recent win and secure a spot in a bowl game under first-year coach Bill O’Brien[3].