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.

The Boston College Eagles football team has seen early success during the 2024 season. Sitting at 2-1 on the year, the team has secured big wins over the then-No. 10 Florida State and Duquesne and suffered a close loss to No. 7 Missouri over the weekend.

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.

Bill O’Brien has found early success at Boston College — and his successor has taken notice. Penn State head coach James Franklin said he’s “happy” for O’Brien, the Nittany Lions’ former coach who is now in his first season at the helm at Boston College.

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.