TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Bill O'Brien was quick to emphasize that it was just one victory, but what a significant win it was for Boston College and the beginning of the O'Brien era.
Treshaun Ward, playing against his former team, racked up 138 yards of total offense, including a 13-yard touchdown catch, as Boston College shocked No. 10 Florida State with a 28-13 victory on Monday night.
Ward, a Tampa native who played for Florida State from 2019 to 2022, contributed 77 rushing yards and 61 receiving yards as the Eagles (1-0, 1-0 ACC) amassed 263 rushing yards.
O'Brien, who took over as head coach in mid-February following Jeff Hafley's move to become the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator, made an emphatic debut.
"I'm extremely proud of these guys," O'Brien said. "They showed great resilience tonight. To come down here and beat a team that was desperate for this win is a huge statement for BC. But it's just one win."
The Eagles' offense put together touchdown drives of 71, 68, and 60 yards. BC defensive back Max Tucker also intercepted DJ Uiagalelei, returning it 58 yards to set up another touchdown on Florida State's goal line.
Florida State, which had won the last five meetings in the series, was outplayed on both sides of the ball.
The Seminoles, who were considered contenders for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2021.
"I'm sick about how this season has started," Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. "I failed in preparing the team to respond tonight."
Uiagalelei completed 21 of 42 passes for 272 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Kentron Poitier in the third quarter, narrowing BC's lead to 21-13.
But BC answered right back, driving 60 yards in 12 plays, capped by Kye Robichaux's 2-yard touchdown run to extend the Eagles' lead to 28-13 with 1:03 remaining in the third quarter.
Florida State managed to score on just one of their six second-half drives.
In 2023, Thomas Castellanos nearly led an upset of Florida State, throwing for 305 yards and rushing for 95 yards, including a touchdown passing and rushing, in a 31-29 loss. While not as prolific on Monday, the BC quarterback completed 10 of 16 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, along with 73 rushing yards and a 4-yard touchdown run.
"Everything we did this offseason, from winter workouts to summer workouts, led up to this," Castellanos said. "This is what we prepared for. It all came together."
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