Maine Puts Up Best Performance Against Boston College In Over 100 Years

Maine nearly pulled off the upset of the early season in a narrow 22-16 loss to Boston College. The Black Bears cut the Eagles' lead to six points after a seven-yard touchdown pass from Eddie Buehler to Nick Laughlin with 4:34 left. Unfortunately, Maine could not stop Boston College from running out the final 4:34 to preserve a 22-16 win.

This was the closest game in the series since 1913 and Maine’s best chance to beat Boston College since 1929.

After Maine won the first three meetings in the series from 1913 to 1915, Boston College has dominated the Black Bears. Entering Saturday, the Eagles had won seven straight against Maine by an average score of 42 to 5.

Before this past Saturday, Maine was closest to beating Boston College in 2015. The Black Bears entered the 4th quarter trailing the Eagles 10-3, before Boston College scored a pair of touchdowns to seal a 24-3 win. This margin of defeat tied the 2022 game for Maine’s lowest in the series during their losing streak.

Despite having the same 21-point margin, the 2022 game differed from the 2015 game. In 2022, the Eagles led the Black Bears by 14 entering the 4th quarter before scoring a late insurance touchdown in a 38-17 win. The 2006 Maine team lost 22-0 to Boston College, but the fourth quarter began with that score.

The loss is encouraging and discouraging for Maine fans. The gap between the Black Bears and Eagles may be shrinking. However, the two schools will not play for another four years.

After the 2030 meeting, no one knows how regularly the two schools will meet. The ACC just reduced its non-conference schedule to three games and the FBS landscape seems to be changing rapidly. For now, the Black Bears can cling to hope that they are the closest they have been in nearly a century to beating Boston College.