By Carlos Pineda
SouthernPigskin.com

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Boston College ushered in its biggest win in six years. The Eagles’ victory over the ninth-ranked USC Trojans was the first win over a ranked opponent since 2008.

When Steve Addazio became the head coach at Boston College in 2013, he took over a football program that had endured back-to-back losing seasons.

His first season at BC brought sudden improvement. The Eagles improved from 2-10 to 7-6 and played in a bowl game.

And Saturday, despite losing key players from last year’s team such as heralded running back Andre Williams, Boston College (2-1) ushered in its biggest win in six years. The Eagles’ victory over the ninth-ranked USC Trojans was their first win over a ranked opponent since 2008 when they beat No. 20 Florida State in Tallahassee. The Eagles had lost lost their past 12 games versus top-25 teams. It was also their first win over a top-10 team since 2007, when Matt Ryan guided BC to a come-from-behind victory in Blacksburg over eighth-ranked Virginia Tech.

Thanks in large part to a suffocating defense; the Eagles went from allowing 303 rushing yards in a loss to Pitt the previous week, to only 20 versus the Trojans. USC entered averaging 216.5 yards rushing. BC’s Josh Keyes was named ACC Linebacker of the Week after recording eight tackles (5.5 tackles for a 15-yard loss).

Boston College’s relentless rush attack, featuring quarterback Tyler Murphy, was instrumental. The Eagles rushed for 452 yards, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. Murphy, a University of Florida transfer, amassed 191 on the ground x94 the second-highest rushing total by an ACC quarterback in history. Only Clemson’s Woody Dantzler rushed for more, gaining 220 yards against Virginia in 2000.

Murphy was named ACC Offensive Back of the Week and center Andy Gallik was honored as ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week.

With Murphy at the helm, a trio of solid running backs, and an incredibly experienced offensive line that has 99 combined starts, the Eagles are averaging 310.7 rushing yards x94 ranked 10th in the nation. Myles Willis, Jon Hilliman and Tyler Rouse have had 30-plus carries and rushed for more than 100 yards each this season.

While at Florida, Murphy spent his first two years on the scout team. He played one game at wide receiver in 2012, and started six games at quarterback last year after starter Jeff Driskel suffered a broken leg injury in the third game of the season.

Since reuniting with Addazio, who recruited him to play at UF, Murphy has flourished in Chestnut Hill. In just his first game with the Eagles, he became the first QB in team history to rush for 100 yards, gaining 118 yards against UMass in the season opener. Murphy added 92 yards rushing versus Pitt, and then had the gaudy performance against USC.

His 401 rushing yards is second in the ACC behind only Pittsburgh’s James Conner, who has rushed for 544 yards.

Addazio said Saturday’s win was a “springboard” victory. It gets tougher for BC after concluding its non-conference schedule against Maine and Colorado the next two weeks. Having already played the Panthers, the Eagles will face 22nd-ranked Clemson on Oct. 18, play at Virginia Tech on Nov. 1, and host the Louisville Cardinals, new members to the ACC, the following week.

BC then travel to Tallahassee face No. 1 Florida State on Nov. 22. The rest of the conference schedule includes NC State, Wake Forest and Syracuse.

Despite facing some stiff competition, one thing is certain, Addazio has changed the culture at Boston College. The Eagles are two years removed from consecutive losing seasons and fresh off their most significant win in six years.