Ex-Gators face off in BC's visit to NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Leaving Florida has worked out pretty well for both Jacoby Brissett and Tyler Murphy.

The ex-Gators quarterbacks have led their new schools to big things and now they're preparing to face off for the first time Saturday when North Carolina State (4-2, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays host to Boston College (3-2, 0-1).

''We've both been looking forward to this,'' BC's Murphy said. ''Neither of us wants to lose. It's almost like playing your brother in one-on-one basketball - you never want to lose to your brother.

''So this is a big game for both of us as well as our programs and teams,'' he added. ''If we want to take a step in the right direction we need this.''

They were teammates at Florida in 2011 and '12 but the only one of them to start a game during that time was Brissett - who made three starts during those two seasons and none after the 2012 opener.

He transferred to N.C. State and sat out the 2013 season. Murphy made a handful of starts for the Gators last year but transferred to BC following the program's first losing season since 1979.

''It is weird because we both were on the same team and now we're playing against each other,'' Brissett said. ''But it'll be fun for both programs. Both programs are coming out to make a statement and both of us need ACC wins.''

They've both done some rather memorable things for their new schools.

Brissett ranks fourth in the ACC in total offense, averaging nearly 262 yards, and threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-41 loss to top-ranked Florida State.

Murphy is the Eagles' leading rusher and passer, and led them to a 37-31 upset of then-No. 9 Southern California.

''I don't think anybody can say that we're not looking at a really competitive football team right now that's not capable of playing really well at times,'' BC coach Steve Addazio said.

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Some things to watch for when Boston College visits North Carolina State on Saturday:

FIRST TRIP: The visit to Raleigh marks BC's first trip outside the state of Massachusetts this year. The Eagles' only game away from their suburban Boston campus came in the opener against UMass at the New England Patriots' stadium. ''We have to go on the road for the first time this season with a young group,'' Addazio said. ''We have to handle the crowd and the noise and just everything that comes with being out of your comfort zone on the road. Our challenges are there for us, but we're looking forward to it.''

BOUNCING BACK: Both teams are coming off losses that were disappointing for different reasons. BC hasn't played since a 24-21 home loss to Colorado State two weeks ago while the Wolfpack were embarrassed in a 41-0 loss at Clemson. N.C. State coach Dave Doeren called it ''a great learning experience'' and added that ''the last thing we want to put on film is something like that.''

HE'S THE BAUMANN: It's not often a good sign when a punter is making headlines but N.C. State's Will Baumann leads the ACC and ranks second in the Bowl Subdivision with an average of 48 yards per punt. That would set an ACC record if the season ended today. He had plenty of chances to pad that number last week, punting nine times against Clemson - more than he did in N.C. State's first three games combined.

OLD EAGLES: BC lists five graduate students as its starters on the offensive line. That's OK for now - but it could be a big problem next year when Addazio has to replace them all. He says the roster ''is out of whack'' because ''we've got too many older linemen and nothing in between.'' But he praised the current Eagles because ''the resiliency of our kids is a credit to them that we are still in the winning mode even while we're doing this.''

HOME SWEET HOME: This Atlantic Division series has been dominated by the home teams lately: The last visiting team to win was BC, which won in Raleigh in 2008. The biggest reason for the Eagles' victory last year in Boston - running back Andre Williams, who rushed for an ACC-record 339 yards - is with the New York Giants.

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AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard in Raleigh and Jimmy Golen in Boston contributed to this report.

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