BC Bulletin

Syracuse TE Dan Villari Details Competitive Nature of Facing BC Football: The Rundown

Villari commented on the air of excitement that tends to arise every time a BC-Syracuse football matchup comes up on the schedule.
Graham Dietz|
Jul 23, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Syracuse tight end Dan Villari answers questions from the media during ACC Media days at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Jul 23, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Syracuse tight end Dan Villari answers questions from the media during ACC Media days at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

In this story:

Boston College Eagles

The Boston College Eagles’ football program technically does not have a rival in this current day and age. That is, unless the emerging BC-SMU rivalry, which Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings commented on recently at 2025 ACC Football Kickoff, counts. 

Historically, BC and Notre Dame—two prominent Catholic Universities—considered themselves rivals for decades, and the Eagles have even boasted a rivalry with Holy Cross when the two played in the Big East before BC joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2005.

So what is the current status of BC’s football rivalries?

Well, due to the programs being the Northern-most schools in the ACC, Syracuse and BC have always brought an extra edge every time a matchup arises—to prove who is the dominant Northeast football program in the conference.

On Wednesday, Syracuse football players in attendance at 2025 ACC Football Kickoff spoke about the nature of games when the Eagles and the Orange suit up against one another.

“One thing I’ve noticed about those games, it’s always physical,” Syracuse tight end Dan Villari said. “They bring us their best game all the time. I think it’s fun. I love playing BC.”

In addition to the rivalry which takes place on the football field, there is also some inevitable competition in the recruiting realm between BC, Syracuse and even Pittsburgh, which Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi discussed at ACC Kickoff as well.

“I mean, we are all looking for different stuff,” Narduzzi said. “I think everybody’s got different needs. But there are some battles there in the past for sure.”

Today’s Schedule:

No games are scheduled for Thursday, July 24.

Eagles Results:

No games were scheduled for Wednesday, July 23.

Countdown to Boston College football’s season opener:

37 days.

Did You Notice?

  • Former BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos debriefed on his time at BC at the podium at 2025 ACC Football Kickoff on Wednesday morning for Florida State, mostly to extinguish the fire which sparked due to comments Castellanos made about his former program this Spring.
  • Follow Boston College Eagles On SI on Youtube for behind-the-scenes interviews from 2025 ACC Football Kickoff, including video recaps from writers for the site and BC On SI’s daily segment called “The Extra Point.”
  • BC's representatives at the ACC’s Unity Tour, which brought student-athletes to parts of Alabama to participate in events including museum and historical site trips, guest lectures and service work, opened up about the experience.

Boston College Eagles Quote of the Day:

"Nobody's going to stand up here and tell you they had a terrible camp. I mean no coach is going to sit here and say, 'We had a terrible training camp.' It's not going to happen."

- Bill O'Brien

Social Media:

Check us out on... 

Published
Graham Dietz
GRAHAM DIETZ

Graham Dietz is a 2025 graduate of Boston College and subsequently joined Boston College On SI. He previously served as an editor for The Heights, the independent student newspaper, from fall 2021, including as Sports Editor from 2022-23. Graham works for The Boston Globe as a sports correspondent, covering high school football, girls' basketball, and baseball. He was also a beat writer for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2023.

Share on XFollow graham_dietz
Home/All Things BC