However, the Eagles still won their final two regular season games, posting wins over rival programs Uconn Huskies football and Syracuse Orange football. Boston College was again invited to the Pinstripe Bowl, where they lost to Iowa 20-27. Following the season, AJ Dillon was awarded both the ACC Rookie of the Year and the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year awards, following his 1,589 yard, 14 touchdown campaign. This was the first time in school history that either award had been won. Return to AP Ranking: Heading into the 2018 season, Addazio's team received the most media coverage they had seen in years. In fact, ESPN picked them as the team most likely to hit their pre-season predicted win total (6.5), which they eventually did. The reason for this new wave of excitement on Chestnut Hill was clear: Eagles had finished the previous season winning 6 of their final 9 games, and were returning all but 1 defensive starter. The Eagles started the season 3-0, with wins over UMass Minutemen football, long time rival Holy Cross football, and ACC rival Wake Forest Demon Deacons football. This hot start, combined with the pre-season media attention, found the Eagles back in the AP's Top 25 for the first time since the 2008 season, as they were ranked #23. However, BC fell out of the rankings as quickly as they entered, as they were beaten 13-30 by a previously winless Purdue team on the road the following week. The Eagles showed resilience, bouncing back from a close loss to NC State Wolfpack football, by beating ACC opponents Louisville Cardinals football and Miami Hurricanes football. Following their win over the Hurricanes, the BC found themselves back in the Top 25, ranked #24, as they headed to Blacksburg, VA to face longtime rival Virginia Tech football. Following a 31-21 victory, their 7th of the season, Boston College was chosen to host College GameDay (football TV program) before their home contest against undefeated Clemson football, the first time College GameDay had been to Chestnut Hill since 2009. BC rose to #17 in the AP poll following the Clemson game. Yet, the Eagles fell to eventual National Champion Clemson 7-27, after their starting quarterback Anthony Brown was injured on the Eagle's first possession. Steve Addazio and his team were unable to break the 7 win mark, as they lost the last two games of the regular season, including a loss to Florida State football following a Hail Mary in the final 2 minutes of the game.