Crounse Progressing, Hopes to Return vs. Notre Dame
Boston College center Michael Crounse will miss Saturday's game against FSU as he works back from a knee injury.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football
Boston College head coach Bill O'Brien said starting center and team captain Michael Crounse is progressing and hopes to return against Notre Dame. Crounse will miss Saturday's game against FSU, and freshman DJ Williams will make his fifth career start in his place.
Why it matters
Crounse has been sidelined for much of the season, and his status affects the stability of Boston College's offensive line. Losing a starting center mid-season places added weight on a younger replacement.
Williams, a freshman, takes over at center for his fifth career start, with a 48.7 PFF offensive grade that ranks near the bottom of qualifying FBS centers. Crounse's return timeline depends on continued progress that has not yet been confirmed.
The players
Bill O'Brien
Bill O'Brien is the head football coach of Boston College, known for his prior NFL head coaching tenure with the Houston Texans and his offensive-minded approach.
Michael Crounse
Michael Crounse is Boston College's starting center and team captain, the son of former Notre Dame lineman Mike Crounse.
The details
Crounse, a team captain, injured his knee in the Week 1 loss at Cincinnati and missed four straight games before returning against Georgia Tech in Week 8. His lower leg was rolled in the second half of the Week 9 loss at Duke, and he was placed in a boot afterward; the injury is not season-ending and he is now out of the boot.
Timeline
Week 1: Crounse suffers knee injury in loss at Cincinnati.
Week 8: Crounse returns against Georgia Tech.
Week 9: Crounse's lower leg is rolled in loss at Duke.
Saturday: Crounse misses game against FSU.
Next week: Boston College plays Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.
Season Trajectory
Boston College's upcoming trip to South Bend places the program against Notre Dame, the program where starting center Michael Crounse's father played from 1986 to 1990 during the 1988 national championship season. Crounse's availability for that game will shape how the Eagles' offensive line holds up in the contest.
For fantasy and bettors tracking Boston College, the Crounse status change shifts how the offensive line is expected to perform in the next two games. Williams's start against FSU is the concrete change to watch in the box score.
The takeaway
A starting center's health can quietly reshape an offensive line's output for weeks. Watching the injury report before a game often reveals more than the final score does.
What happens next
Boston College plays Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., next week, which is the date Crounse has been hoping to return for.
Further reading
Follow more Boston College coverage in the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
