BC now plays for ACC title

BOSTON -- The national championship that was within its sights was never a goal for Boston College, coach Jeff Jagodzinski insists.

Instead, the Atlantic Coast Conference title that remains a possibility is still BC's mission.

"We've never won one before," he said Sunday, a day after Florida State won 27-17 to hand the Eagles their first loss and knock them from their lofty No. 2 ranking. "Our goal is to win the ACC first. If that happens, we'll see what happens after that."

Boston College (8-1, 4-1 ACC) won its first eight games for the first time since 1942 and climbed to No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25. A victory over the Seminoles would have kept the Eagles in position for the Bowl Championship Series title game.

The loss to Florida State dropped the Eagles to eighth in the AP poll and the BCS standings, but they remain in first place in the ACC's Atlantic Division, a half-game ahead of Clemson with games against the Tigers, Maryland and Miami remaining.

"We want to win all the games. But that didn't make or break our season," Jagodzinski said, telling his team: "We're still leading the ACC, with only one loss. We control what we do from here on out. Let's go do it."

Quarterback Matt Ryan pulled the Eagles within a field goal of Florida State, 20-17, with a 42-yard pass to Rich Gunnell that set up a 1-yard touchdown catch by Ryan Purvis.

After the defense held, the Eagles got the ball at their own 7, with 3:30 left in the game.

Ryan moved the ball out to the BC 33 before linebacker Geno Hayes intercepted a pass and ran it back 38 yards for a touchdown to clinch the Florida State victory. It was Ryan's third interception of the game.

"I'll tell you this," Jagodzinski said, "I don't think there was a guy on the sideline that didn't think we were going to win that game."