DEKALB, Ill. -- Anthony Brown threw for two touchdowns in his first career start and Colton Lichtenberg's 37-yard field goal with 2:13 to play lifted Boston College past Northern Illinois 23-20 in a season opener on Friday night.
Northern Illinois had a chance to tie it in the closing seconds, but Christian Hagan's 39-yard field-goal attempt hit the crossbar.
Brown was 26-of-42 passing for 191 yards, including a fourth-down toss that kept the game-winning drive alive.
Michael Walker and Ray Marten each had touchdown catches for Boston College, which scuffled on several late drives before putting together the decisive possession.