Though the MIAA is still weighing its options, all signs point to Boston College as the primary host of this year’s high school football Super Bowls.
With Gillette Stadium unavailable, Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill will be ready to host some, if not most, of the state championships in Divisions 1 through 8 during the first week of December.
As his school’s administration and MIAA officials were sorting out details, Boston College football coach Bill O’Brien on Tuesday confirmed the school’s interest.
“I can’t say anything, but we’re working hard to get that done,” he told reporters at his weekly news conference, down the street from his school’s 44,500-seat football home.
“I don’t think we can host every single game [and] nothing’s official yet … I would love to host those games here.”
BC isn’t the only location on the MIAA’s radar.
UMass is “involved in ongoing conversations” about how it can help host, senior associate athletic director Dan Colleran told the Globe in an email. McGuirk Stadium can hold at least 17,000.
Another Central Mass. option could be Worcester State, whose Coughlin Field seats around 2,000. Merrimack (3,500) and Stonehill (2,400) would offer comparably cozy settings.
The MIAA has spoken with Endicott (3,000), but associate athletic director Mark Kulakowski told the Globe the school hopes to be hosting its own games in the coming weeks. The Gulls (9-0) are ranked No. 5 nationally in the NCAA’s Division 3 power rankings.
Harvard Stadium (25,000), whose main tenant could be in the FCS playoffs come December, would not be an option for similar reasons.
The MIAA also has spoken with officials at Fenway Park, which this month will host four high school Thanksgiving rivalry games and the Fenway Bowl. Holy Cross reached out to offer Fitton Field (23,500)but its field is natural grass, and turf fields are the MIAA’s preference.
In fact, when the Super Bowl format was approved by state officials in 1971, it was done so under the stipulation that the games be played on artificial turf, a response to the then-poor conditions of grass high school fields. Many — though not all — of these title games have been played on turf.
Boston College has hosted MIAA action before, but long before Gillette Stadium’s 20-year run began in 2007. MIAA historian Mike Richard said games were held there from 1973-81, save for 1978.
O’Brien, who grew up in Andover, recalled seeing Tewksbury play Winthrop in the EMass Division 2 Super Bowl in 1981.
“That’s how old I am,” said O’Brien, 57. “I remember going to those games and I think it would be fantastic for Boston College to host those games. If we could do it, it would be awesome.”
Matt Porter can be reached at matthew.porter@globe.com. Follow him on X @mattyports.