Preview: Syracuse vs. Florida State

Syracuse (4-6, 2-4 ACC) vs. No. 17 Florida State (7-3, 4-3 ACC)
Game Details: Saturday, Nov. 19 | 3:30 p.m.
Location: Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television: ABC/ESPN2
Radio: Syracuse IMG Radio Network
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
Florida State Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For the final time this season, the Syracuse (4-6, 2-4 ACC) football team will take to the Carrier Dome field when it hosts Atlantic Coast Conference foe No. 17 Florida State (7-3, 4-3 ACC) Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3:30 p.m.

In its last outing, the Orange suffered a 35-20 loss against NC State on Nov. 12. Linebacker Parris Bennett eclipsed the 100-tackle mark for the year with 11 stops against the Wolfpack. He's the first Syracuse player to hit the century mark since the 2010 campaign.

The Seminoles have won four of their five games, including a 45-7 dismantling of Boston College last weekend.

The game will be broadcast on ABC/ESPN2 with Syracuse native Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Anthony Becht (analyst) and Rocky Boiman (sideline) on the call.

The first 20,000 fans in the Carrier Dome will receive a free Floyd Little mini bobblehead, courtesy of CNY Chevy Dealers. Two lucky fans will win a mini bobblehead autographed by Little himself. Tweet your favorite Floyd Little moment, favorite moment of this season or your best Syracuse football photo to @Cuse using the hashtag #44floyd to enter. The winners will be announced at the end of the third quarter and must be in attendance to win.

Saturday is Band Day and 11 marching bands from around the state will join the Syracuse Marching Band ("The Pride of the Orange") on the field for a halftime performance.

SENIOR DAY
The Florida State game marks the last home game for the Syracuse football Class of 2016. Prior to kickoff, 21 members of the program (18 players, 3 managers) will be recognized for their contributions. The ceremony gets underway with 25 minutes left on the pre-game clock.

Eric Anthony, Jon Burton, Alvin Cornelius, Terell Drayton, Jason Emerich, Brisly Estime, Amba Etta-Tawo, Marqez Hodge, Hernz Laguerre, Michael Lasker, Cameron MacPherson, Nick Montferret (mgr.), Wayne Morgan, George Morris, Dan O'Brien (mgr.), Omari Palmer, Josh Parris, Ted Taylor, Austin Wilson, Zach Thebner (mgr.) and De'Jon Wilson will all be honored.

QUICK TRANSITION
Redshirt senior wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo is in the midst of a monster season. He's been so good, he was named one of the 10 semifinalists for the 2016 Biletnikoff Award, presented to the nation's outstanding receiver regardless of position. A graduate transfer from Maryland, Etta-Tawo has 1,246 receiving yards this year, which is sixth in the nation and second among Power-Five conference players behind Oklahoma's Dede Westbrook (1,254).

Etta-Tawo broke the Syracuse single-season receiving yards and receptions records at Clemson on Nov. 5. The Powder Springs, Ga. native surpassed Marvin Harrison's 1995 standard of 1,131 receiving yards and Alec Lemon's 2012 record of 72 catches.

For more on Etta-Tawo, visit his web page www.cuse.com/amba

TACKLING TANDEM
Junior linebackers Parris Bennett (100) and Zaire Franklin (93) have combined for 193 tackles on the 2016 season, 27.2 percent of the team's total. Either Bennett or Franklin have led the Orange in tackles in six of the past seven contests. Syracuse is one of four FBS teams with two players with at least 90 tackles on the 2016 campaign.

Bennett and Franklin are the third-leading tackling tandem in the country. They rank second among ACC duos, 21 tackles behind the nation's leaders, Virginia's Micah Kiser and Quin Blanding.

SCOUTING FLORIDA STATE
With a 45-7 win against Boston College on Nov. 11, Florida State secured its 40th consecutive winning season – the nation's longest active streak (began in 1977). Head coach Jimbo Fisher is in his seventh year at the helm of the program. He owns a 75-17 record, has won three ACC championships and guided the Seminoles to the 2013 BCS national title.

Offensively, the Seminoles are one of the best red-zone team's in the nation, converting 44 of their 46 (95.7 percent) trips into touchdowns. That mark is second in the FBS. The only unsuccessful attempts for Florida State were an interception at Miami and as time expired against USF.

Running back Dalvin Cook ranks second among Power Five players and is fifth nationally in yards from scrimmage (1,642). He has the second-most rushing yards of any Power Five back (1,242). In 10 games, freshman quarterback Deondre Francois is 193-for-319 for 2,675 yards and 15 touchdowns against four interceptions. Travis Rudolph is the team's top receiver with 44 catches for 680 yards and five TDs.

The Seminole defense held Boston College to 146 total yards last week, including 50 yards passing. For the season, Florida State is allowing 26.6 points per game and 384.6 yards of offense per contest.

Sophomore cornerback Tarvarus McFadden leads the country with seven interceptions this season. Senior defensive end DeMarcus Walker ranks third nationally with 11 sacks. One of the leading candidates for ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Walker is the team's top tackler with 55 stops.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's marks the 10th meeting between the Orange and Seminoles. Florida State owns an 8-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Orange won the first meeting, a 37-21 decision in 1966. The Seminoles have won the past eight matchups.

Last season, Florida State posted a 45-21 victory against Syracuse at Doak Campbell Stadium. Quarterback Eric Dungey rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Brisly Estime returned a punt 59 yards for a score. For Estime, it was his second punt return TD of the 2015 campaign and the first punt return touchdown allowed by the Seminoles since the 2001 season.

UP NEXT
Syracuse concludes the 2016 regular season at Pittsburgh on Saturday, Nov. 26. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.

For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@Cusepics, @CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.

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Players Mentioned

Eric Anthony

Parris Bennett

Jon Burton

Alvin Cornelius

Terell Drayton

Eric Dungey

Jason Emerich

Brisly Estime

Amba Etta-Tawo

Zaire Franklin

Marqez Hodge

Hernz Laguerre

Michael Lasker

Cameron MacPherson

Wayne Morgan

George Morris

Omari Palmer

Josh Parris

Ted Taylor

Austin Wilson

De'Jon Wilson

Syracuse University Athletics