Preview: Syracuse at LSU

Syracuse (2-1, 0-0 ACC) vs. No. 25 LSU (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
Game Details: Saturday, Sept. 23 | 7 p.m.
Location: Tiger Stadium | Baton Rouge, La.
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television: ESPN2
Radio: Syracuse IMG Radio Network
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
LSU Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse (2-1) hits the road for the first time this season when it visits Death Valley for a 7 p.m. ET matchup with No. 25 LSU (2-1) at Tiger Stadium. The Orange are coming off a 41-17 victory over Central Michigan, while LSU lost its SEC opener to Mississippi State last time out. Syracuse alum Anish Shroff, Ahmad Brooks and Julie Stewart-Binks have the call on ESPN2.

The Orange will attempt to end one of the most impressive streaks in college football. LSU has not lost a home non-conference game since a 13-10 defeat against UAB on Sept. 23, 2000. The TIgers have won 48 consecutive home contests against non-conference foes, tied with Miami (Fla.) for the fifth-longest home winning streak in the history of the sport.

Senior wide receiver Steve Ishmael currently leads the nation in receptions per game (11.3) and total catches (34). During the first two weeks of 2017, Ishmael became the first player in program history to post consecutive games with at least 11 receptions. He has three straight 100-yard receiving games to open the year and is the seventh player in team history to achieve that feat.

ORANGE IN ROAD OPENERS
Since 1990, the Orange owns a 12-15 overall mark in road openers. Last season, Syracuse won its initial true road contest, beating Connecticut, 31-24.

'Cuse head coach Dino Babers is 3-2 in true road starters, beating Maryland in 2015 while at Bowling Green and winning at San Diego State in 2013 at Eastern Illinois.

RED-ZONE REVIVAL
Syracuse is third in the ACC in red-zone offense and has converted on 94 percent (17-18) of its red-zone opportunities this season with 10 touchdowns and seven field goals. The Orange's 17 red-zone scoring conversions in three games is already more than half of their total red-zone scores from last season (29).

Sophomore running back Dontae Strickland and junior quarterback Eric Dungey have been the team's most potent red-zone threats, combining for seven of Syracuse's 10 touchdowns inside the opposing 20-yard line. All four of Strickland's 2017 touchdowns (3 rushing, 1 receiving) have come from close range. Three of Dungey's four rushing scores have been red-zone runs.

APPROACHING 1,000
Dungey is 147 yards shy of 1,000 career rushing yards. When he reaches the plateau, Dungey will be the sixth Orange signal-caller to hit the milestone, joining Bill Hurley (2,551 yards), Donovan McNabb (1,561), Don McPherson (1,251), Walley Mahle (1,150) and Dave Warner (1,139).

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
LSU is in its first full season under former Syracuse defensive assistant Ed Orgeron. Orgeron took over as interim head coach in 2016, guiding the Tigers to a 6-2 overall record and a 29-9 victory against Louisville in the Citrus Bowl. LSU finished the season 8-4 overall.

Star running back Derrius Guice suffered an apparent knee injury last week at Mississippi State, but is expected to play Saturday. Guice surpassed the 2,000 career rushing-yard mark earlier this season against Chattanooga. He is averaging 100 yards a game rushing this season and he's tied with Darrel Williams for the LSU lead with four rushing TDs.

Defensively, the Tigers are allowing 268 yards per game and rank 17th nationally in total defense. Cornerback Andraez Williams has four passes defended, including two interceptions. Williams is LSU's fourth-leading tackler with 12 stops this season.

LSU wide receiver and return specialist DJ Chark is a threat every time he touches the ball. He's the team's leader in both receptions (10) and yards (203). No one else on the Tigers has more than 72 receiving yards. Chark is also averaging 19.8 yards per punt return (3rd in the FBS) and took a punt back for a touchdown in LSU's victory over Chattanooga.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's matchup is the fourth meeting on the gridiron between Syracuse and LSU. The Tigers own a slight 2-1 advantage in the all-time series.

In the only previous game played on either team's campus, Syracuse held LSU to seven points in the first half, but the Tigers scored 27 second-half points to hold off the Orange 34-24 in 2015. Running back Leonard Fournette was the difference-maker for LSU, rushing for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

Syracuse's lone series win came in the 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl played in Tampa, Fla. The Orange scored a 23-10 victory that day. Running back Robert Drummond earned Hall of Fame Bowl Most Valuable Player accolades after running for 122 yards on 23 carries. Fullback Daryl Johnston played his final contest in an Orange uniform and rushed for 74 yards.

UP NEXT
Syracuse opens conference play on the road at NC State Saturday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is set for 12:20 p.m. from Carter-Finley Stadium. The game will air on the ACC Network.

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Players Mentioned

Eric Dungey

Steve Ishmael

Moe Neal

Sean Riley

Dontae Strickland

Syracuse University Athletics