Preview: Syracuse and Western Michigan Clash Friday

SYRACUSE (0-0, 0-0 ACC) AT WESTERN MICHIGAN (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Game Details: 6 p.m. | Friday, Aug. 31
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich. | Waldo Stadium
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television: CBS Sports Network (Channel Finder)
Radio: Syracuse IMG Sports Network
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | 2017 Stats | Notes (PDF)
Western Michigan Links: News | Roster | Schedule | 2017 Stats | Notes (PDF)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The 2018 college football season is finally here. The Orange (0-0) open their 129th campaign Friday, Aug. 31 at Waldo Stadium against the Western Michigan Broncos (0-0). The game marks the first meeting between the two teams. Kickoff set for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.

Friday's matchup is the first of a home-and-home series between Syracuse and Western Michigan announced in June 2017. The Broncos return the game on Sept. 21, 2019.

ORANGE IN SEASON OPENERS
Syracuse holds an 82-42-4 record in season-opening contests. The team has won each of its past four season openers, defeating Central Connecticut State to start the 2017 season, Colgate to open the 2016 campaign, Rhode Island to kick off 2015 and Villanova to start 2014.

Friday's contest marks the first true road game to begin a Syracuse season since the Orange traveled to Akron for the 2010 opener. QB Ryan Nassib completed 17-of-27 passes for 229 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead Syracuse past the Zips, 23-9.

It's also the third time Syracuse will begin a season on the road against an opponent from the Mid-American Conference. Syracuse is 4-2 all-time in openers against current MAC teams, with wins against Ball State (1993), Toledo (1999), Buffalo (2000) and Akron (2010). The two losses came at home to Bowling Green in 1973 and 1976.

LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD
Syracuse and Western Michigan can pile up the points. The two teams are part of the two highest-scoring games in FBS history, with each happening within the last two seasons.

Syracuse (61) and Pittsburgh (76) combined for 137 points in the 2016 regular-season finale, the most points by two teams in an FBS regulation game. The total eclipsed the previous mark of 136 scored by Navy and North Texas in 2007.

The Orange and Panthers set the FBS record for combined touchdowns (20) and then-Syracuse quarterback Zack Mahoney established a program record with seven total touchdowns (5 passing, 2 rushing). Receiver Amba Etta-Tawo also set the Orange record for most receiving touchdowns in a game with five.

Last year, Western Michigan (71) and Buffalo (68) tallied 139 points in a seven-overtime thriller – the most combined points in an FBS overtime game – breaking the previous record of 136 set in 2007 by Boise State (69) and Nevada (67).

Spend two minutes with @EricDungey before the opener, as @BrianHigginsSU takes him through the #2MinuteDrill pic.twitter.com/IlsoLX3ezo
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) August 30, 2018

WEEKDAY WARRIORS
The 2018 campaign marks the fifth year Syracuse has played a Friday night game to begin the season. The Orange are 4-0 record in those contests.

Syracuse is 12-3 in weekday games dating back to their 36-34 victory in the 2010 Pinstripe Bowl win over Kansas State. In their most recent weeknight matchup, Syracuse defeated No. 2 Clemson 27-24 behind QB Eric Dungey's 278 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Since joining the ACC in 2013, Syracuse is 16-37 (.301) in Saturday games and 6-2 (.750) when playing on any other day of the week.

FAMILIAR FOES AND FACES
Head coach Dino Babers has faced Western Michigan three times in his career while at the helm of a program – once at Eastern Illinois (2012) and twice at Bowling Green. Babers is 1-2 all-time against the Broncos, winning his most recent matchup while at Bowling Green 41-27 on Nov. 11, 2015. Babers holds a 1-1 career record at Waldo Stadium.

Also on Syracuse's sideline, defensive tackles coach Vinson Reynolds served three seasons (2013-15) as Western Michigan's defensive line coach prior to being hired by Babers at Syracuse in 2016.

Across the field, Western Michigan second-year head coach Tim Lester spent three seasons at Syracuse on former head coach Scott Shafer's staff as the offensive coordinator (2014-15) and quarterbacks coach (2013). Lester was the primary recruiter for current Syracuse QB Eric Dungey, among other players.

Both of Lester's current coordinators coached with him at Syracuse. Defensive coordinator Tim Daoust was the assistant head coach at Syracuse under Shafer. Daoust was with the program from 2011-15, coaching the defensive line and serving as special teams coordinator. Daoust coached Orange NFL Draft selections Chandler Jones and Jay Bromley.

WMU offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jake Moreland served as the tight ends coach in Lester's offense for one season (2015) at Syracuse. Western Michigan Chief of Football Staff /Director of Operations Drew Robinson is a Syracuse graduate and spent one season (2015) as the Orange's director of operations.

Two days from the opener, @BrianHigginsSU caught up with @tae_strick4 ahead of Friday night's season opener at Western Michigan. pic.twitter.com/YsCgx16Wma
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) August 29, 2018

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
Western Michigan is coming off a 6-6 campaign in 2017. QB Jon Wassink returns after missing the final four games of last season due to injury. Wassink led the team with 1,411 yards passing and 14 touchdowns through the first eight games last season.

On the ground, redshirt senior RB Jamauri Bogan, who was the second-leading rusher last season, is expected to see the majority of the carries. He rushed 112 times for 589 yards and three scores in 2017.

The Broncos return five of the six receivers who caught at least 10 balls last season. Junior WR D'Wayne Eskridge, who tallied a team-high 506 yards, and WR Kieshawn Watson, who paced WMU with seven TD receptions, lead the group.

Western Michigan's defense is headlined by junior DB Stefan Claiborne. He finished fourth on the team in tackles last season with 64.

UP NEXT
Following their clash with the Broncos, the Orange return home to face Wagner at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8. Season and individual game tickets are on sale online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125 for Syracuse's six home games.

Single-game tickets for Wagner start at $20.

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