Saturday, September 15
Syracuse, NY
12 PM
Syracuse University
vs
Florida State
Preview: Syracuse Opens ACC Play Against Florida State
9/14/2018 9:45:00 AM | Football
SYRACUSE (2-0, 0-0 ACC) VS. FLORIDA STATE (1-1, 0-1 ACC)
Game Details: 12Â p.m. |Â Saturday, Sept. 15
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live StatsÂ
Television: ESPN
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Sports NetworkÂ
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
Florida State Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange (2-0) celebrate their past and begin their conference slate on Saturday, honoring members of the 1996, 1997 and 1998 BIG EAST Championship teams while taking on Florida State (1-1) at the Carrier Dome in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on ESPN, with Mark Jones (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) and Molly McGrath (sideline) on the call.
Syracuse comes off a 62-10 win over Wagner last Saturday inside the Dome. Senior quarterback Eric Dungey threw a school record-tying five touchdown passes and carried the Orange to their highest offensive output (62 points) in the Dino Babers era. Florida State also enters the contest with a win under its belt, beating Samford 36-26 behind quarterback Deondre Francois' three passing touchdowns.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Syracuse is looking for its first 3-0 start under Babers (third year) and just the eighth 3-0 beginning to a season since 1942. The most recent was in 2015, when the Orange opened the year with consecutive wins against Rhode Island, Wake Forest and Central Michigan.
Syracuse is also trying to snap its five-game ACC losing streak and win its second conference opener since joining the league in 2013. The Orange's last conference victory was a memorable one, beating No. 2 Clemson 27-24 at home last Oct. 13.
BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ON HAND
Members of the Orange's 1996, 1997 and 1998 BIG EAST Championship teams will be at the Dome Saturday to celebrate their run of three straight conference titles, as well as the 20th anniversary of the 1998 squad that earned a berth in the Orange Bowl and finished No. 15 in the inaugural BCS standings. Syracuse was 26-11 (.703) overall and 18-3 (.857) in league play during that span.
Alums of those teams will be recognized at the end of the first quarter and make appearances on the Quad before the game. Among those expected to return for the celebration are NFL Pro Bowlers Donovan McNabb and Keith Bulluck, as well as Rob Konrad – the last player to wear the fabled No. 44 – and 1997 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Donovin Darius.
OFFENSE OFF AND RUNNING
Syracuse's offense is clicking on all cylinders, as the Orange opened 2018 with consecutive 50+ point performances against Western Michigan and Wagner. It marks the first time in the modern era that the program has reached the half-century mark in its first two games.
In last Saturday's win over Wagner, Syracuse tied the program record for points in a half by jumping out to a 45-7 lead at the break. The Orange had twice previously scored 45 points in a half, doing so in the first half versus Miami (Fla.) in 1998 and Colgate in 1959.
The 62 points versus Wagner were the Orange's most under Babers, besting the previous high of 61 at Pittsburgh (2016), and stand as the most Orange points since a 63-17 win versus Rhode Island in 2002.
Dungey has been the catalyst. The veteran signal-caller ran for 200 yards, a school-record for a Syracuse quarterback, at Western Michigan before picking apart Wagner's secondary with five touchdown passes. Redshirt senior wideout Jamal Custis has emerged as his favorite target, hauling in 11 catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns this season.
SCOUTING THE SEMINOLES
Saturday's meeting is the 12th all-time contest between Syracuse and Florida State. The Seminoles hold the series advantage with a 10-1 record in the 11 prior pairings and winning the last 10 matchups heading into tomorrow's game.
Florida State enters the contest 1-1 after rallying for a 36-26 win over Samford last weekend. The Seminoles scored twice in the final five minutes, including a pick-six by Levonta Taylor with 2:23 left to clinch the victory.
Deondre Francois leads the 'Noles with 533 passing yards and three TDs through two games. Running backs Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick drive Florida State's ground attack, splitting nearly all of the team's carries this season and accounting for 270 rushing yards.
Hamsah Nasirildeen is the team's leading tackler. The defensive back has 23 stops, which is 13 more than secondary-mates Jaiden Woodbey and Stanford Samuels III, who each have 10.
UP NEXT
Syracuse steps back out of league play next weekend to host former BIG EAST rival Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 22. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. on ESPNews. Tickets to watch the Orange and Huskies start at $25 and are on sale online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).
Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Game Details: 12Â p.m. |Â Saturday, Sept. 15
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live StatsÂ
Television: ESPN
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Sports NetworkÂ
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
Florida State Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange (2-0) celebrate their past and begin their conference slate on Saturday, honoring members of the 1996, 1997 and 1998 BIG EAST Championship teams while taking on Florida State (1-1) at the Carrier Dome in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on ESPN, with Mark Jones (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) and Molly McGrath (sideline) on the call.
Syracuse comes off a 62-10 win over Wagner last Saturday inside the Dome. Senior quarterback Eric Dungey threw a school record-tying five touchdown passes and carried the Orange to their highest offensive output (62 points) in the Dino Babers era. Florida State also enters the contest with a win under its belt, beating Samford 36-26 behind quarterback Deondre Francois' three passing touchdowns.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Syracuse is looking for its first 3-0 start under Babers (third year) and just the eighth 3-0 beginning to a season since 1942. The most recent was in 2015, when the Orange opened the year with consecutive wins against Rhode Island, Wake Forest and Central Michigan.
Syracuse is also trying to snap its five-game ACC losing streak and win its second conference opener since joining the league in 2013. The Orange's last conference victory was a memorable one, beating No. 2 Clemson 27-24 at home last Oct. 13.
BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ON HAND
Members of the Orange's 1996, 1997 and 1998 BIG EAST Championship teams will be at the Dome Saturday to celebrate their run of three straight conference titles, as well as the 20th anniversary of the 1998 squad that earned a berth in the Orange Bowl and finished No. 15 in the inaugural BCS standings. Syracuse was 26-11 (.703) overall and 18-3 (.857) in league play during that span.
Alums of those teams will be recognized at the end of the first quarter and make appearances on the Quad before the game. Among those expected to return for the celebration are NFL Pro Bowlers Donovan McNabb and Keith Bulluck, as well as Rob Konrad – the last player to wear the fabled No. 44 – and 1997 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Donovin Darius.
OFFENSE OFF AND RUNNING
Syracuse's offense is clicking on all cylinders, as the Orange opened 2018 with consecutive 50+ point performances against Western Michigan and Wagner. It marks the first time in the modern era that the program has reached the half-century mark in its first two games.
In last Saturday's win over Wagner, Syracuse tied the program record for points in a half by jumping out to a 45-7 lead at the break. The Orange had twice previously scored 45 points in a half, doing so in the first half versus Miami (Fla.) in 1998 and Colgate in 1959.
The 62 points versus Wagner were the Orange's most under Babers, besting the previous high of 61 at Pittsburgh (2016), and stand as the most Orange points since a 63-17 win versus Rhode Island in 2002.
Dungey has been the catalyst. The veteran signal-caller ran for 200 yards, a school-record for a Syracuse quarterback, at Western Michigan before picking apart Wagner's secondary with five touchdown passes. Redshirt senior wideout Jamal Custis has emerged as his favorite target, hauling in 11 catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns this season.
SCOUTING THE SEMINOLES
Saturday's meeting is the 12th all-time contest between Syracuse and Florida State. The Seminoles hold the series advantage with a 10-1 record in the 11 prior pairings and winning the last 10 matchups heading into tomorrow's game.
Florida State enters the contest 1-1 after rallying for a 36-26 win over Samford last weekend. The Seminoles scored twice in the final five minutes, including a pick-six by Levonta Taylor with 2:23 left to clinch the victory.
Deondre Francois leads the 'Noles with 533 passing yards and three TDs through two games. Running backs Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick drive Florida State's ground attack, splitting nearly all of the team's carries this season and accounting for 270 rushing yards.
Hamsah Nasirildeen is the team's leading tackler. The defensive back has 23 stops, which is 13 more than secondary-mates Jaiden Woodbey and Stanford Samuels III, who each have 10.
UP NEXT
Syracuse steps back out of league play next weekend to host former BIG EAST rival Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 22. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. on ESPNews. Tickets to watch the Orange and Huskies start at $25 and are on sale online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).
Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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