Preview: Orange and Panthers Tangle Friday

SYRACUSE (3-3, 0-2 ACC ) VS. PITTSBURGH (4-2, 1-1 ACC)
Game Details: 7 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 18
Location: Syracuse, N.Y | The Dome
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television: ESPN
Radio: Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield IMG College
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
Pittsburgh Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse (3-3, 0-2 ACC) plays its second consecutive weekday ACC contest when it hosts longtime Eastern football rival Pittsburgh (4-2, 1-1 ACC) at the Dome on Family Weekend, presented by Dunkin. The Orange have won their last two home games, defeating Western Michigan (52-33) on Sept. 21 and Holy Cross (41-3) on Sept. 28.

The game will air live nationally on ESPN. Syracuse grad Dave Flemming (pxp), Jim Mora (analyst) and former Orange lacrosse All-American Paul Carcaterra (sideline reporter) have the call.

The Orange are coming off a 16-10 loss at NC State. Pitt is riding a three-game winning streak. The Panthers had a bye last weekend.

The game is the 75th meeting between the two programs. The Panthers are Syracuse's most frequent opponent. Pitt leads the all-time series, 39-32-3.

EASTERN FOOTBALL HEAVYWEIGHTS
Syracuse and Pitt are among the 28 FBS programs with 700+ all-time wins. The Panthers have 728, while the Orange own 733 (11 SU victories from 2004-06 were vacated by the NCAA).

Presented every year since 1936, the Lambert Meadowlands Trophy recognizes the best FBS team in the Northeast. Syracuse has claimed the trophy six times, most recently in 1992, which is tied with Pitt for third all-time behind Penn State (31) and Army (8). Syracuse and Pitt have also combined for 10 national championships. Pitt has nine, with the most recent coming in 1976. The Orange won the crown in 1959.

Both programs boast a Heisman Trophy winner (Syracuse – Ernie Davis, 1961; Pittsburgh – Tony Dorsett, 1976).

WORKIN' WEEKDAYS
The Orange are 15-4 (.789) in weekday games since beating Kansas State in the 2010 Pinstripe Bowl.

The Pitt game is the second weekday game in a row for the Orange after they fell 16-10 to NC State last Thursday. The 2019 season marks the third time in the modern era that Syracuse has played consecutive weekday games. The situation also occurred in 1952 and 2016.

Syracuse has won five straight Friday games and holds a 6-1 Friday record under head coach Dino Babers. The streak includes the Orange's 27-24 win against No. 2 Clemson in 2017 and last year's Camping World Bowl victory over West Virginia.

ACTION JACKSON
Wide receiver Trishton Jackson has six receptions of 30+ yards this season, tied with Clemson's Tee Higgins for the most in the ACC. The average length of of Jackson's six touchdown receptions this season is 30.8 yards, including three that have covered at least 46 yards and two of longer than 50 yards.

Jackson lead the Orange in each of the three major receiving categories – catches (33), yards (499) and touchdown receptions (6).

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
The Panthers enter Friday night's contest with a three-game winning streak, including a road win at Duke in their most recent outing on Oct. 5. Pitt is led by Pat Narduzzi, who is in his fifth season as head coach of the Panthers. Narduzzi owns a 32-26 overall record.

Defense has been Pitt's hallmark under Narduzzi. The Panthers are second nationally in sacks per game (4.5) and have been stout against the run as well, surrendering just 97 yards a game on the ground.

Quarterback Kenny Pickett ranks second in the ACC with 287.2 yards of total offense per game. He's also second in passing (274.0 ypg). Pickett has the benefit of throwing to the most productive pass-catching duo in the country. Wide receiver Maurice Ffrench leads the ACC with 50 receptions, while position-mate Taysir Mack is third (41). Mack is third in the league in receiving yards per game (85.2), as well.

Defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman leads the Pitt defense with six sacks and seven tackles for loss. Twyman is tied for second in the ACC in sacks per game (1.0). Defensive back Paris Ford tops the Panthers' tackle chart with 45 stops. He's also the squad's leader with two interceptions.

SERIES HISTORY
The Syracuse-Pittsburgh series, which began in 1916, has been contested annually since 1955. Pitt holds a 39-32-3 lead, however the Orange own the advantage in games played in Syracuse, 19-17-3. Syracuse defeated the Panthers 27-24 in 2017, the last time Pitt came to the Dome.

Pittsburgh is Syracuse's most frequent opponent. The two sides have played 74 times previously. Penn State is second on that list, lining up against the Orange on 71 occasions.

The two programs were BIG EAST foes prior to joining the ACC together in 2013. Since the annual contest became a conference game, the Syracuse-Pitt series is tied 14-14. Eleven of those matchups have been decided by seven points or less.

In 2017, the two teams combined for 137 points (Pitt 76, SU 61), the most ever scored in an FBS regulation game. Their 20 combined touchdowns (Pitt - 11, SU - 9) that day are also an FBS record.

UP NEXT
The Orange head back out on the road next week for an ACC Atlantic Division clash with Florida State. Kickoff between the Orange and Seminoles is slated for 3:30 p.m. on either ACC Network, ESPN or ESPN2. The television assignment will be determined following the conclusion of this weekend's games.

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Players Mentioned

Trishton Jackson

Syracuse University Athletics