Orange Host Liberty to Close Home Stretch

SYRACUSE VS. LIBERTY
Game Details: 12 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 17
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome
Game Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Television: YES Network (locally) | ACC RSN
Radio: Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield IMG College
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes(PDF)
Liberty Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes(PDF)

ORANGE CLOSE HOMESTAND VS. LIBERTY
• Syracuse will conclude its three-game homestand on Saturday with its lone non-conference opponent of the 2020 regular season in Liberty. The game is presented by Perry's Ice Cream.
• It will be the second meeting with the Flames after 'Cuse defeated Liberty 24-0 in Lynchburg to open the 2019 campaign.
• The game will air on ACC Regional Sports Networks (YES Network locally), with Evan Lepler (PxP), Charles Arbuckle (analyst) and Abby Labar (reporter) on the call.

GAME INFORMATION
• With no fans in the building, Orange Nation is encouraged to join in Syracuse's new interactive experience "'Cuse on the Couch", presented by KeyBank. It's a virtual second-screen show that will begin at 12 p.m. and continue through the duration of the game that is free on the Cuse app or Cuse.com. It aims to elevate the virtual fan experience. The show will be hosted by Brian Higgins '04 and will be augmented with live updates, in-game statistics and on-demand video content.
• Syracuse University Athletics remains committed to doing everything it can to support and protect the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, our staff and the campus and Syracuse communities. All decisions will be science-based and informed by public health and guidance as provided by county, state and public health officials. If fans are permitted to attend games – in some capacity – Syracuse Athletics will announce plans for spectators to secure admission to the events. Fans will be required to sit in their socially-distanced seat locations and wear a face covering.

TURNOVER TALE
• Syracuse has not lost the turnover battle in 11-straight contests and has won the takeaway battle in 21 of its last 30 games (five of the remaining nine were even).
• 'Cuse has ranked in the top-15 in turnover margin to conclude each of the past two seasons and have started 2020 by posting +14 in turnovers gained, a mark that ranks first nationally.
• The Orange have also turned the ball over just four times this season and are averaging a +2.5 turnover margin per game this year, which also leads the nation.
• Since 2018, the Orange lead all FBS teams in takeaways with 70.
• LB Mikel Jones leads the Orange with three takeaways in 2020 (3 INT, 1 FR).
• In 2019, the Orange committed 16 turnovers, while gaining 25 (+9), for an average margin of +0.75. That figure ranked 13th nationally.
• In 2018, Syracuse was even better. Led by a defense that recorded 31 takeaways, including 18 interceptions, the Orange tied Ohio for No. 5 in average turnover margin (+1.0).
• Syracuse and Arizona State are only two FBS programs to rank in the top 15 of the statistic both of the last-two seasons. The Sun Devils tied for 11th in 2018 and ranked No. 6 in 2019. DC Tony White was part of both defenses as he was at Arizona State before becoming the Orange's defensive coordinator this season.

DEFENSE GETS YOUNGER
• Syracuse has started five different freshmen (2 R-Fr. and 3 true freshmen) on defense this season.
• The 'Cuse defense on the opening drive against Duke featured redshirt freshmen Garrett Williams and Steve Linton and true freshmen Ja'Had Carter and Rob Hanna.
• LB Stefon Thompson is a true freshman who started the first three games at LB before Linton got the start vs. Duke.
• The number of freshmen starters on the Syracuse roster ballons to seven when you include the offense, which has seen R-Fr. RB Jawhar Jordan and Fr. RB Sean Tucker start in the backfield.
• In total, Syracuse played 17 freshmen (redshirt and true) against Duke. That number ties Georgia Tech (vs. UCF) for the third in the ACC for most freshmen to play in an FBS game this season. Clemson (31 vs. Wake Forest) and Notre Dame (25 vs. USF) are the only two times more freshmen have played.

SERIES HISTORY
• This is the second meeting between the Orange and Liberty and the first time the Flames have visited Syracuse.
• Syracuse played at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Va. last season to open the 2019 campaign. That game began a three-year series between the schools. Liberty is set to visit the Orange in 2021.
• This game will be the lone non-conference game on the 2020 regular season slate for Syracuse. Under Head Coach Dino Babers, Syracuse is 11-6 vs. non-conference foes, including a 7-2 mark in the last-two seasons.

LAST TIME VS. LIBERTY
• Syracuse's defense registered eight sacks, held the Flames to -4 rushing yards, and pitched a shutout in a 24-0 win in last year's season opener.
• Syracuse scored three TDs on the ground with Abdul Adams, Jarveon Howard and Moe Neal each scoring, while PK Andre Szmyt hit a 45-yard field goal to open the scoring.
• DT Josh Black and DE Kendall Coleman each had two sacks, while DE Kingsley Jonathan and DT Curtis Harper had 0.5 sacks, as well.
• Jonathan and DB Trill Williams each forced fumbles, while DBs Andre Cisco and Ifeatu Melifonwu came away with interceptions to lead the defensive charge.

HOME NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
• This will be the lone non-conference game of 2020 for the Orange. Syracuse went 2-0 in home non-conference games a year ago.
• Syracuse is 7-2 in its nine home non-league games under Dino Babers, including five straight victories.
• Under Babers, Syracuse has outscored its non-conference opponents in the Loud House, 373-170.
• The Orange have not lost a non-ACC game at home since Sept. 9, 2017, a 30-23 loss to Middle Tennessee.

DOME-INATION
• Syracuse is 10-4 since the start of 2018 at home, including a 1-1 mark this year.
• Under Dino Babers, Syracuse is 16-11 at home. Home field success has been a staple at all three of his coaching stops, with Babers' teams combining to go 34-16 when defending their home field.
• The Orange were undefeated in the Loud House in 2018, going 6-0 in the building. The 2018 campaign was SU's fourth perfect home season since 1980; the three previous unbeaten campaigns (all 6-0) were in 1987, 1988 and 2001.

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Players Mentioned

Abdul Adams

Josh Black

Ja'Had Carter

Andre Cisco

Kendall Coleman

Rob Hanna

Curtis Harper

Jarveon Howard

Kingsley Jonathan

Mikel Jones

Jawhar Jordan

Steve Linton

Ifeatu Melifonwu

Moe Neal

Andre Szmyt

Stefon Thompson

Sean Tucker

Garrett Williams

Trill Williams

Syracuse University Athletics