Orange Return Home to Host Wake

SYRACUSE VS. WAKE FOREST
Game Details: 12 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 31
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome
Game Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Television: ACC Network
Radio: Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield IMG College
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes(PDF)
Wake Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes(PDF)

ORANGE RETURN HOME TO HOST WAKE
• Syracuse returns home after losing to #1 Clemson for the first of back-to-back home games. The Orange are in the midst of a stretch where five-of-six games are played inside the Carrier Dome.
• It's the second-straight season Wake Forest has visited the Orange after the schedule was redesigned in July.
• The game will air on ACC Network, with Chris Cotter (PxP), Mark Herzlich (analyst) and Kelsey Riggs (reporter) on the call.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring the health and safety of our student-athletes, campus and Central New York community, fans are not permitted at Saturday's game in accordance with state and local guidelines. Tailgating in Syracuse University lots is also prohibited.
• Fans are 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 11:30 a.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, especially when our fans can't watch the home opener in person. The show will be hosted by Brian Higgins '04 and will be augmented with live updates, in-game statistics and on-demand video content.

TURNOVER TALE
• Syracuse lost the turnover battle at Clemson with just one takeaway, snapping a 12-game streak where Syracuse had won the turnover battle. In total, 'Cuse has won the takeaway battle in 22 of its last 32 games (five of the remaining 10 were even).
• 'Cuse has ranked in the top-15 in turnover margin to conclude each of the past two seasons and has started 2020 by posting +17 in turnovers gained, a mark that ranks first nationally.
• The Orange are averaging a +1.3 turnover margin per game this year. That mark ranks sixth among teams who've played more than once.
• Since 2018, the Orange lead all FBS teams in takeaways with 73.
• LB Mikel Jones leads the Orange with five takeaways in 2020 (3 INT, 2 FR). He also forced a fumble vs. Clemson that the Tigers recovered.
• In 2019, the Orange gained 25 and committed 16 turnovers (+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 programs to rank in the top 15 of the statistic both of the last-two years. The Sun Devils tied for 11th in 2018 and ranked No. 6 in 2019. DC Tony White was part of both squads as he was at ASU before becoming the Orange's DC this year.

SERIES HISTORY
• Syracuse leads the all-time series with Wake Forest 6-3, including a 4-1 record in home games against the Demon Deacons. The .667 winning percentage is Syracuse's best mark against any ACC opponent.
• The Orange's 39-30 victory in The Dome last season made it two in a row over the Demon Deacons, which included a 41-24 win the last time Syracuse traveled to Winston-Salem in 2018. The road victory secured a winning season for the Orange in 2018, their first time doing so since 2013.
• The Orange have scored 30+ points in six of the nine matchups between the schools, averaging 40 points between the last two meetings.
• Syracuse owns the longest winning streak in the series, capturing four straight meetings from 2011-15. Three of those four victories were at home.

LAST TIME VS. WAKE FOREST
• After opening up a 17-3 lead at home last season, Wake Forest battled back and sent the game to overtime. In the overtime period, Andre Szmyt drilled a 40-yard field goal before Trill Williams iced the game with a strip-six that he then took 94 yards for a score. Ultimately, the Orange prevailed, 39-30.
• QB Clayton Welch made the first start of his career, recording 234 yards through the air with two touchdowns.
• RB Moe Neal ran 20 times for 98 yards and a touchdown. His fourth-quarter score, a 13-yard run, gave Syracuse a 27-20 lead with 8:29 left.
• Syracuse tallied three interceptions on the game, one each by Andre Cisco, Christopher Frederick, and Ifeatu Melifonwu. With Williams' forced fumble, four of the five starters in the 'Cuse secondary came away with a takeaway on the afternoon.

BREAKIN' UP IS HARD TO DO
• The Syracuse defense ranks third nationally this season (tied for second in the ACC) in passes defended. 'Cuse currently has 5.3 passes defended per game (32 total).
• DB Garrett Williams (1 INT, 5 PBUs) leads all Syracuse defenders with six passes defended. DBs Trill Williams (1 INT, 4 PBU) and Ifeatu Melifonwu (6 PBU) are tied with five apiece behind Garrett Williams. LB Mikel Jones (3 INT, 1 PBU) has four.
• Orange defense had 68 passes defended (13 INT, 55 PBU) in 2019, which tied for 15th nationally and ranked fifth in passes defended per game.

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Players Mentioned

Andre Cisco

Mikel Jones

Ifeatu Melifonwu

Moe Neal

Andre Szmyt

Clayton Welch

Garrett Williams

Trill Williams

Syracuse University Athletics