Orange Host BC in Rivalry Game

SYRACUSE VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
Game Details: 2 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 7
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome
Game Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Television: ACC Regional Sports Networks | YES Network locally
Radio: Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield IMG College
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes(PDF)
BC Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes(PDF)

ORANGE HOST LONGTIME RIVAL BOSTON COLLEGE
• Syracuse hosts Boston College, the Orange's fourth-most frequent FBS opponent and fifth-most frequent opponent in total, for the 54th meeting between the programs on Saturday.
• The Eagles are the Orange's second-most frequent opponent of current ACC squads, trailing just Pittsburgh (76).
• It's the penultimate home game for the Orange, who will finish the regular season with two-of-three games away from the Dome. The Orange won their home opener vs. Georgia Tech earlier this year.
• The game will air on ACC Regional Sports Networks (YES Network locally), with Tom Werme '91 (PxP), James Bates (analyst) and Kelly Crull (reporter) on the call.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
• Saturday's game is presented by Hayner Hoyt.
• 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 1:30 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, 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.

SERIES HISTORY
• Syracuse leads the all-time series with Boston College 32-21, including a 4-3 mark against the Eagles since they became ACC foes.
• Recently, this matchup has been saved for each team's final regular season matchup, as five of the prior seven meetings in ACC play have been the regular season finale.
• This is the third time in the series that one side has had a home game in consecutive seasons after Boston College visited Syracuse in 2019 as well. Syracuse hosted BC in both 1962 and 1963, while BC played host in 1966 and 1967.

LAST TIME VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
• Syracuse held leads of 17-10 and 20-17, but five-straight BC scoring drives broke the game open by the middle of the third quarter, leading to a 58-27 Eagles win.
• QB Tommy DeVito completed 25-of-36 passes for 289 yards and threw three touchdown passes for the Orange. He also led the team with 61-yards rushing.
• WR Trishton Jackson was DeVito's top-target on the day, as he caught eight balls for 148 yards and two scores. TE Aaron Hackett caught the other touchdown.
• The Eagles were led by running backs AJ Dillon and David Bailey as BC scored five of its touchdowns on the ground and ran for more than 400 yards.
• PK Andre Szmyt connected on both field goal attempts, making his kicks of 47 and 30 yards.
• Defensively, LB Lakeim Williams was Syracuse's top tackler, making 15 tackles on the day.

GRADING OUT AMONG THE BEST
• According to Pro Football Focus, Syracuse CBs Garrett Williams and Ifeatu Melifonwu have been the two players who've gone the most targets without allowing a touchdown pass against them in coverage this season.
• Williams, a first-year starter for the Orange, entered the Wake Forest game leading the nation with 38 targets and no touchdowns surrendered according to PFF. Second nationally was teammate Ifeatu Melifonwu, who had gone 33 targets without allowing a touchdown over that same span.
• Against Clemson, Williams registerred his first collegiate interception and returned it for a touchdown. It was the first pick-six surrendered in Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence's career. Melifonwu came away with three pass breakups against the Tigers. Williams also led the Orange in tackles against Wake Forest with nine solo stops. He added a PBU and a sack, while Melifonwu notched another PBU.
• Melifonwu ranks fourth nationally with seven pass breakups thus far on the year. He's tied with BC's Brandon Sebastian and Louisville's Kei'Trel Clark for the ACC lead. Williams is tied for fourth with six.

A WIN WOULD …
• Improve Dino Babers' record to 25-32 as head coach of the Orange.
• Improve Syracuse's record to 33-21 all-time vs. Boston College.
• Improve Syracuse to 2-3 at home, where the Orange have finished .500 or better in each of the prior three seasons.
• Give Syracuse its 737th all-time victory (includes 11 wins from 2004-06 that were vacated by the NCAA). The Orange currently rank 20th on the FBS ledger of winningest programs. Syracuse is one of 28 FBS schools to have accumulated 700+ wins.

DOME-INATION
• Syracuse is 10-6 since the start of 2018 at home.
• Under Dino Babers, Syracuse is 16-13 at home. Home field success has been a staple at all three of his coaching stops, with Babers' teams combining to go 34-18 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.

FIRST TIME STARTERS
• Fourteen different players have started their first collegiate game this season for Syracuse - the second-hightest total for first-time starters in the ACC.
• Navy (23) has the FBS lead. Including specialists, Syracuse has seen 15 different players atop their respective position on the depth chart for the first time this season. Florida State (16) has the most first-time starters in 2020 in the ACC.
• The number emphasizes the personnel that have turned over for the Orange. 'Cuse could have opened the season with player who had previously started at least one game start at 18 of the available 22 positions on offense/defense.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tommy DeVito

Aaron Hackett

Trishton Jackson

Ifeatu Melifonwu

Andre Szmyt

Garrett Williams

Syracuse University Athletics