Orange Ready For Final Three-Game Stretch

Syracuse has three games remaining on its 2021 schedule with bowl eligibility squarely in its sights. Two straight wins before the bye week put the Orange at 5-4 overall heading into Saturday's game against Louisville.

"We're excited to be coming off the bye," head coach Dino Babers said. "We did not practice that much. We really needed time to heal. We got a couple of practices in but the main thing was making sure that these guys heal up and give us the opportunity for the final three games of the season. We're all back, we're all working on Louisville and we're looking forward to the game this Saturday."

Syracuse needs one win to become bowl eligible for the second time in Babers' tenure and the first since 2018. The final three contests represent arguably the toughest stretch of the season for the Orange. After facing Malik Cunningham and the Cardinals, Syracuse goes on the road to face No. 21 NC State before hosting No. 25 Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale.

"It's a very difficult task," Baber said of getting that sixth win. "The three teams we have to play are outstanding. If we're fortunate enough to win a game, I think that would be a blessing. I think it would be exciting for everything that's happened here if the young men would get that opportunity. I've been to a bunch of bowl games. I'd really like this group of men who sit in this (auditorium) to have the opportunity to go based off their trials, so to speak. But they have already done so much for the University, for the community, for myself, for themselves, but I wish we could treat them with one more win so that they know they have the opportunity to do something – not necessarily be home for Christmas. When you're in a football family, that is your Christmas wish."

The Orange closed out the month of October with come-from-behind wins against Virginia Tech and Boston College, rebounding from three straight losses that were decided on the final possession of the game. Babers credits his players with staying the course during the difficult times.

"There's a lot of parts where they could have come apart, where they could have separated," Babers said. "There were a lot of things that happened, a lot of adversity where they could have taken a different angle, a different slant on it. A lot of noise out there as they say. But the core of the team kept it together – the super seniors, the juniors, the outstanding people in the classes below that, they really wanted to win. And they really stayed locked in. That was the biggest thing."

After a week off to heal physically and regroup mentally, the Orange will travel to Louisville for the third consecutive year to face a team that has also played its share of close games. Four of the Cardinals' nine games have been decided by seven points or less. Louisville enters Saturday's contest with a 45-overall record, including a 2-4 mark in league play.

Syracuse looks to continue to play well on the road as it has a 2-1 mark away from the Dome this season. A win would give the Orange their first three-game winning streak of the year and send them bowling for the 27th time in program history.

Syracuse University Athletics

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