Orange and Rutgers Square Off As Fans Welcomed Back

SYRACUSE VS. RUTGERS
Game Details: 2 p.m. | Saturday, Sept. 11
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome
Tickets: Get Tickets
Game Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Game Program: Here
Fan Guide: Here
Television: ACCN
Radio: Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes(PDF)
Rutgers Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes(PDF)

GAME INFORMATION
• With fans set to return to the Loud House for the first time in 650 days, a number of new protocols are in place based on public health guidance. Fans should familiarize themselves with all requirements and expectations here: Stadium Attendance Guidance
• Fans are encouraged to arrive early to streamline entry.
• Mobile ticketing is also in place. If you have not downloaded your tickets yet, here's a step-by-step guide to mobile tickets: Mobile Ticketing
• Saturday's game is presented by Hayner Hoyt
• It's also Coming Back Together and First Responders, Medical & Frontline Workers Appreciation.

ORANGE SET FOR HOME OPENER
• After opening the season on the road, Syracuse kicks off a three-game homestand, its longest of the year, when it takes on Rutgers.
• The Orange will play in front of their hometown fans for the first time since the 2019 season finale. In 2020 fans were not permitted to attend games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 'Cuse faithful will get their first look at the $118 million in renovations to the stadium after a new roof and other amenities were installed in the building during the summer of 2020.
• The game will air on ACC Network, with Syracuse grad Mike Couzens '10 (PxP), Dustin Fox (analyst) and Dana Boyle (reporter) on the call.
• Saturday's game marks the first meeting between Syracuse and Rutgers since 2012 when both were members of The BIG EAST Conference.
• Syracuse has an all-time record of 148-93-2 all-time in the Carrier Dome. The Orange were a perfect 6-0 on its home field in 2018, a feat they have accomplished four times since the building opened in 1980.

SERIES HISTORY
• Syracuse and Rutgers will play for the 44th time when they take the field on Saturday. The Orange own a 30-12-1 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1914.
• Head coach Dino Babers will face Rutgers for the first time in his career.
• The Orange won 12-straight games against the Scarlet Knights from 1987-98. After Rutgers snapped the winning-streak with an overtime win in 1999, 'Cuse won the next three meetings.
• The squads met 22 times as members of The BIG EAST Conference. The Orange were 14-8 in those contests.
• The teams have split the last four meetings. Syracuse posted wins in 2009 and 2010, while Rutgers came out on top in 2011 and 2012.

LAST TIME VS. RUTGERS
• In their final meeting as members of The BIG EAST Conference, Rutgers defeated Syracuse, 23-15, in Piscataway, N.J. on Oct. 13, 2012.
• The Scarlet Knights scored first on a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but the Orange answered with 1:32 remaining in the half when Adonis Ameen-Moore found the end zone to cap an 80-yard scoring drive.
• Rutgers scored twice in the third quarter and took its largest lead of the day at 23-7 with a touchdown with 14:01 remaining.
• Ryan Nassib connected with Christopher Clark on a 3-yard touchdown pass and a successful two-point conversion brought the Orange within eight, but that was as close as they could get.
• The loss was one of only two for Syracuse in conference play as it won a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title.

RECORD WATCH
• PK Andre Szmyt recorded his 300th career kicking point in the victory at Ohio. He recorded nine points (2 FG, 3 PATs) against the Bobcats.
• With that performance he moved into second place in Syracuse's record book for kicking points. Nate Trout (1996-99) holds the record with 334.
• Szymt also moved into second place on the Orange's all-time field goals made list. He now has 58 career field goals, which is one shy of the school record of 49 held by Cole Murphy (2014-17).

I AM IRON MAN
• Redshirt-senior offensive lineman Airon Servais made his 49th straight start in Syracuse's season opener at Ohio. That number is tied for the most starts in program history.
• He has now tied Orange QB Donovan McNabb for the most total starts of any player in program history, with 49.

OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY
• Syracuse scored on five of its seven possessions in the victory against Ohio, excluding the two possessions that concluded with the end of both halves.
• Syracuse was 8-for-12 on third-down conversions. The .667 success rate on third down is the highest conversion rate for the Orange in head coach Dino Babers era in a single game.
• 'Cuse punted just two times against the Bobcats. That mark equals the least punts for SU under the direction of Babers.
• The Orange averaged 6.2 yards per play, including a 6.4 average per rush.
• Syracuse had two six-minute or more scoring drives. The Orange used 6:46 on their first possession of the second quarter on a 61-yard drive that ended with a Andre Szymt field goal.

CHESTNUT GETS THE CALL
• Freshman DB Duce Chestnut joined rare company in his collegiate debut at Ohio.
• Chestnut became the first true freshman defensive back to start a season opener since Andre Cisco in 2018. Prior to Cisco, the last defensive back to start the season opener as a true freshman was Markus Paul in 1985.
• Chestnut finished the day with eight tackles, including five solo, 0.5 tackle for loss and one interception, which he returned for 23 yards.
• Syracuse has started a true freshman in four of head coach Dino Babers' six seasons on defense in the season opener (Kendall Coleman, 2016, Andre Cisco 2018, Stefon Thompson 2020, Chestnut, 2021).

Orange and Rutgers Square Off As Fans Welcomed Back

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Players Mentioned

Andre Cisco

Airon Servais

Andre Szmyt

Stefon Thompson

Syracuse University Athletics