Orange Host Seminoles in Dome Finale

Syracuse fans have one last chance to see the Orange in action at the JMA Wireless Dome when they host Florida State on Saturday at 8 p.m. It's Senior Day at the Dome and those playing their last home contest will be honored in a pregame ceremony and, in what has become a tradition under head coach Dino Babers, will take part in a Senior Walk postgame.

"This game is unique," Babers said. "After this game is played, we'll have our Senior Walk. Just so the fans will know, they will go into the locker room for a very brief minute. When I say minute, I mean minute. They'll come in, we'll say some words too and some goodbyes and then those guys will come back out and they'll take their final lap around the JMA. It's an emotional thing for guys and it should be. I want to encourage the fans to hang around and swap stories because it is one of those things that the Dungeys and the guys always talk about – Zaire Franklins talk about what happens on those senior walks."

Tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased at Cuse.com/tickets.

Syracuse is 5-1 at home this season and a sixth win would tie for the most wins since the building's construction. Overall, 'Cuse has won six home games five times post World War II (2018, 2001, 1988, 1987, 1963). Standing in the way of that mark are the Seminoles, which have won two straight and enter Saturday's game with a 6-3 record, including a 4-3 mark in ACC play. Syracuse has played in front of two sold-out crowds in its last two home games and Babers is counting on Orange Nation to bring the energy again Saturday.

"This is our last home game in the Dome and we need Otto's Army out there ready to go," Babers said. "5-1 at the Dome – we'd like to finish on a positive note and we're going to need our 12th man behind us."

The game will feature the top two defenses in the ACC. Syracuse is allowing 306.9 yards per game, while Florida State is giving up 308.4. The Orange rank second in the league in scoring defense (18.4 ppg.), while the Seminoles are fourth (19.8).

Offensively, both teams are averaging more than 30 points per game. Florida State leads the ACC and ranks 17th in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 211.8 yards per game.

"Coach Mike Norvell does a nice job with those guys," Babers said of this week's opponent. "They're really on fire, they're having a good year. They're 4-3 in conference, 6-3 overall. Obviously, the win against Miami was impressive, you know, holding those guys to not scoring a touchdown and then, even more impressive maybe, is the 41-16 win on a Georgia Tech team that's really gotten a lot better as the season went along. Jordan Tavis is different. We thought he was one-way last year now he is multiple, and that offense is clicking.

"They are absolutely on fire; they've done some amazing things in a year," Babers continued. "Defensively they've got defensive lineman and defensive ends and it's an exceptional defense when you take Miami's athletes, and you hold them, and they don't get a touchdown. It's telling you what we're dealing with right here. It's going to be a tall task but we got them at home and that's the best place to get people when you have tall tasks and we're going to see how it goes. But we know that it's a difficult game. We know our opponent is really good and you know we'll be there at eight o'clock Saturday night."

In addition to Senior Day, Saturday is Military Appreciation Day at the JMA Dome. Fans can also help make a contribution to the University's efforts to collect outerwear for local residents through Operation Orange Warmup. The Chancellor's House, the Office of Community Engagement and Syracuse Athletics are partnering to collect new (and clean, nearly new) winter jackets in all sizes and styles can be left in collection bins at 11 drop-off points around the JMA Dome.

Syracuse University Athletics

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