5 Things to Know: Syracuse at Virginia Tech
10/24/2023 8:40:00 AM | Football
Syracuse hits the road to Virginia Tech on Thursday for a matchup of old BIG EAST rivals in Blacksburg. Here's five things to know about the matchup.
1. Orange and Hokies Always Excite
Syracuse and Virginia Tech will meet for the 20th time on Thursday, with Syracuse owning an 11-8 advantage in the all-time series. The games have typically provided some excitement for all who watch.
Most recently, Syracuse came from two scores down in the final six minutes, overtaking the Hokies with 19 seconds remaining in 2021. The teams last meeting prior to that delivered the first signature win of the Dino Babers era, upsetting the then-ranked Hokies 31-17 in 2016.
Most of the matchups came as annual opponents on the BIG EAST slate though. Prior to the 2016 matchup, the teams hadn't played since 2003, a lopsided Hokies win. The series delivered some memorable moments in their old conference as well though. Syracuse won a triple overtime game against Virginia Tech in 2002. Most fans will of course remember the McNabb to Brominski tight end throwback as time expired in 1998.
There was of course the Dwight Freeney vs. Michael Vick game of 2000 as well. Ultimately an eight point Hokie win, Freeney – the soon-to-be College Football Hall of Fame inductee, who will be back on campus next week for the Boston College game to celebrate the occasion at halftime – set the program single-game record with 4.5 sacks and five tackles for loss for 40 yards.
If history repeats itself, Thursday's game will be another close affair. Five of the last eight games have been decided by one possession, including three in the final minute of regulation or overtime.
2. Hostile Environments
Virginia Tech is closing in on a sellout of Lane Stadium in what should be another hostile environment for the Orange. Every Syracuse opponent this season – Purdue, North Carolina and Florida State – to date has had a capacity crowd when 'Cuse has come to town.
This matchup closes a three-game, four-week road trip, which is the nation's third-longest stretch (34 days) between home games. Only Coastal Carolina (37) and Arkansas (35) feature longer stretches this season.
3. Bye, Bye, Bye
Syracuse is looking to duplicate last season's success off the open week, when the team took down then No. 15 NC State.
Since 2009, Syracuse is 12-9 when it has an additional week of preparation, including an 8-8 mark in regular-season games. The other five contests have come in bowl games, where 'Cuse has a 5-1 mark in that stretch.
Head coach Dino Babers is 3-3 in his last six games with additional time to prepare.
4. Thursday Night Lights
Syracuse will play its first Thursday night regular season game since the Orange traveled to NC State in 2019. Last year's Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl was also played on a Thursday.
'Cuse owns a 17-8 record in weekday contests since beating Kansas State in the 2010 Pinstripe Bowl and has won seven of their last 12 weekday games.
5. We're Comin' Home
Thursday's game will conclude a stretch where the Orange spent the entire month of October outside of the JMA Wireless Dome – the first stretch where the team didn't host a home game in an in-season calendar month since 2008.
Tickets are available at Cuse.com/Tickets for both remaining games in the JMA Dome, plus the Orange's game against Pitt at Yankee Stadium, where the teams will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first football game played at the stadium.
Â
1. Orange and Hokies Always Excite
Syracuse and Virginia Tech will meet for the 20th time on Thursday, with Syracuse owning an 11-8 advantage in the all-time series. The games have typically provided some excitement for all who watch.
Most recently, Syracuse came from two scores down in the final six minutes, overtaking the Hokies with 19 seconds remaining in 2021. The teams last meeting prior to that delivered the first signature win of the Dino Babers era, upsetting the then-ranked Hokies 31-17 in 2016.
Most of the matchups came as annual opponents on the BIG EAST slate though. Prior to the 2016 matchup, the teams hadn't played since 2003, a lopsided Hokies win. The series delivered some memorable moments in their old conference as well though. Syracuse won a triple overtime game against Virginia Tech in 2002. Most fans will of course remember the McNabb to Brominski tight end throwback as time expired in 1998.
There was of course the Dwight Freeney vs. Michael Vick game of 2000 as well. Ultimately an eight point Hokie win, Freeney – the soon-to-be College Football Hall of Fame inductee, who will be back on campus next week for the Boston College game to celebrate the occasion at halftime – set the program single-game record with 4.5 sacks and five tackles for loss for 40 yards.
If history repeats itself, Thursday's game will be another close affair. Five of the last eight games have been decided by one possession, including three in the final minute of regulation or overtime.
2. Hostile Environments
Virginia Tech is closing in on a sellout of Lane Stadium in what should be another hostile environment for the Orange. Every Syracuse opponent this season – Purdue, North Carolina and Florida State – to date has had a capacity crowd when 'Cuse has come to town.
This matchup closes a three-game, four-week road trip, which is the nation's third-longest stretch (34 days) between home games. Only Coastal Carolina (37) and Arkansas (35) feature longer stretches this season.
3. Bye, Bye, Bye
Syracuse is looking to duplicate last season's success off the open week, when the team took down then No. 15 NC State.
Since 2009, Syracuse is 12-9 when it has an additional week of preparation, including an 8-8 mark in regular-season games. The other five contests have come in bowl games, where 'Cuse has a 5-1 mark in that stretch.
Head coach Dino Babers is 3-3 in his last six games with additional time to prepare.
4. Thursday Night Lights
Syracuse will play its first Thursday night regular season game since the Orange traveled to NC State in 2019. Last year's Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl was also played on a Thursday.
'Cuse owns a 17-8 record in weekday contests since beating Kansas State in the 2010 Pinstripe Bowl and has won seven of their last 12 weekday games.
5. We're Comin' Home
Thursday's game will conclude a stretch where the Orange spent the entire month of October outside of the JMA Wireless Dome – the first stretch where the team didn't host a home game in an in-season calendar month since 2008.
Tickets are available at Cuse.com/Tickets for both remaining games in the JMA Dome, plus the Orange's game against Pitt at Yankee Stadium, where the teams will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first football game played at the stadium.
Â
Steve Angeli Interview | Clemson Week
Thursday, September 18
Fran Brown Show
Thursday, September 18
Steve Angeli & Darrell Gill Jr. postgame interview vs. Colgate
Tuesday, September 16
Fran Brown Press Conference | Clemson Week
Monday, September 15
