5 Things to Know: Syracuse at North Carolina
10/4/2023 11:23:00 AM | Football
Syracuse travels to North Carolina on Saturday for its second ACC contest of the season. Here's five things to know about the matchup:
1. ORANGE FACES CAROLINA FOR THE SEVENTH TIME
This is just the seventh meeting between the two programs, with four of the prior six coming out of conference play. Syracuse hosted the Tar Heels in 2018 and traveled to Kenan Memorial Stadium in 2020 for the season opener of the COVID-adjusted schedule. There were no fans at that matchup, so this marks the first time 'Cuse has played in front of fans at North Carolina as a conference member, and first time at Kenan Stadium with fans since a triple overtime victory in 2003.
Among ACC teams, North Carolina (6) is currently tied with Virginia (6) for the third-fewest meetings. Georgia Tech (4) – who Syracuse also plays this year, is the team the Orange has played the least all-time, followed by Duke (5).
2. TOUGH TEST
North Carolina is ranked No. 14 in the latest AP Poll, setting up a big challenge for Syracuse.
While head coach Dino Babers has led 'Cuse to a number of top-25 victories in recent seasons – including a top-15 win last season that vaulted SU into the top-15 of the national polls, the program is seeking its first top-15 win in a true road game since 1998. Syracuse defeated then No. 13 Michigan in the Big House 38-28.
Syracuse has fared much better vs. ranked foes since Babers arrived on campus, with at least one top-20 victory in four of the last-seven seasons. The last time 'Cuse took down a ranked squad outside of the JMA Dome came in the 2018 Camping World Bowl, by beating then No. 15 West Virginia.
3. ROAD WARRIORS
Syracuse is starting the third-longest stretch outside their home venue in FBS football this week. Between last week's game against Clemson and their next home contest (Nov. 3 vs. Boston College), Syracuse will go 34 days between home games.
Only Coastal Carolina (37) and Arkansas (35) have longer stretches outside their home venue this season. The Razorbacks' stretch includes a neutral site contest vs. Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium.
When the Orange do return home, it'll be a Friday night game vs. Boston College, before another two-game stretch (one road, one neutral) outside the Loud House, before the regular season finale at home vs. Wake Forest. The 56 days between Saturday home games trails only New Mexico State's 63-day stretch without a weekend home game.
4. BALL SECURITY
A key thing to watch on Saturday will be Syracuse's defense's knack for the takeaway vs. North Carolina's tendency of not giving it away.
The Mob is tied for ninth nationally in turnovers gained this season, with 11 takeaways through five games. On the flip side, North Carolina hasn't fumbled yet this season and has a total of four turnovers on offense, a mark that ranks third in the ACC and top-20 nationally.
5. WATCH THE 'CUSE
Saturday's game will be the Orange's second of four straight on either ABC or ESPN. 'Cuse already held the NBC primetime slot in their victory over Purdue as well. This week's 3:30 kickoff will air on ESPN, followed by next week on ABC – their second time in three weeks on the flagship network of Disney's college football coverage. Â
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1. ORANGE FACES CAROLINA FOR THE SEVENTH TIME
This is just the seventh meeting between the two programs, with four of the prior six coming out of conference play. Syracuse hosted the Tar Heels in 2018 and traveled to Kenan Memorial Stadium in 2020 for the season opener of the COVID-adjusted schedule. There were no fans at that matchup, so this marks the first time 'Cuse has played in front of fans at North Carolina as a conference member, and first time at Kenan Stadium with fans since a triple overtime victory in 2003.
Among ACC teams, North Carolina (6) is currently tied with Virginia (6) for the third-fewest meetings. Georgia Tech (4) – who Syracuse also plays this year, is the team the Orange has played the least all-time, followed by Duke (5).
2. TOUGH TEST
North Carolina is ranked No. 14 in the latest AP Poll, setting up a big challenge for Syracuse.
While head coach Dino Babers has led 'Cuse to a number of top-25 victories in recent seasons – including a top-15 win last season that vaulted SU into the top-15 of the national polls, the program is seeking its first top-15 win in a true road game since 1998. Syracuse defeated then No. 13 Michigan in the Big House 38-28.
Syracuse has fared much better vs. ranked foes since Babers arrived on campus, with at least one top-20 victory in four of the last-seven seasons. The last time 'Cuse took down a ranked squad outside of the JMA Dome came in the 2018 Camping World Bowl, by beating then No. 15 West Virginia.
3. ROAD WARRIORS
Syracuse is starting the third-longest stretch outside their home venue in FBS football this week. Between last week's game against Clemson and their next home contest (Nov. 3 vs. Boston College), Syracuse will go 34 days between home games.
Only Coastal Carolina (37) and Arkansas (35) have longer stretches outside their home venue this season. The Razorbacks' stretch includes a neutral site contest vs. Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium.
When the Orange do return home, it'll be a Friday night game vs. Boston College, before another two-game stretch (one road, one neutral) outside the Loud House, before the regular season finale at home vs. Wake Forest. The 56 days between Saturday home games trails only New Mexico State's 63-day stretch without a weekend home game.
4. BALL SECURITY
A key thing to watch on Saturday will be Syracuse's defense's knack for the takeaway vs. North Carolina's tendency of not giving it away.
The Mob is tied for ninth nationally in turnovers gained this season, with 11 takeaways through five games. On the flip side, North Carolina hasn't fumbled yet this season and has a total of four turnovers on offense, a mark that ranks third in the ACC and top-20 nationally.
5. WATCH THE 'CUSE
Saturday's game will be the Orange's second of four straight on either ABC or ESPN. 'Cuse already held the NBC primetime slot in their victory over Purdue as well. This week's 3:30 kickoff will air on ESPN, followed by next week on ABC – their second time in three weeks on the flagship network of Disney's college football coverage. Â
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