5 Things to Know: Syracuse vs. Notre Dame
11/20/2025 5:12:00 PM | Football
Syracuse football plays its final road game of the 2025 season on Saturday at No. 9 Notre Dame. Here's five things to know about the matchup:
1. ORANGE VS. IRISH
Saturday's matchup will be the 12th meeting in the history of the two programs, with the Fighting Irish owning an 8-3 series lead.
This will be Syracuse's fifth trip to South Bend and first since 2020. Notre Dame has won three of the previous four matchups on their home field, with a 24-23 Syracuse victory in 2008 being the exception.
2. FRESH FACES
Twenty freshmen saw meaningful action in Syracuse's last game at Miami. The Orange have continued to see more players in Fran Brown's first two highly touted recruiting classes gain increases in playing time.
So far this season, 57 underclassmen (redshirt sophomore or younger) have appeared in a game, including 26 true freshmen and 11 redshirt freshmen. The Orange have also seen 21 players make their first collegiate starts this season, a total which ranks third nationally and leads the power-four. Only Bowling Green (25) and Eastern Michigan (24) have had more first-time starters this year.
3. EVERY 'CUSE CLICK COUNTS
Saturday's game will air on NBC at 3:30 p.m. There are more ways than ever that fans can have a direct financial impact on Syracuse Athletics, one of which is by making sure you watch every game you can't attend. Television ratings now have an impact on revenue distribution in the ACC. Make sure you're always watching the Orange, whether from the Dome or at home, because Every 'Cuse Click Counts.
4. MULTIPLE FRESHMEN ALL-AMERICAN CANDIDATES
Freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. has been as advertised this season, with the 17-year-old corner leading all true-freshmen nationally in pass breakups. The rookie defensive back was named as one of the top-20 (and top-five defensively) true freshmen players in the nation this week, and is a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Award, presented to the nation's top freshman.
Antoine Deslauriers joined Samuel on the Shaun Alexander Watch List. Deslauriers is tied for the team lead with 54 tackles this season. He is on pace to become the first true freshman on record to lead the team in tackles.
Additionally, Byron Washington enters this week's game with the 10th-most snaps played nationally by a true freshman guard. The position traditionally most difficult to see time as a true freshman, Washington ranks third in the ACC and seventh in the power-four in snaps played by rookie offensive guards.
5. BACK IN THE DOME ONE MORE TIME
Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome for one final time this season on Nov. 29, hosting longtime rival Boston College. It'll be Senior Day in the Loud House. Get your tickets at Cuse.com/FootballTickets and be there to celebrate the senior class!
Â
1. ORANGE VS. IRISH
Saturday's matchup will be the 12th meeting in the history of the two programs, with the Fighting Irish owning an 8-3 series lead.
This will be Syracuse's fifth trip to South Bend and first since 2020. Notre Dame has won three of the previous four matchups on their home field, with a 24-23 Syracuse victory in 2008 being the exception.
2. FRESH FACES
Twenty freshmen saw meaningful action in Syracuse's last game at Miami. The Orange have continued to see more players in Fran Brown's first two highly touted recruiting classes gain increases in playing time.
So far this season, 57 underclassmen (redshirt sophomore or younger) have appeared in a game, including 26 true freshmen and 11 redshirt freshmen. The Orange have also seen 21 players make their first collegiate starts this season, a total which ranks third nationally and leads the power-four. Only Bowling Green (25) and Eastern Michigan (24) have had more first-time starters this year.
3. EVERY 'CUSE CLICK COUNTS
Saturday's game will air on NBC at 3:30 p.m. There are more ways than ever that fans can have a direct financial impact on Syracuse Athletics, one of which is by making sure you watch every game you can't attend. Television ratings now have an impact on revenue distribution in the ACC. Make sure you're always watching the Orange, whether from the Dome or at home, because Every 'Cuse Click Counts.
4. MULTIPLE FRESHMEN ALL-AMERICAN CANDIDATES
Freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. has been as advertised this season, with the 17-year-old corner leading all true-freshmen nationally in pass breakups. The rookie defensive back was named as one of the top-20 (and top-five defensively) true freshmen players in the nation this week, and is a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Award, presented to the nation's top freshman.
Antoine Deslauriers joined Samuel on the Shaun Alexander Watch List. Deslauriers is tied for the team lead with 54 tackles this season. He is on pace to become the first true freshman on record to lead the team in tackles.
Additionally, Byron Washington enters this week's game with the 10th-most snaps played nationally by a true freshman guard. The position traditionally most difficult to see time as a true freshman, Washington ranks third in the ACC and seventh in the power-four in snaps played by rookie offensive guards.
5. BACK IN THE DOME ONE MORE TIME
Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome for one final time this season on Nov. 29, hosting longtime rival Boston College. It'll be Senior Day in the Loud House. Get your tickets at Cuse.com/FootballTickets and be there to celebrate the senior class!
Â
Players Mentioned
Steve Angeli Interview | Notre Dame Week
Thursday, November 20
Fran Brown Show
Thursday, November 20
Fran Brown Press Conference | Notre Dame Week
Monday, November 17
Fran Brown Press Conference
Monday, November 17
