5 Things to Know: ’Cuse vs. New Hampshire
9/2/2026 9:50:00 AM | Football
The countdown is finally over for Syracuse football fans. At Noon on Saturday, the Orange return to the JMA Wireless Dome to face New Hampshire for the season opener. Here's five things to know about the matchup:
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1. 'Cuse on the Quad
'Cuse on the Quad and the Toyota Fun Zone kick off a full day of activities in and around the JMA Wireless Dome for fans and students, opening three hours prior to kickoff. This year brings new energy to the experience, including a large-format videoboard for watching ESPN's College GameDay and other marquee college football games, live music from local artists, expanded seating and fan amenities and new additions to the Fun Zone like a rock climbing wall and mechanical bull.
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Be sure to arrive early for the NYE Auto Quad Walk - which will take place at approximately 9:40 a.m. on Saturday. Now in its third season, this year adds a new twist. As the team approaches, the Crouse College chimes will play AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" to signal to campus that the Orange are on their way. The team arrives approximately two hours and 20 minutes before kickoff each week, so fans should line the route early to be part of it, and to grab that week's collectible Quad Walk pin, part of a six-pin series for the 2026 home slate.
2. Orange in Season Debuts
Syracuse is 96-34-4 all-time in home openers, a record that excludes the 1979 season when the Orange played all their games on the road due to the construction of the Dome, and the 1889 season, when Syracuse did not play a home game. Since the Dome opened in 1980, the Orange are 27-19 in home debuts, and they've won 10 of their last 12 home openers.
Syracuse is also 88-44-4 all time in season-opening contests. The Orange have won 10 of their last 12 season openers, with victories over Ohio (2024, 2021), Colgate (2023, 2016), Louisville (2022), Liberty (2019), Western Michigan (2018), Central Connecticut State (2017), Rhode Island (2015) and Villanova (2014). Their only losses in season openers since 2014 came at North Carolina in 2020, when the Tar Heels went on to play in the Orange Bowl, and against Tennessee in 2025 when they met at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
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3. First Time Foe
The Orange and New Hampshire have never met before, making Saturday the first-ever clash between the two programs.
The Wildcats are led by first-year head coach Sean Goldrich, a four-year starter at New Hampshire from 2012-15 who helped the program to two CAA Championships and two national semifinal appearances.
New Hampshire finished its 2025 regular season on a five-game winning streak in which the Wildcats scored at least 24 points in every game and topped 30 in four of them.
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4. Be There and Be Loud
Tickets are still available for Saturday's opener! Visit Cuse.com/FootballTickets to secure your seats now!
Syracuse Athletics has unveiled a slate of in-game enhancements designed to boost the atmosphere and home-field advantage at the JMA Wireless Dome this season. The third quarter now belongs to the students, featuring dedicated entertainment, contests and giveaways, along with student-only concession specials in the Flex Space behind sections 122-124. The Orange will also debut an upgraded team entrance at Saturday's opener, kept under wraps until kickoff. Fans are encouraged to get to their seats early to experience the entrance firsthand.
On-field pregame festivities begin 30 minutes before kickoff, including a performance by the Pride of the Orange - Syracuse's marching band, celebrating its 150th year with new uniforms.
Fans will also want to utilize the Waze App for their way finding and parking needs. Syracuse facilities and parking staff will submit real-time traffic updates through the app to update routes and improve traffic patterns for fans heading to the Dome.Â
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5. Welcome Back, QB1
Steve Angeli returns to the field for the first time since September 2025 after missing the final eight games of the season due to injury. Through four games a year ago, Angeli had the Syracuse offense surging, averaging 472.8 yards of total offense to go with 38.3 points. Angeli led the nation in passing through four weeks.
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Offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon will be back calling the shots on offense in his third season at Syracuse. When Nixon has his Week 1 starting quarterback under center, the Orange are 13-4 and average 468.8 yards of total offense per game. The Orange have passed for over 250 yards in each of those games.
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1. 'Cuse on the Quad
'Cuse on the Quad and the Toyota Fun Zone kick off a full day of activities in and around the JMA Wireless Dome for fans and students, opening three hours prior to kickoff. This year brings new energy to the experience, including a large-format videoboard for watching ESPN's College GameDay and other marquee college football games, live music from local artists, expanded seating and fan amenities and new additions to the Fun Zone like a rock climbing wall and mechanical bull.
Â
Be sure to arrive early for the NYE Auto Quad Walk - which will take place at approximately 9:40 a.m. on Saturday. Now in its third season, this year adds a new twist. As the team approaches, the Crouse College chimes will play AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" to signal to campus that the Orange are on their way. The team arrives approximately two hours and 20 minutes before kickoff each week, so fans should line the route early to be part of it, and to grab that week's collectible Quad Walk pin, part of a six-pin series for the 2026 home slate.
2. Orange in Season Debuts
Syracuse is 96-34-4 all-time in home openers, a record that excludes the 1979 season when the Orange played all their games on the road due to the construction of the Dome, and the 1889 season, when Syracuse did not play a home game. Since the Dome opened in 1980, the Orange are 27-19 in home debuts, and they've won 10 of their last 12 home openers.
Syracuse is also 88-44-4 all time in season-opening contests. The Orange have won 10 of their last 12 season openers, with victories over Ohio (2024, 2021), Colgate (2023, 2016), Louisville (2022), Liberty (2019), Western Michigan (2018), Central Connecticut State (2017), Rhode Island (2015) and Villanova (2014). Their only losses in season openers since 2014 came at North Carolina in 2020, when the Tar Heels went on to play in the Orange Bowl, and against Tennessee in 2025 when they met at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
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3. First Time Foe
The Orange and New Hampshire have never met before, making Saturday the first-ever clash between the two programs.
The Wildcats are led by first-year head coach Sean Goldrich, a four-year starter at New Hampshire from 2012-15 who helped the program to two CAA Championships and two national semifinal appearances.
New Hampshire finished its 2025 regular season on a five-game winning streak in which the Wildcats scored at least 24 points in every game and topped 30 in four of them.
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4. Be There and Be Loud
Tickets are still available for Saturday's opener! Visit Cuse.com/FootballTickets to secure your seats now!
Syracuse Athletics has unveiled a slate of in-game enhancements designed to boost the atmosphere and home-field advantage at the JMA Wireless Dome this season. The third quarter now belongs to the students, featuring dedicated entertainment, contests and giveaways, along with student-only concession specials in the Flex Space behind sections 122-124. The Orange will also debut an upgraded team entrance at Saturday's opener, kept under wraps until kickoff. Fans are encouraged to get to their seats early to experience the entrance firsthand.
On-field pregame festivities begin 30 minutes before kickoff, including a performance by the Pride of the Orange - Syracuse's marching band, celebrating its 150th year with new uniforms.
Fans will also want to utilize the Waze App for their way finding and parking needs. Syracuse facilities and parking staff will submit real-time traffic updates through the app to update routes and improve traffic patterns for fans heading to the Dome.Â
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5. Welcome Back, QB1
Steve Angeli returns to the field for the first time since September 2025 after missing the final eight games of the season due to injury. Through four games a year ago, Angeli had the Syracuse offense surging, averaging 472.8 yards of total offense to go with 38.3 points. Angeli led the nation in passing through four weeks.
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Offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon will be back calling the shots on offense in his third season at Syracuse. When Nixon has his Week 1 starting quarterback under center, the Orange are 13-4 and average 468.8 yards of total offense per game. The Orange have passed for over 250 yards in each of those games.
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