First Downs
Most First Downs in a Game
Most First Downs in a Season
Most Rushing First Downs in a Game
Most Rushing First Downs in a Season
Most Passing First Downs in a Game
* Syracuse has had 14 games with 13 passing first downs
Most Passing First Downs in a Season
| Rank | First Downs | Opponent | Year |
| 1 | 36 | Pittsburgh | 1994 |
| 2 | 34 | Rutgers | 1997 |
| 34 | Virginia | 1975 | |
| 4 | 33 | Cincinnati | 1998 |
| 5 | 32 | Kansas | 1959 |
| 6 | 31 | Northwestern | 1979 |
| 31 | Colgate | 1956 | |
| 8 | 30 | Boston College | 2001 |
| 30 | East Carolina | 1992 | |
| 30 | Pittsburgh | 1968 | |
| 30 | Boston University | 1959 |
Most First Downs in a Season
| Rank | First Downs | Season |
| 1 | 259 | 1997 |
| 2 | 258 | 1992 |
| 3 | 251 | 1998 |
| 4 | 250 | 1979 |
| 5 | 240 | 1959 |
| 6 | 232 | 1990 |
| 232 | 1987 | |
| 8 | 229 | 1988 |
| 9 | 226 | 1989 |
| 10 | 225 | 2010 |
Most Rushing First Downs in a Game
| Rank | First Downs | Opponent | Season |
| 1 | 27 | Virginia | 1975 |
| 27 | Colgate | 1956 | |
| 3 | 24 | Pittsburgh | 1994 |
| 4 | 23 | Northwestern | 1979 |
| 23 | Miami | 1979 | |
| 23 | Colgate | 1960 | |
| 7 | 22 | Rutgers | 1997 |
| 22 | West Virginia | 1979 | |
| 22 | Virginia | 1977 | |
| 22 | Boston University | 1959 |
Most Rushing First Downs in a Season
| Rank | First Downs | Season |
| 1 | 179 | 1979 |
| 2 | 168 | 1959 |
| 3 | 149 | 1992 |
| 4 | 142 | 1964 |
| 5 | 139 | 1998 |
| 6 | 136 | 1977 |
| 7 | 134 | 1978 |
| 8 | 130 | 1997 |
| 130 | 1996 | |
| 130 | 1994 |
Most Passing First Downs in a Game
| Rank | First Downs | Opponent | Season |
| 1. | 18 | Cincinnati | 1993 |
| 18 | Holy Cross | 1967 | |
| 3. | 15 | East Carolina | 2001 |
| 15 | Tulane | 1996 | |
| 15 | Penn State | 1988 | |
| 15 | Boston College | 1988 | |
| 7. | 14 | Cincinnati | 1998 |
| 14 | Rutgers | 1988 |
Most Passing First Downs in a Season
| Rank | First Downs | Season |
| 1 | 113 | 1988 |
| 2 | 112 | 1997 |
| 112 | 1989 | |
| 4 | 109 | 1993 |
| 5 | 108 | 2010 |
| 6 | 103 | 1990 |
| 7 | 102 | 1998 |
| 102 | 1992 | |
| 9 | 101 | 1987 |
| 10 | 98 | 1986 |
