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No. 18 Syracuse, No. 15 NC State set for Top-20 Clash in Dome

Garrett Shrader (white) stiff arms an NC State defender during Syracuse’s 41-17 loss in Raleigh last season.
(Photo courtesy of Cuse.com)
Garrett Shrader (white) stiff arms an NC State defender during Syracuse’s 41-17 loss in Raleigh last season.

For the first time in over two decades, there will be a ranked matchup in Syracuse. After SU entered the AP Poll at No. 22 after its 59-0 demolition of Wagner, the Orange used the bye week to move up four spots to No. 18 and into the vaunted top 20, which Dino Babers has spoken of about at length of being a big goal for his team. But, on the other side stands an opponent who is no slouch either. No. 15 NC State just took down Florida State 19-17 after falling 30-20 to No. 4 Clemson the week prior in what was a top-10 showdown at the time.

“Deserved. Now we have to go out there and prove it,” Babers said about his team’s top-20 ranking. But, the Orange are taking on a team ranked higher than them, and the proof is in the pudding as to whether SU can compete with the Wolfpack.

So, big story number one is the top-20 matchup, but a very close second is the status of NC State quarterback Devin Leary. He left the game against the Seminoles on Saturday with an arm injury and Leary was seen in a sling on the sidelines late in the contest. The redshirt junior had the best season of his career last season when he started all 12 games for the Wolfpack and threw for 3433 yards and 35 touchdowns. According to ESPN, Leary was ruled out earlier today with a shoulder injury.

"It's a rehabable injury," NC State head coach Dave Doeren said. "There's no timeline. It could be this week or it could be six weeks. It could've been a lot worse."

On the Orange side of things, SU is coming off a bye week and is about to enter the most difficult portion of its schedule. Starting with the Wolfpack, the Orange face three ranked teams over six weeks, plus two more teams (Notre Dame and Florida State) who also received AP Poll votes. So, safe to say it will be a tough stretch for Syracuse, to say the least. But, getting that stretch off to a good start is essential for SU, should they want to continue to prove themselves as a legitimate ACC threat.

That home-field advantage will be crucial for Syracuse, who says it is expecting at minimum the biggest crowd of the season so far in the Dome. There has not been a sellout yet this season, but this game presents the best chance yet for the Orange to take advantage of what the Central New York faithful can give. Getting the crowd into it will require SU to start fast, and that means Sean Tucker.

Sean Tucker (orange) rushes against Wagner during Syracuse’s 59-0 drubbing on October 1st.
(Photo courtesy of Cuse.com)
Sean Tucker (orange) rushes against Wagner during Syracuse’s 59-0 drubbing on October 1st.

Sean Tucker (orange) rushes against Wagner during Syracuse’s 59-0 drubbing on October 1st. (Photo courtesy of Cuse.com)

The sophomore had a big day against Wagner, with more than 200 yards rushing in the first half, and finishing with a career-high 232 yards on the ground. But, he was also removed from the game with an apparent injury early in the second half, when it was questionable he should have ever been in the game in the first place. On multiple occasions, Tucker has left games with the trainer this season but has returned each time, except for Wagner, when the game was already out of reach.

"He was at practice Sunday and he's looking good," Babers said about Tucker coming off the bye week.

The rest of the Syracuse offense will have its hands full as well, as NC State has only allowed more than 20 points once this season (to the aforementioned Clemson). Meanwhile, the Orange have scored over 20 points in every single game this season. So, something will have to give when the ACC Atlantic foes meet up on Saturday.

Coverage on WAER starts at 3 p.m. with Countdown to Kickoff.