After a 6-0 start, Syracuse football lost its next three straight games, which caused them to fall out of the College Football Playoff rankings. The Orange’s next shot at a win comes Saturday against a team who replaced them in those rankings, No. 23 Florida State.
The Orange haven’t had much luck against the Seminoles in recent years. Since joining the ACC in 2013, Florida State has won all but one matchup vs. Syracuse. That loss came in 2018, the last time SU finished a season with three losses.
Last week, Syracuse held Pittsburgh’s offense to 19 points in the losing effort. This comes after Notre Dame put up 41 points on the Orange defense, the only time SU has allowed over 30 points this season. Syracuse remains atop the ACC in total defense.
Saturday’s matchup should be another test for the Syracuse defense. In its last two games, Florida State’s offense has scored 41 and 45 points respectively. In those games, QB Jordan Travis passed for 598 yards and 6 touchdowns.
On Monday, Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said Travis has taken tremendous strides from 2021 to 2022.
“Jordan Travis is different,” Babers said. “We thought he was one way last year and now he is multiple, and [Florida State’s] offense is clicking.”
Florida State’s quarterback has also found success on the ground. Last year, in FSU’s 33-30 win over SU, Travis rushed for 113 yards.
As for Syracuse’s quarterback, Babers said he was unsure if QB Garrett Shrader would be able to play on Saturday. Last week against Pitt, backup Carlos Del Rio Wilson struggled to get the Orange offense going, completing just 8 passes.
The game marks the final matchup in the JMA Wireless Dome for the 2022 season, which means it’s also senior night for SU. The Orange will honor their seniors - including kicker Andre Szmyt, wide receiver Devaughn Cooper, and offensive lineman Dakota Davis - after the game on Saturday.
Babers said he urges Otto’s Army to show up in full force for the game, as well as stay after the game for the senior walk.
“We want to end on a positive note,” Babers said. “We need our 12th man behind us.”
Kickoff between the Orange and Seminoles is scheduled for 8 p.m. WAER’s coverage begins at 7:30 with McClurg Team Countdown to Kickoff.