After a gritty come-from-behind victory last Saturday, Syracuse football (1-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) attempts to extend its winning streak on Friday against Colgate (0-2, 0-0 Patriot League).
Against Connecticut (1-1, Football Bowl Subdivision Independent), Syracuse was plagued by a mistake-filled offensive performance. The Orange committed two turnovers, failed to convert on three first-half red zone chances, and didn’t reach the end zone until there were under six minutes left in regulation.
“We had too many mistakes, and got lucky and beat a good football team (UConn) with a lot of missed assignments,” said ‘Cuse head coach Fran Brown.
But Syracuse’s biggest problem through its first two games has been its offensive line. The Orange have allowed nine sacks, which is the seventh most in the country.
“We can’t have as many busts on the offensive line,” Brown said. “We’re getting our quarterback killed out there, and that’s not cool.”
Against Colgate, Syracuse’s offensive line should face less pressure, as the Raiders have yet to record a sack against FCS competition.
Even with lighter pass-rush threats, Syracuse still has offensive questions to answer. Through two games, SU has struggled to establish a clear identity.
Against Tennessee (2-0, 0-0 Southeastern Conference), Syracuse ran the ball 44 times and attempted 40 passes. One week later, the script flipped, with SU throwing 54 passes compared to just 28 rushes. When asked about the shift in game plans, Brown said it’s not his primary focus.
“We’re just trying to make sure that we have one more point than the other team,” Brown said. “Whatever it takes to win. You want to be able to run the ball. You want to be able to pass the ball. (But) ultimately, you just want one more point than the other team.
Historically, Syracuse has had little trouble outscoring Colgate. The Orange have won 17 straight meetings against their in-state rival, outpacing the Raiders by a combined 549 points. In their most recent matchup in 2023, Syracuse cruised to a 65-0 victory
Syracuse attempts to make it 18 straight victories against Colgate on Friday at 7 p.m. Our coverage on WAER starts at 6:30 with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff.