Syracuse is back home with a chance to string together a third straight ACC win, but Clemson is standing in the way.
The Orange enter at 4-4 overall and 2-4 in league play, while the Tigers come in at 5-3 and 3-2 with their hopes still alive for the ACC Championship Game and the CFP. Kickoff is set for Noon, with Lowell Galindo, Kirk Morrison, and Dawn Davenport on the ESPN2 broadcast.
For Syracuse, the biggest swing factor is whether the defense can make Clemson uncomfortable early and often. The Tigers are dealing with changes up front on the offensive line, and that gives the Orange a clear opening to attack freshman Tait Reynolds before he settles in. If Syracuse can force long-yardage situations, Clemson’s offense could get stuck in a one-dimensional mode and put more on Reynolds through the air.
That’s the kind of game plan Syracuse leaned on last week against Kevin Jennings, and the expectation is that Vince Kehres will keep dialing up pressure again here. Clemson is down two starters on the offensive line, including its center, which should only encourage more blitzes and more chaos in the backfield.
The passing game is the area where Clemson has looked most vulnerable. Even with Syracuse having played four different quarterbacks this season, the Orange still have more than 700 more passing yards and 11 more passing touchdowns than Clemson over the same number of games. The Tigers also sit last in the ACC in passing yards per game, even behind Boston College.
So the formula is pretty straightforward: take away the run, keep the heat on Reynolds, and make Clemson prove it can move the ball through the air.
In Other News...
Syracuse Backcourt Depth Takes An Early Hit At The Worst Time
Syracuses backcourt rotation has already been asked to absorb an early-season adjustment, with junior transfer Aiden Tobiason set to miss the upcoming game against Central Connecticut State because of a hamstring strain he picked up in an exhibition. Tobiason arrived from Temple with three years of eligibility left, giving the Orange another experienced option in a group that was still settling into its roles.
His absence leaves Syracuse leaning on other guards to help cover the minutes and ball-handling duties in the opener, a less-than-ideal wrinkle for a team trying to establish its depth right away. It is the kind of early setback that can test a rosters flexibility before the schedule really gets going, and it puts a little more pressure on the rest of the backcourt to steady things until Tobiason is ready to return. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Now Faces A New Amarri Monroe Eligibility Fight
Amarri Monroes eligibility case is headed into another round of legal wrangling, with the NCAA filing an appeal in the 4th Department Appellate Division of New York State. For Syracuse, the immediate reality remains unchanged: Monroe is still on the floor under a state court injunction that has blocked the NCAA from enforcing its eligibility rules against him while the lawsuit plays out.
The next question is whether that injunction holds as the appeal moves forward. If the NCAA succeeds in getting a stay, Monroes status could shift quickly, leaving Syracuse waiting on a legal decision that may end up shaping when, or whether, he can keep playing. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Heads Into Clemson With One Major Defensive Concern
Syracuse heads into its trip to Clemson with the injury report carrying as much weight as the matchup itself. The Orange have several players listed as questionable or probable, including starters Steve Angeli, Kahlil Stewart and Tunmise Adeleye, a reminder that availability could shape both sides of the ball when they face one of the ACCs toughest road environments.
Malachi Nelson is trending in the right direction, but he remains doubtful, which keeps the quarterback picture from fully settling just yet. Clemson has its own absences to manage, with starters Elyjah Thurmon, Harris Sewell and Gideon Davidson set to miss the game and wide receiver Tyler Brown listed as questionable, so both teams are navigating a thin margin as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]