Orangeyes Daily Articles for Tuesday for Football

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Welcome to Cow Appreciation Day!

On Cow Appreciation Day, people wear cow costumes—or even any sort of cow apparel—and head to Chick-fil-A to receive free food. Adults receive a free entrée, and children receive a free kids meal. In 2017, about 1.8 million people participated at over 2,200 restaurants. Why cows? The day honors Chick-fil-A's "Eat Mor Chikin" Cows. They were introduced in 1995 on a billboard, where a cow was sitting on the back of another cow and painting "Eat Mor Chikin." The cows have since been used in advertisements using mediums such as television and the internet, and have even been on water towers.

SU News

Syracuse Football Preview: Defensive Line (waer.org; podcast; WAER)

A year ago, former SU head coach Dino Babers brought in well respected mind Rocky Long to head an SU defense that in back to back seasons had a top-30 total defense in the country. While Long’s 3-3-5 mindset put him on the map, it plummeted the Orange to 66th in total defense while being 13th in the ACC in pass defense. So with new head coach Fran Brown looking to build a program around him, he went to an old friend, Elijah Robinson, who made it very clear that there are some changes coming to the defense.

“We wanna bring this team down to two things: technique and effort... our guys are gonna buy into it,” Robinson said. “We’re gonna make sure that it’s simple where they can play fast, be in a four-down front and get out there and do multiple things. We want to be an aggressive unit. We don’t want to sit back and fish. We want to hunt.”

That four-down front is a big change from last year's 3-3-5, especially with Caleb Okechukwu and Terry Lockett Jr. both exiting the program, due to graduation and the transfer portal, respectively. So, how does Syracuse plan to fill the trenches?

Fadil Diggs

Arguably the biggest transfer on the defensive side of the ball, Fadil Diggs is primed for the best season of his career. The senior is coming in after four seasons at Texas A&M where he boasted 75 tackles, 18.5 tackles for a loss and 8 sacks. Diggs has a speed rush mentality off the right side and has swim moves that made every quarterback in the SEC scared to stay in the pocket too long. Add his 6’5”, 260 pound frame with speed that could rival most linebackers, many running backs won’t look to test their luck towards the outside.
Isaiah Hastings

One former SEC player will add depth but another most certainly won’t hurt. Isaiah Hastings spent two seasons at Alabama where he played just one game but gained a plethora of experience from one of the best college football minds, Nick Saban. The Toronto, Canada native is still learning the game of football but his 6’4”, 300 pound frame makes his bull rush pass block style a perfect fit for the Orange. The former four-star recruit also has an almost 84-inch reach which allows him to swallow up any attacks up the middle on the ground.
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Keeping Up With the 315 7-8-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)

Brian discusses which schools Fran Brown has beaten out most in recruiting, shares some of his findings on SU football ticket sales, and reacts to Coach Jack landing a verbal commit from her highest ever ranked player.

‎Locked On Syracuse - Daily Podcast On Syracuse Orange Football & Basketball: The IMPACT of Elijah Crawford's Commitment to Syracuse Football | Syracuse Football 2025 Recruiting on Apple Podcasts (apple.com; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)

Syracuse Football landed its 28th commitment in its 2025 recruiting class, three-star defensive lineman Elijah Crawford. Crawford chose the Cuse over regional rival Rutgers and West Virginia. Fran Brown has now got the second most commits in the country for 2025, and the class is ranked 32nd on 247sports.

Jackson Holzer gives you a Cuse FB recruiting update.

Battle for New Jersey: Syracuse, Rutgers football pile up commitments (with Brian Fonseca of NJ.com) (youtube; podcast; Axe)

On the latest episode of Syracuse Sports, Brent Axe chats with Brian Fonseca of NJ.com about how Syracuse and Rutgers football are leading the country in landing commitments for the Class of 2025. Brent and Brian discuss how New Jersey is a key battleground for recruiting for both programs, how Fran Brown's close ties to the state will shake up recruiting there, why Rutgers has landed more 4-star commitments than Syracuse and how both programs have important seasons coming up. They also discuss how feasible it would be for Syracuse and Rutgers to play more of a consistent non-conference matchup in the future.

Syracuse Football: Athlon projects 'Cuse at No. 11 in ACC; I simply don't get that (itlh; Adler)

When it comes to Syracuse football and other Orange sports, I'm the first to admit that I'm a total homer.

I'm a proud graduate of Syracuse University from many moons ago. As often as I can, I try to be positive about 'Cuse sports. Some might say I have Orange-colored glasses on, and that's all good. I get it.

With that as a backdrop, as I'm seeing some preseason prognostications come in ahead of the 2024 campaign, and Syracuse football is projected to finish in the bottom-half of the Atlantic Coast Conference, to simply put it, I don't get that at all.

First and foremost, we all take these sorts of preseason forecasts with the proverbial grain of salt. And, yes, in recent years, the Orange program hasn't been all that good, although it has made two straight bowl games.

Additionally, I recognize that Syracuse football has a first-year, and a first-time, head coach in ace recruiter and former Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown, along with a lot of new assistants and a significantly overhauled roster for the upcoming 2024 season.

Some experts are giving Syracuse football unflattering forecasts for the coming stanza.
Yet the Orange's roster, to me, is filled with talent and promise, on both sides of the field. I believe that the offense, led by rising senior quarterback Kyle McCord, is going to prove excellent. If the offensive line holds up, McCord along with numerous stellar running backs, tight ends and wide receivers should do a lot of damage.

On defense, I think that the 'Cuse secondary will be fabulous. There are also strong players on the defensive line, at the edge, and at linebacker. By extension, I feel that the Syracuse football special-teams unit will be solid.

Package that all together, and coupled with a favorable schedule, I personally project the Orange to win at least nine games in the 2024 term. That, to me, suggests an ACC finish in the top six to the top eight, not the bottom-half.
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Early 2024 Preview: Virginia Tech at Syracuse (sportswar.com; $; Bitter)

Syracuse

• When: Nov. 2 at JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. (Time/Network TBD)
• Last year’s record: 6-7, 2-6 ACC (t-11th), lost to South Florida 45-0 in the Boca Raton Bowl
• Coach: Fran Brown, first season
• 2024 SP+ ranking: 64th

Last meeting​

Virginia Tech doled out a beatdown of Syracuse in a 38-10 Thursday night win last fall. The Hokies ran for 318 yards and built up a 30-3 halftime lead in the blowout. Da’Quan Felton had two touchdown catches — one from Kyron Drones and one from Malachi Thomas on a trick play — in the rout. Bhayshul Tuten ran for 118 yards in a balanced rushing attack that also saw Thomas hit 87 yards and Drones hit 56. The Hokies defense held Syracuse to zero rushing yards and just 137 yards of total offense, sacking quarterback Garrett Shrader eight times.

The big picture​

It’s a new era in Syracuse, with Brown taking over for Dino Babers, who was fired after going 41-55 (20-45 ACC) in eight years with the Orange and only twice finishing with a winning record. (Who had Babers as the last man standing from the 2016 ACC coaching class of Justin Fuente, Mark Richt and Bronco Mendenhall?)
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Syracuse football's 10 best running backs of all-time per ChatGPT (247sports.com; McAllister)

I think chatgpt got Freeney confused with Tebucky Jones. Still a very bad call...

Syracuse football has had some of the best running backs in college football history, including some that made the number 44 that of folk lore around Central New York. In part two of our ChatGPT series on the best players in Syracuse history at each position, running back is up next. Part one was quarterbacks, which you can review HERE.

Simply doing our ranking of the 10 best players at a specific position is too stale. It has been done a million times, and so we are doing so with a little twist to make it more fun. We are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to come up with the list.

That's right. We asked ChatGPT who the 10 best players in Syracuse history at each position to come up with the list. We used the phrase (Syracuse football's 10 best [Position]), and will display the results here. Some are straightforward and expected. They make perfect sense and fit in line with what most Syracuse fans would have. Some results, however, are quite the opposite. It makes for an entertaining list that will provoke thoughts and laughter alike.

We count backwards from 10. Note that we displayed the results exactly as ChatGPT produced them, not correcting for errors or duplicates.

10. ANTWON BAILEY​

Player: Antwon Bailey
Years: 2008-2011
Stats: 454 att, 2,138 yards, 11 TDs, 92 rec, 706 yards, 4 TDs
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 2008 to 2011 and was a reliable back for Syracuse, known for his toughness and consistency in the backfield.
Our thoughts: Antwon Bailey was a good running back at Syracuse who began his career as a backup but became the primary ball carrier as a senior. He averaged nearly five yards per carry for his career and topped 1,200 scrimmage yards during his lone season as the main back. Bailey showcased his versatility throughout his career as a really good pass catcher out of the backfield. He had at least 27 catches in each of his last three seasons despite being a reserve in two of those years. Interesting selection given who we will see is omitted later on.

9. MICHAEL OWENS​

Player: Michael Owens
Years: 1987-1989
Stats: 393 att, 2,020 yards, 16 TDs, 34 rec, 357 yards, 3 TDs
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 1987 to 1990 and was known for his explosiveness and big-play ability as a running back.
Our thoughts: Michael Owens is one of the most memorable running backs in Syracuse history. One of the main reasons for that is his involvement in one of the most iconic plays in Syracuse history. Owens ran in a two point conversion in the final seconds of the last game of the 1987 regular season to preserve an undefeated, untied campaign. He was a reserve during his first two years but had a really strong year in 1989 as the primary back with over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns.

8. DWIGHT FREENEY​

Player: Dwight Freeney
Years: 1998-2001
Stats: 104 tackles, 34 sacks, 14 FFs, 3 FRs
ChatGPT Comments: While primarily known as a defensive player, Freeney played some running back early in his Syracuse career, showcasing his versatility.
Our thoughts: Dwight Freeney was inarguably one of the best players in Syracuse football history, college football history and NFL history. He was a dynamic player who set records, won at every level and changed his position. That position, however, was not running back. He never played running back at Syracuse. This is another case of AI getting something complete wrong on multiple levels. Kudos to Freeney, I guess?

7. DARYL JOHNSTON​

Player: Daryl Johnston
Years: 1985-1988
Stats: 356 att, 1,756 yards, 9 TDs, 43 rec, 451 yards, 1 TD
ChatGPT Comments: Known as "Moose," Johnston played from 1985 to 1988 and was a key contributor in Syracuse's ground game.
Our thoughts: If you're including fullbacks with running backs, Johnston's inclusion is fantastic. He was an elite lead blocker, a powerful runner, extremely smart player and a highly respected leader. Johnston was one of the best fullbacks in college football and NFL history. At Syracuse, he averaged nearly five yards per carry and was a key component of dynamic Syracuse rushing attacks in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He is often forgotten when discussing the best players in Orange history.

6. WALTER REYES​

Player: Walter Reyes
Years: 2001-2004
Stats: 625 att, 3,424 yards, 45 TDs, 59 rec, 550 yards, 1 TD
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 2001 to 2004 and ranks among Syracuse's top rushers in program history, known for his speed and versatility.
Our thoughts: One of only four players in Syracuse history to rush for over 3,000 yards, Reyes is often forgotten when mentioning the lineage of Orange running backs. He did not play on any all time great Syracuse squads, but he averaged 5.5 yards per carry for his career and has the top seasons for rushing touchdowns in Syracuse history. He had 20 in 2003 and 17 in 2002. Reyes absolutely belongs on this list.

5. LARRY CSONKA​

Player: Larry Csonka
Years: 1965-1967
Stats: 594 att, 2,934 yards, 19 TDs, 20 rec, 186 yards, 2 TDs
ChatGPT Comments: A powerful fullback who played from 1965 to 1967 and later had a successful NFL career, Csonka was a force in the Syracuse backfield.
Our thoughts: In the discussion for the best fullback of all time at both the collegiate and professional levels, Csonka was a powerful runner who was extremely difficult to bring down. He averaged nearly five yards per carry at Syracuse and rushed for over 1,000 yards twice in his career. As a fullback. Despite only playing in 10 games per season. Csonka parlayed his stellar collegiate career into an NFL Hall of Fame one primarily with the Miami Dolphins.

4. JOE MORRIS​

Player: Joe Morris
Years: 1978-1981
Stats: 813 att, 4,299 yards, 25 TDs, 28 rec, 278 yards, 0 TDs
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 1978 to 1981 and is Syracuse's all-time leading rusher, known for his consistency and toughness.
Our thoughts: Joe Morris remains Syracuse football's all-time leading rusher as the only player in program history with over 4,000 rushing yards. He eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark in three of his four seasons. Morris would have hit the mark all four seasons if he was given the ball more in 1980. However, he only attempted 144 rushes that season while backup Ken Mandeville received 118 and another reserve Glenn Moore had 97 carries. Still, Morris was a dynamic collegiate back and one of the best ever for the Orange.

3. FLOYD LITTLE​

Player: Floyd Little
Years: 1964-1966
Stats: 504 att, 2,704 yards, 35 TDs, 50 rec, 582 yards, 4 TDs
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 1964 to 1966 and was a dynamic running back known for his speed, agility, and ability to break tackles.
Our thoughts: Floyd Little continued the legacy of #44 following Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. He averaged over five yards per carry for his career and finished fifth in the Heisman voting his last two years with the Orange. Little averaged nearly 12 rushing touchdowns per season during his time with the Orange and later became a key figure in the Athletics department within the university. He is still seventh on the all-time rushing yards list in Syracuse history.

2. ERNIE DAVIS​

Player: Ernie Davis
Years: 1959-1961
Stats: 360 att, 2,386 yards, 20 TDs, 38 rec, 392 yards, 4 TDs
ChatGPT Comments: The first African American to win the Heisman Trophy in 1961, Davis is a Syracuse legend known for his exceptional talent and impact on the game.
Our thoughts: Ernie Davis was the first African American and only Syracuse player to win the Heisman Trophy back in 1961. He also was a big reason why Syracuse won the National Championship in 1959 with an undefeated season. Legend Jim Brown helped recruit Davis to Syracuse and the pressure was on to fill those big shoes. Davis did so with one of the best careers in college football history.

1. JIM BROWN​

Player: Jim Brown
Years: 1954-1956
Stats: 361 att, 2,091 yards, 19 TDs, 11 rec, 120 yards, 2 TDs
ChatGPT Comments: Arguably the greatest running back in Syracuse history and one of the greatest in football history. Played from 1954 to 1956 and set numerous records.
Our thoughts: Considered perhaps the best running back in the history of the sport, Jim Brown started the #44 legacy with his stellar career. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1956 back at a time when the players seriously considered were white players. Seasons like Brown's helped pave the way for Ernie Davis eventually breaking that barrier in 1961. Brown put up his numbers, averaging nearly six yards per carry for his career, despite only playing in eight games per season.

OMISSIONS​

The most glaring omission from this list is one Sean Tucker. Perhaps ChatGPT does not look at the very recent past, but he set the program's single season rushing record in 2021 with 1,496 yards. Tucker averaged 5.4 yards per carry for his career and is third on the career rushing yards list at Syracuse. Sean Tucker absolutely deserves to be included on this list. Exactly where is a matter of opinion, but most would likely have him in the top five or six.
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Syracuse football recruiting: 2025 DL Elijah Crawford commits to the Orange (TNIAAM; Wall)
On Friday evening, the Syracuse Orange received their 28th commitment for the 2025 class. Defensive lineman Elijah Crawford of Owings Mills, Maryland chose Syracuse over Rutgers and West Virginia.

The 6’ 2.5” 285 lb defensive lineman is rated three stars by 247 and Rivals. He also had P4 offers from Pitt, Virginia Tech and Indiana. He’s considered a top 50 player in Maryland in his class.

Crawford hails from the same hometown as former Orange running back Sean Tucker and maybe he’ll follow Tucker in out-performing his rankings. Let’s take a look at the newest commit in action.
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Get to Know Your Orange Man: #22, RB Jaden Hart (TNIAAM; Ostrowski)

It’s time to start preparing for the 2024 Syracuse Orange football season. We’re going through the roster to take a look at each Syracuse player as we get to know a lot of new faces to kick off the Fran Brown Era.

Up next is…

Name: Jaden Hart

Position: Running Back

Year: Freshman

Height: 5’11’

Weight: 205 lbs.

Hometown: Michigan City, IN

High School: Michigan City High School

2023 stats: Per his ‘Cuse profile, Hart had over 1,500 total yards as a senior along with 10 touchdowns.

2024 projections: As of writing this, fellow freshman Yasin Willis seems to be the No. 2 RB on the depth chart, but that doesn’t mean Hart won’t see the field. Keep an eye out for #22 late in some early season games like Ohio and Holy Cross and we’ll see where he goes from there.

How’d he get here?: Hart’s loaded offer sheet included Boston College, Duke, Iowa State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, and App State. Still, he made his decision early, committing to SU last June and sticking with them after Fran Brown took over.
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Syracuse at USF | NCAA Football 06 Syracuse Orange Dynasty | S2:E11 (youtube; simulation; Playbook Gamer)

Syracuse at USF | NCAA Football 06 Syracuse Orange Dynasty | S2:E11 (fake players, year is 2010)

Cuse Sports Talk on Instagram: "Recruiting in the Northeast has changed since Syracuse hired Fran Brown. @brianhigginssu had a theory on which schools have suffered most from Fran Brown's hiring. So he tested that theory today on #The315 and found one ACC school in particular that the Orange keep beating out."

ACC News

Teel: Most important football season in ACC history on horizon (roanoke.com; $; Teel)

The word “most” is often followed by hyperbole. This doesn't feel like such an occasion. So here goes.
With an expanded playoff and unimaginable realignment, 2024 will be the most intriguing college football season in memory. Moreover, given the ACC’s internal conflicts and new revenue-sharing model, this is the most important campaign, individually and collectively, in the conference’s history.

How fitting, then, that the league will be center stage when the season kicks off in less than seven weeks, Aug. 24 in Dublin, Ireland.

College GameDay will be there as ACC rivals Florida State and Georgia Tech collide five time zones away from their campuses, and if so inclined, ESPN could spend the entire show chronicling the conference’s drama.

Similarly, Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit and Co., could dedicate the program to refreshing everyone’s memory on the 15 Bowl Subdivision schools changing leagues this season and how the 12-team College Football Playoff will veer wildly from the four-team model of the previous decade. Among the national bullet points:

• Texas and Oklahoma join the sport’s preeminent league, the SEC, while Cal, Stanford and Southern Methodist head to the ACC, the Big Ten collects Washington, Oregon, USC and UCLA, and the Big 12 adds Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State.
• The CFP field will include the five highest-ranked conference champions plus seven at-large selections. The four top-rated champions will receive first-round byes, and the four opening round games will be staged at the higher seed’s stadium.
• Unlike the playoff’s first television contract with ESPN, each power conference will not receive equal revenue. Instead, the Big Ten and SEC will collect 29% each, the ACC 17% and the Big 12 14.7%. The remainder will go to Notre Dame and the other FBS leagues. Details on the formula’s basis in a moment.

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Emory's Top 10 ACC prospects to watch in 2024 (youtube; podcast; Ross Tucker)

Ross & Emory break down the top NFL Draft prospects to watch across the ACC this upcoming college football season including:
Intro 00:00-
QB Cam Ward, Miami: 07:10-
QB Ashton Daniels, Stanford: 09:35-
QB Preston Stone, SMU: 10:40-
QB DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State: 13:30-
QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson: 15:05-
RB Damien Martinez, Miami: 16:10-
RB Omarion Hampton, UNC: 17:00-
RB Jaydn Ott, California: 18:20-
TE Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse: 19:45-
LB Barrett Carter, Clemson: 21:50-
DL Patrick Payton, Florida State: 23:00

2024 College Football Hidden Gems: Syracuse DB Devin Grant (youtube; podcast; Rico Knows)

RicoKnows is pointing out one hidden gem on every college football team for the 2024 season. In this video RicoKnows points out Syracuse DB Devin Grant as a hidden gem. He was 1st team All-MAC last season and now he'll get his shot at the ACC.

Updated ACC Recruiting Rankings (7/8) (SI; Caudell)

Clemson had a hold on the No. 1 spot in the ACC Recruiting Rankings for months, but there is a new No. 1 now in the conference.

Miami has had the top recruiting class in the ACC for the past two seasons and Mario Cristobal is angling to make it three straight. The Hurricanes got more big time commitments this past week annd they moved past the Tigers for the No. 1 spot.

SMU was a big winner over the last week as well and Rhett Lashlee has the Mustangs in the top three. If SMU can keep recruiting at this level and getting blue chip players, they should be able to compete soon in the ACC.

Brent Key and Georgia Tech still hold a top five class in the ACC and they have not added any new commitments in July. There are still top targets on the board for the Yellow Jackets that they hope to add.

Florida State continues to creep up the rankings and they still hold the highest average recruiting rank in this cycle. Don't expect the Seminoles to slow down either.

Stanford, Duke, Syracuse, Pitt, and Virginia round out the top 10, bumping out Boston College and North Carolina. While there is still a ways to go, it has to be disappointing to see the Tar Heels at No. 13 in the ACC.

Updated ACC Recruiting Rankings (7/8, rankings via 247Sports)

1. Miami

2. Clemson

3. SMU

4. Georgia Tech

5. Florida State

6. Stanford

7. Duke

8. Syracuse

9. Pitt

10. Virginia

11. Boston College

12. Virginia Tech

13. North Carolina

14. NC State

15. Wake

16. Louisville
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New ACC Team’s Football Field Video Goes Viral (pittsburghsportsnow.com; Michalowski)

The University of California will be one of three new teams competing in the ACC this upcoming school year.

The Golden Bears, located in Berkeley, California, are ready to join the league after leaving the now-dead PAC-12. In anticipation of the move, the school’s social media page for its football team posted a video of the painting of the ACC logo on the field late last week, garnering reactions from Cal fans, and college football fans all over.

Check out the video here or at the link below.

x.com

twitter.com

The video shows a slow-motion view of the Cal grounds crew painting the ACC logo onto its football field. Within days, the video has earned over four million views on Twitter/X, with thousands of fans liking, re-tweeting, commenting, and quote-tweeting it. Check out some of the fan reactions below.
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College Football 25 Rankings Week Showcase - EA SPORTS (ea.com)

No respect.

1. Kyle Field - Texas A&M
2. Bryant-Denny Stadium - Alabama
3. Tiger Stadium - LSU
4. Ohio Stadium - Ohio State
5. Sanford Stadium - Georgia
6. Beaver Stadium - Penn State
7. Camp Randall Stadium - Wisconsin
8. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium - Oklahoma
9. Doak S. Campbell Stadium - Florida State
10. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - Florida
11. Autzen Stadium - Oregon
12. Memorial Stadium - Clemson
13. Neyland Stadium - Tennessee
14. Jordan-Hare Stadium - Auburn
15. Williams-Brice Stadium - South Carolina
16. Michigan Stadium - Michigan
17. Lane Stadium - Virginia Tech
18. Rice-Eccles Stadium - Utah
19. Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium - Texas
20. Kinnick Stadium - Iowa
21. Notre Dame Stadium - Notre Dame
22. Spartan Stadium - Michigan State
23. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium - Arkansas
24. Albertsons Stadium - Boise State
25. Davis Wade Stadium - Mississippi State

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS DEEP DIVE​

In case you missed it, Kirk Herbstreit is back with our next Deep Dive, taking a look at the sights and sounds featured in EA SPORTS™ College Football 25. The Development Team spent years capturing countless traditions, mascots, fight songs, and more to the game, ensuring all 134 schools and fan bases were represented with pride. These elements make College Football special and unique, bringing the unmatched feeling of game day to your fingertips.

For even more on the presentation elements and how they come to life, check out the latest Campus Huddle hosted by Senior Game Designer Christian Brandt.

OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE POWER RANKINGS​

The Development Team meticulously examined hundreds of thousands of data points to arrive at our team power rankings. With help from our friends at Pro Football Focus (PFF), the team analyzed all 134 rosters, thousands of players, years worth of game film, and mountains of stats, ultimately arriving at our Team Power Rankings.

Rankings are subject to change in future updates.

Here are the Top 25 offenses in EA SPORTS™ College Football 25:

1. Georgia - 94 OVR
2. Oregon - 94 OVR
3. Alabama - 91 OVR
4. Texas - 91 OVR
5. Ohio State - 89 OVR
6. LSU - 89 OVR
7. Miami - 89 OVR
8. Colorado - 89 OVR
9. Missouri - 89 OVR
10. Clemson - 87 OVR
11. Utah - 87 OVR
12. Penn State - 87 OVR
13. Ole Miss - 87 OVR
14. Kansas - 87 OVR
15. Arizona - 87 OVR
16. NC State - 87 OVR
17. Notre Dame - 85 OVR
18. Texas A&M - 85 OVR
19. Memphis - 85 OVR
20. SMU - 85 OVR
21. UCF - 85 OVR
22. Florida State - 83 OVR
23. Oklahoma - 83 OVR
24. Virginia Tech - 83 OVR
25. USC - 83 OVR

As the old saying goes, “Defense wins championships.” Here are the Top 25 defenses in EA SPORTS™ College Football 25:

1. Ohio State - 96 OVR
2. Georgia - 94 OVR
3. Oregon - 90 OVR
4. Alabama - 90 OVR
5. Clemson - 90 OVR
6. Notre Dame - 90 OVR
7. Michigan - 90 OVR
8. Texas - 88 OVR
9. Penn State - 88 OVR
10. Utah - 88 OVR
11. Florida State - 88 OVR
12. Oklahoma - 88 OVR
13. Iowa - 88 OVR
14. Virginia Tech - 86 OVR
15. Wisconsin - 86 OVR
16. USC - 86 OVR
17. Auburn - 86 OVR
18. LSU - 84 OVR
19. Texas A&M - 84 OVR
20. Colorado - 84 OVR
21. Oklahoma State - 84 OVR
22. Louisville - 84 OVR
23. North Carolina - 84 OVR
24. Kansas State - 84 OVR
25. Florida - 84 OVR

Judge could order ACC to turn over confidential ESPN contracts (wctv.com; Staff)

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article indicated the proposed order was signed by a judge. This story has since been updated to reflect the order was filed July 2 and has not been signed by a judge as of 6 p.m. Monday.

A Leon Circuit Judge could soon order the Atlantic Coast Conference to turn over confidential ESPN media contracts to FSU in the midst of a legal battle over media rights should FSU leave the conference.

A proposed court order dated July 2 would require the ACC to turn over half a dozen documents to FSU lawyers. That includes six agreements, amendments, and extensions signed between 2010 and 2021.

“...the ACC shall provide to the FSU Board unredacted copies of the ESPN Agreements (including any attachments), and each page of the copies shall bear the notation “Confidential. Subject to Interim Protective Order.”

Circuit Judge John Cooper, who recently denied the ACC’s motion to stay the case has not yet signed the proposed order, which was agreed upon by attorneys for both FSU and the ACC.

If Cooper does sign it, the ACC would have to turn over the contracts within seven days, but it would bar FSU from disclosing the ESPN agreements to any third parties, including other athletic conferences or media providers.

FSU would also have to return or destroy all copies, summaries, or excerpts of the agreements within 60 days of the conclusion of the case.

The proposed order would prevent FSU from releasing copies of the ESPN media agreements in response to requests under Florida’s Public Records Act without the ACC’s written approval or an order from “a court of competent jurisdiction.” The proposed order references a complaint already filed by Florida’s Attorney General seeking public disclosure of those documents.

Read the full court documents here:
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Clemson Football: ACC Kickoff will be awkward…again (rubbingtherock.com; Chancey)

We are about two weeks away from the 2024 ACC Kickoff. With the new additions of California, SMU, and Stanford, the event will be held over four days, starting July 22.

The event will be hosted by the Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina. The ACC Network will provide live coverage of all 17 teams.

As they did last season, Clemson Football will be featured on the final day, July 25th.

Last summer, I wrote that the ACC Kickoff would be awkward for many participants. At that time, we had the Magnificent 7: Clemson, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. They were the seven ACC members rumored to be serious about finding ways out of the Grant of Rights. Louisville was rumored to be an eighth school joining them.

Eight schools constituted over half the league’s full members at the time. Since then, two big things have happened.

Two schools have filed lawsuits against the ACC. Florida State was first, followed by Clemson.

The addition of the three new schools was approved by 12 of the 15 voting members. The reason most cited by observers for adding the new schools was to preserve the number of members in the conference. ESPN’s contract with the ACC says they could renegotiate rates if membership dropped below a certain level. The addition of Cal, SMU, and Stanford would keep membership above that level even if Clemson and Florida State left.

Miami, NC State, Virginia, and Virginia Tech were members of the Magnificent 7 who voted for the additions. Louisville did as well. It would seem the awkwardness isn’t as pressing this year for those schools since they fell back in line with the ‘best interests of the league’.

For Clemson and Florida State, the awkwardness will likely be turned up a notch, but it is hard to tell how much of it will be public.
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ACC realignment dangled makes very little sense ahead of FSU & Clemson chatter (fightingcobbler.com; Roche)

Beginning this season, the ACC is welcoming Stanford, California, and SMU into the conference, but there will likely be more movement in the not-too-distant future. It's no secret that Florida State and Clemson are itching to leave and head to either the SEC, Big Ten, or the Big 12.

With the calendar turning to July, conference media days are coming fast and you can bet that there will be a ton of chatter at all of them regarding FSU and Clemson and what the future might hold for them. If they end up leaving the conference, as expected at some point, the future of the ACC will be up in the air higher than it is now. Commissioner Jim Phillips will be tasked with finding replacements and that won't be easy. Vincent Pensabene of Sportskeeda floated three schools for the ACC down the line and honestly, they make very little sense.

Writer proposes ACC additions that make very little sense in expansion if FSU & Clemson leave

Pensabene proposed that if and when Florida State and Clemson leave the ACC, Phillips should consider Boise State, Air Force, and UNLV being on the radar of the conference commissioner. First off, it's hard to envision Air Force getting into a power conference before Army or Navy, but stranger things have happened. Second, Boise State and UNLV make little sense for the ACC and would be better off joining the Big 12 or even Big Ten before considering the ACC.
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Who will be NC State football's toughest opponent on 2024 schedule? Ranking all 12 (fayobserver.com; Baxley)

The NC State football schedule for 2024, Dave Doeren’s 12th with the Wolfpack, could provide an opportunity for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

NC State has a pair of September tests against Tennessee and Clemson, but the Wolfpack will avoid Florida State, Louisville, Miami and Virginia Tech in ACC play.

Coming off a 9-4 overall record, including a 6-2 mark in the ACC, the Wolfpack will welcome back several starters and a stout group of players from the transfer portal.

NC State will open the season Thursday, Aug. 29, against Western Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium. But which games will be the most difficult for Doeren’s team?

Here's a ranking of each matchup, based on level of difficulty. Location of the game and quality of opponent are factored into the breakdown. There’s also a poll included below, allowing fans the chance to vote for the game they’re looking forward to most this season.

Louisiana Tech (Sept. 14)​

Louisiana Tech’s 2023 record: 3-9, (2-6 CUSA)

Series record: 2-0

Kickoff: ACC Network, Noon

Notes: The Bulldogs haven’t logged a winning record since 2019, but Louisiana Tech had N.C. State sweating in 2021 before the Wolfpack prevailed with a 34-27 win. Nowadays, these programs are moving in different directions.

Western Carolina (Aug. 29)​

Western Carolina’s 2023 record: 7-4 (5-3 SoCon)

Series record: 7-0

Kickoff: ACC Network, 7 p.m.

Notes: The Wolfpack and Catamounts haven’t played since 2019 — a 41-0 victory for State — and each of the seven games in the series have resulted in blowout wins for the Pack.

Northern Illinois (Sept. 28)​

Northern Illinois’ 2023 record: 7-6 (5-3 MAC)

Series record: 1-0

Notes: Dave Doeren got his head coaching journey started at Northern Illinois, leading the Huskies to a 12-win season and Orange Bowl appearance in 2012 before making his way to Raleigh. Northern Illinois and N.C. State met in 1997, with the Wolfpack winning 41-14.

Stanford (Nov. 2)

Stanford’s 2023 record: 3-9 (2-7 Pac-12)

Series record: First meeting

Notes: Following a trip to the west coast, N.C. State returns to Raleigh for a homecoming matchup with Stanford. The Wolfpack and Cardinal have never met on the gridiron, but Stanford has won two Rose Bowl games and an Orange Bowl since 2010. Coming off a tough stretch of seasons, Stanford should provide N.C. State with one of its easiest ACC wins.

Wake Forest (Oct. 5)​

Wake Forest’s 2023 record: 4-8 (1-7 ACC)

Series record: 69-42-6

Notes: The Wolfpack hasn’t lost to the Demon Deacons in Raleigh since 2018. Coming off a 26-6 win in Winston-Salem last season, N.C. State shouldn’t face much resistance against a program that is coming off its first losing season since 2015.

Syracuse (Oct. 12) ​

Syracuse’s 2023 record: 6-7 (2-6 ACC)

Series record: 13-3

Notes: The Wolfpack has won three of its last four games against the Orange, but ‘Cuse secured a 15-point victory in 2022. Syracuse has a new coach in Fran Brown and Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord at quarterback. This could be a sneaky tough game for the ‘Pack.

Duke (Nov. 9)​

Duke’s 2023 record: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)

Series record: 37-42-5

Notes: Last season’s embarrassing loss to the Blue Devils was the turning point for the Wolfpack, which closed its season with wins in five of the last six games. After losing three of the last four games in the series, N.C. State will be fired up for some revenge against first-year coach Manny Diaz.
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Five Bold predictions for ACC Football in 2024 (scacchops.com; JFann)

We are just 6 weeks away from the College Football season. With the new playoff format, the ACC cannot be left out no matter how hard the CFP committee tries to make it so. That said as we look towards the ACC football season, what are some bold predictions that we think have a real chance of coming through?

1. Georgia Tech is going to beat FSU, Notre Dame, or Georgia

Georgia Tech has one of the country’s most difficult schedules, which will limit their ceiling. There’s a good chance that they will be a better team than their record, but don’t be surprised if they pull off massive upset along the way. They are solid at QB with Haynes King, skill position talent on offense, and an offensive line that will be among the conference’s best. If the defense can show any life this year, the chance of one of these upsets increases even more.

2. Virginia Tech will be playing Charlotte for an ACC Title

The more I look up and down the Hokies team, the more I think this could be Virginia Tech’s best roster in years. You combine that with a a fairly soft schedule, and I can easily see this team losing only 1 maybe 2 ACC games. Their special teams might be the ACC’s best, they are set at QB with Kryon Dones, and and they have major talent along the defense front 4. A lot of people are calling them this year’s Louisville. I’m definitely on board with that.

3. Miami will win at least 9 regular season games

It was 2017, the last time Miami won 9 regular season games. They’ll do it again in 2024. Maybe I’m being pulled in again by the Miami is back, but some of the best ACC players on paper are all over this roster. Cam Ward at QB, Damien Martinez at RB. The schedule isn’t even that bad. A game at Florida looked tougher when it was scheduled than now, and they get FSU and Virginia Tech at home. If Mario Cristobal messes this up, he may not get another year, but I like the makeup of this team.

4. Clemson will have a top 30 offense

Clemson’s defense has slipped a little since Brent Venables left to coach Oklahoma, but the offense has fallen off a cliff in recent years. Sure the numbers aren’t horrible. They were 50th in the country last year, but that is not what you expect from a program of Clemson’s caliber. The Tigers averaged over 400 yards of offense in 2023, but if we’re being honest, it’s held Clemson back. Either through through pedestrian QB play, unimaginative play calling, or just a lack of team speed on offense it simply hasn’t been good. I think it will be better with another year for QC Garret Riley and QB Cade Klubnik together. The receiving crew should be the best it has been in years. This will be a top-30 offense, and Clemson could find itself back in the ACC Title game because of it.

5. North Carolina go to Florida State 7-1 or 8-0.

North Carolina is known for fast starts and late fades under Mack Brown. This year the schedule sets up for a fast start. Minnesota is a winnable game on the road to open the season, then they should be favored in all of their games through the next two months. Georgia Tech has given UNC tons of trouble in recent years, but they get that game in Chapel Hill. I’m not sure I trust new DC Geoff Collins or that defense, but it couldn’t be any worse than it’s been in recent years. The offense has an All-American at RB with Omarion Hampton, and some high-quality receivers. North Carolina could be a dark horse team in the ACC.

Links, News and Rumors 2024 July 8th (RX; HM)

Links, News and Rumors 2024 July 8th

From Athlon Sports: The 5 Most Intriguing Transfer Quarterbacks of the 2024 College Football Season

Five of the last seven Heisman winners have been transfer quarterbacks... Four of the top five finishers in the Heisman voting in 2023? Transfer quarterbacks... This season brings a new wave of QB1s changing teams, and five stand out as especially intriguing.

Dillon Gabriel, Oregon Ducks​

Previous schools: UCF (2019-21), Oklahoma (2022-23)

Will Howard, Ohio State Buckeyes​

Previous school: Kansas State (2020-23)

KJ Jefferson, UCF Knights​

Previous school: Arkansas (2019-23)

Riley Leonard, Notre Dame Fighting Irish​

Previous school: Duke (2021-23)
2023 stats: 95-for-165 (57.6%), 1,102 passing yards (6.7 YPA), three touchdowns, three interceptions, 352 rushing yards, four touchdowns
Notre Dame tabbed longtime Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman as its starter for 2023. With his departure to the NFL, coach Marcus Freeman went right back to the well for another quarterback from a private ACC school in North Carolina, landing Duke QB Riley Leonard...

Cam Ward, Miami Hurricanes​

Previous schools: Incarnate Word (2020-21), Washington State (2022-23)
2023 stats: 323-for-485 (66.6%), 3,735 passing yards (7.7 YPA), 25 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 144 rushing yards, eight touchdowns
Cam Ward is extremely well traveled for a college quarterback. The West Columbia, Texas, native was not heavily recruited, in part because his high school used a run-heavy wing-T offense. He initially headed three hours west for college, attending Incarnate Word, where he immediately won the starting job and became one of the most explosive quarterbacks at the Football Championship Subdivision level. He won the Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the top freshman in the FCS, in 2020. He followed that by tossing for an eye-popping 4,648 yards and 47 touchdowns in ’21.
Ward then made his way to the Northwest, starting for two seasons at Washington State. He passed for 6,966 yards and 48 touchdowns in two years in the Pac-12, becoming one of the league’s more reliable quarterbacks. When the Cougars found themselves without a conference after the Pac-12’s dissolution, Ward traveled to the opposite corner of the country, where he will try to get Miami over the hump...

Not a bad Top 5 list. I would add a few more from the ACC:

• Kyle McCord, Syracuse (from Ohio State)

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2024 CFB Conference Media Days, ACC Coverage (RX; HM)

2024 CFB Conference Media Days, ACC Coverage

From the ESPN Press Release of July 8, 2024...

2024 College Football Kicks Off with Conference Media Days Across ESPN Platforms

• Live coverage of nearly a dozen conference media day events – ACC, American, Big 12, CUSA, MAC, SEC, Sun Belt, and more
• New season of College Football Live starts Tuesday – 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2

ESPN’s extensive programming surrounding the 2024 college football season kicks off with coverage of conference media days throughout the month of July, along with the return of College Football Live. Beginning Tuesday, ESPN platforms will feature more than 100 hours of live programming spanning 11 conference media day events, including on-site commentary from ESPN personalities at ACC Football Kickoff, Big 12 Media Days Presented by Totino’s, SEC Kickoff Presented by Regions, as well as Media Days for the American, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt and more...
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On Thursday, July 18, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman will make an appearance on the 2 p.m. edition of SportsCenter followed by CFB Live joined by quarterback Riley Leonard at 3:30 p.m., from ESPN’s Seaport Studios in New York...
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2024 Most, Least Watchable Games (RX; HM)

2024 Most, Least Watchable Games

Which ACC games are other people looking forward to the most?

What are the most "watchable" ACC football games this Fall, according to Kelly Ford?

ACC Non-Conference Games​

• Florida State at Notre Dame, Week 11
• Florida at Florida State, Week 14
• Miami at Florida, Week 1
• NC State vs Tennessee, Week 2

I see they left out the Clemson/Georgia game - did they think it's going to be a blow-out? I wouldn't count on that!

ACC Conference Games​

• Clemson at Florida State, Week 6
• Florida State at Miami, Week 9
• Louisville at Clemson, Week 10
• Florida State at SMU, Week 5
• Miami at Louisville, Week 8

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TV Value Tiers, ACC vs Big XII (RX; HM)

TV Value Tiers, ACC vs Big XII

A user who goes by "bullet" on CSNBBS asked in the thread "Now We Will Find Out IF Anything Realignment-Wise Happens This Year":

who is worth it to ESPN? Using the Sic-em TV ratings analysis, below are the ACC and Big 12 schools. Note that only FSU, Clemson, Miami and Oklahoma St. rank above Stanford who wasn't valuable enough to get in the Big 10 and had to take a cut for the ACC to take them. Next after Stanford is Baylor who nobody thinks has a chance for the P2.
This isn't a perfect measure of TV value, but it does give you a pretty good indication.

The data below is from the 2013-2021 football seasons, so it's missing some of the most recent data.

Data and Comments​

It's easy to see why Clemson and Florida State are so coveted - they are the only schools in either conference that average over 3 million viewers per game for all games, over 5 million for the top 36 games (top 4 per season). Note that there are no schools averaging 4 to 5 million viewers...
The second tier are the schools that average over 1.6 million for all games, over 3 million for top 36 games. The ACC has three such schools - Miami, Virginia Tech, and now Stanford - while the Big XII has only two - Oklahoma State and Baylor.

School	Top 36	MVwrs(all)	MVwrs(Top)	Rnk	Conf
Florida St	82	3.312	5.589	9	ACC
Clemson	90	3.258	5.419	10	ACC
School	Top 36	MVwrs(all)	MVwrs(Top)	Rnk	Conf
Miami	76	2.139	3.62	23	ACC
Oklahoma St	94	1.943	3.574	24	B12
Stanford	76	2.023	3.236	27	ACC
Baylor	88	1.678	3.103	28	B12
Virginia Tech	64	1.921	3.013	30	ACC

The third tier of teams are the ones that average 2 million viewers for top 36 games and at least 1 million for all games. This is where the Big XII shines, with 7 schools in this tier to the ACC's 4 schools.

School	Top 36	MVwrs(all)	MVwrs(Top)	Rnk	Conf
TCU	91	1.551	2.966	31	B12
Louisville	60	1.951	2.855	34	ACC
West Virginia	89	1.47	2.587	38	B12
Georgia Tech	49	1.824	2.385	41	ACC
North Carolina	56	1.699	2.355	42	ACC
Texas Tech	84	1.316	2.271	43	B12
Utah	64	1.524	2.226	44	B12
Pittsburgh	49	1.668	2.08	45	ACC
Iowa St	79	1.204	2.074	46	B12
Arizona St	61	1.443	2.054	47	B12
Kansas St	83	1.121	2.008	48	B12

The third tier of teams are the ones that average 2 million viewers for top 36 games and at least 1 million for all games. This is where the Big XII shines, with 7 schools in this tier to the ACC's 4 schools (although 3 of the top 5 in this tier are ACC schools).
The fourth tier are those that average at least 1.5 million viewers for top games and at least 1 million for all games. This tier is split 5/5 between the ACC and the Big XII.

School	Top 36	MVwrs(all)	MVwrs(Top)	Rnk	Conf
Syracuse	37	1.711	1.754	51	ACC
Virginia	38	1.637	1.717	53	ACC
NC State	39	1.593	1.708	54	ACC
BYU	76	1.094	1.651	55	B12
UCF	65	1.012	1.629	56	B12
Arizona	57	1.164	1.572	57	B12
Boston College	35	1.564	1.564	N/A	ACC
Cincinnati	58	1.082	1.557	58	B12
Colorado	39	1.448	1.549	59	B12
California	57	1.097	1.501	60	ACC

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Florida State realignment buzz hits fever pitch ahead of SEC, Big Ten media days (247sports.com; Crawford)
Florida State leaving the ACC may be inevitable, but when it happens — and where the Seminoles land — in college football's realignment era remains a mystery. Chatter hit a fever pitch ahead of SEC and Big Ten media days this month as the nation's two recently-expanded superconferences prepare for the 2024 season with several bluebloods enhancing their hopes of leaving the rest of the country in the rear view.

This time last summer, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey addressed if his league considered FSU among future expansion candidates. He made sure his words were well-positioned in welcoming Texas and Oklahoma with the red carpet first before mentioning other, possibly behemoth, additions.

"I have been clear that we are focused on our growth to 16 as we transition Oklahoma and Texas into the conference," Sankey said at the time. "Further expansion has not been a central topic in the SEC other than regularly updating our campus leadership on national developments. We are proud of the stability the SEC provides our membership and incredibly excited about our future."

And now, almost a year later, Sankey was direct in his response when asked at SEC spring meetings about future expansion. He's sure to be peppered with those questions next week in Dallas, too.

"We respect that there are agreements and situations that prevent a lot of movement, so our focus has been on our 16," Sankey said, via USA Today. "But, I pay attention."

ACC commissioner Jim Phillipsvowed to "fight" FSU and Clemson since the two are challenging the league's legally-binding grant of rights with "damaging lawsuits" ahead of the new season. The Seminoles and Tigers want a bigger piece of the ACC's annual revenue share and thus far, the league has not budged with that request.

The ACC amended its grant of rights in 2016, extending its media rights deal with ESPN and Disney in conjunction with the launch of the ACC Network. It ties the conference together through 2036. The conference has fallen behind the SEC and Big Ten in annual payouts in the year since, with the ACC handing out roughly $30 million less per year.

"It's a forgone conclusion amongst pretty much anyone who knows anything that it's a matter of time before Florida State makes a move," Josh Pate said on this week's Late Kick Show. "The decision-makers involved are of this world, meaning they don't wear a whistle around their neck. They understand marketing, promotion, dollars and cents of course, but they understand there's a picture here much bigger than Doak Campbell Stadium or Florida State or Clemson … they understand there's a world with several zeroes on the end of it."

The ACC's additions of California, Stanford and SMU hasn't altered FSU and Clemson's point of view, but Phillips says the health of the league is strong moving forward. Several years ago when there was little to no smoke ahead of the Texas-Oklahoma news breaking at SEC media days, perhaps the next wave of realignment that would significantly damage the ACC is a bit more predictable.

Other

Sewers for Micron and expected population growth in Onondaga County could cost $1 billion (PS; $; Coin)

Onondaga County plans to spend up to $1 billion to treat wastewater from Micron Technology’s planned chipmaking complex in Clay and the community growth expected to follow.

That’s more than the county spent on the decades-long sewer upgrades that cleaned up Onondaga Lake. And the expanded sewer system for Micron-related growth could transform the small Oak Orchard water treatment plant in Clay into an operation as sprawling as the Metropolitan treatment plant, which dominates Hiawatha Boulevard and serves more than 250,000 residents.

The county’s plans to lay a sewer line north of Route 31 could radically transform the northern section of Clay into a busy network of businesses, suppliers and the kinds of dense housing and retail developments the county says will be needed when Micron Technology comes.

In the end, the $1 billion cost will be split about evenly between an industrial wastewater system to serve Micron and an expanded municipal sewage system that would serve growth spurred by Micron.

The chipmaker would ultimately pay for its portion of the wastewater system, according to County Executive Ryan McMahon. County residents and businesses served by the expanded Oak Orchard system would be on the hook for the public portion.

The two plants would treat different types of wastewater. The municipal sewer lines and Oak Orchard expansion would be for waste from toilets, sinks, showers and similar sources. The industrial plant would carry water tainted with chemicals from manufacturing processes, including Micron’s. The county would also clean water and send it back to Micron for use in non-manufacturing areas, such as cooling towers.

Micron plans to start construction next year on two massive computer chipmaking plants at the corner of Route 31 and Caughdenoy Road. The company said it could build up to four fabrication plants, or fabs, by 2041.
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Syracuse’s former Hotel Hilton to be turned into apartments (PS; $; Moriarty)

A new owner is planning to turn an historic downtown Syracuse office building, built in 1929 as a hotel, into apartments.

High Tide Capital, of Bangor, Maine, a real estate company focused on historic building redevelopments, acquired the office building at 250 Harrison St. from Werock Properties LLC for $1.9 million on Jan. 11. Werock bought the building from HRR Properties LLC two years earlier for $1.15 million.

The company, through an offshoot named 250 Harrison Street LLC, has filed plans with the city to turn the mostly vacant six-story building into 35 apartments.

They will consist of five studios, 25 one-bedrooms and five two-bedrooms. Rents were not disclosed in the plans filed with the city. Under a new city zoning law that applies to new apartment projects with 20 or more units, 10% (four of the apartments) will have to be priced to be affordable for people making no more than 80 of the area median income.

The building was built by Clarence H. Hilton, a local contractor, at the southwest corner of Harrison and Montgomery streets. It opened with 110 rooms, according to a July 14, 1929, story in the Syracuse American.

It was named the Hotel Hilton, though was not part of the national chain of hotels started by Conrad Hilton in Texas in 1919, according to Robert Searing, curator of history for the Onondaga Historical Association.
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