sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Bacon Lover's Day!
National Bacon Lover's Day is dedicated to the popular treat cut from the meat of a pig. In the United States, bacon refers to meat from the belly of the pig, known as the pork belly. Bacon from the loin is called Canadian bacon. To make bacon, the pork is cured using salt, and is then dried, boiled, or smoked. The smoking of bacon is often done with hickory, mesquite, or maple wood, and flavors such as brown sugar or maple may be added. More often than not, bacon is pan fried, and it is popular as a breakfast food, in sandwiches like the BLT or club sandwich, as a complement to salads, and in wrapping other foods. "Bacon mania" has swept the United States and Canada since the late 1990's, where there has been a great increase in the amount of bacon being eaten, and in the amount of new bacon recipes. The high sodium and nitrate content of bacon that lower its health benefits has not seemed to much slow down the bacon craze.
SU News
Axe: Young Orange emerging in last week of SU camp; ACC All-Access Episode 2 review (podcast) (PS; podcast; SU Orange)
Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown smirked a little when asked on Monday who could emerge as surprises as the Orange wrap up training camp.
“Kyle McCord and LeQuint Allen,” Brown said of two players who are hardly in the shadows as his starting quarterback and running back. “I think they’ll be pretty good.”
Brown did play along and highlight a few younger players that are emerged in a recent scrimmage and during camp that we should keep an eye on.
Chris Carlson and I discussed that, a team health update and had a full review of episode two of “ACC All-Access” on a live edition of Syracuse Sports. You may recognize some faces and voices on the show from your friends here at syracuse.com. We also enjoyed the off-the-field look at a few key Orange figures, though I was horrified at the revelation of a movie franchise McCord hasn’t watched yet.
Dan Tortora on Instagram: "“Peeling Back the Orange” - DT w/ Syracuse Orange QB Michael Johnson, Jr., transfer from FAU, on numerous topics heading into the 2024-25 season… #Syracuse #collegefootball #sports #Cuse #OrangeNation #football #CNY #CuseFamily #adversity #positivity #quarterback #faith #team #family #GodisGreat #GodisGood @mjohnsonjr1" (instagram; video; WakeUpDT)
DT with QB Michael Johnson Jr, on numerous topics heading into the 2024-25 season
Fran Brown on What’s Most Rewarding w/ ‘Cuse Football (youtube; video; WakeUpDT)
“Peeling Back the Orange” - DT w/ Syracuse Orange Head Coach Fran Brown on what’s been most rewarding piece for him in seeing this team grow, heading into the 2024-25 season…
Syracuse transfer RB Will Nixon 1-ON-1 w/ DT (youtube; video; WakeUpDT)
“Peeling Back the Orange” - DT w/ Syracuse Orange RB Will Nixon, transfer from Washington who worked w/ QB Michael Penix, Jr., on numerous topics heading into the 2024-25 season…
Crazy ACC Dark Horse (Syracuse Football 2024 Predictions) (youtube; podcast; Rank N File Sports)
Our predictions for the Syracuse Orange 2024 College Football SeasonLet us know your predicted record in the comments. We would love to hear your feedback. Thanks For Watching!
New Syracuse football DB will undergo surgery for upper-body injury (PS; Leiker)
A second Syracuse football player has suffered an injury that will disrupt his season, coach Fran Brown said Monday.
Defensive back Marcus Washington Jr. will undergo surgery to repair a torn bicep and will miss three to four months.
Brown left it a possibility that Washington could make a late-season appearance depending on how Syracuse’s postseason goes.
Washington, a Louisville transfer, had been seen during media viewing periods of recent practices using an exercise bike instead of partaking in drills.
“He was actually thriving,” Brown said. “He was pushing into that second, running with the twos. So that sucks for him.”
Washington started his collegiate career at Georgia in 2022 after reclassifying as a high school senior. Brown was his position coach.
He only played two snaps that season but took on a special teams role for the Cardinals in 2023 and appeared in all 14 games.
When he transferred to Syracuse in May, Washington had three seasons of eligibility remaining. Syracuse already lost defensive lineman Braylen Ingraham to an Achilles tear days into fall camp.
Otherwise, though, Brown said the team is “looking at a full roster” entering Week 1. The team practiced lightly without shoulder pads Monday following its second scrimmage to recover from the physicality of camp thus far.
Keeping Up With The 315 8-19-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian begins the show previewing maybe the most important position group on the team. He then gives his thoughts on how the new blue seats at the dome look and if they should add orange seats. Lastly, Brian takes a look at The Athletic’s rankings of every team in college football and what that means about Syracuse and it’s schedule.
Cuse Sports Talk on Instagram: "How are we feeling about the Syracuse offensive line? @brianhigginssu continues his position group previews all week long on #The315 LIVE from 4-6 PM ET on CuseSportsTalk.com." (instagram.com; radio; The 315)
How are we feeling about the Syracuse offensive line?
Syracuse Football's Biggest Surprises of Fall Camp are HUGE for the Orange | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Lokced on Syracuse)
Syracuse Football has a few big surprises at fall camp. Fran Brown may have found himself a backup quarterback behind Kyle McCord in FAU transfer Michael Johnson Jr. 2024 four-star prospect Marcellus Barnes is also in competition with Clarence Lewis, Jayden Bellamy, and Devin Grant for a starting cornerback spot. And, Zeed Haynes was called a top-two player on offense by Dion Wilson.
Jackson Holzer goes over a few positive surprises for Syracuse Football on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.
Is Michael Johnson Jr. the FRONT RUNNER for the Backup QB Job for Syracuse Football? (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse; Premieres at 10 AM)
Michael Johnson Jr. is a redshirt senior entering his sixth year of college. The FAU transfer has only attempted one career collegiate pass, but is turning heads at fall camp. Fran Brown may have found Syracuse Football's backup quarterback behind Kyle McCord. However, Johnson Jr. must still beat out Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Jakhari Williams.Jackson Holzer is pleasantly surprised that Johnson Jr. is in the race for Cuse Football.
Syracuse Football Preview: Quarterbacks (soundcloud.com; podcast; WAER Sports)
Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord leads a revamped quarterbacks room for Syracuse football in 2024. However, the battle to be McCord's back-up is still going strong. Alex Burstein breaks down all the quarterback options for Syracuse this season.
The Juice Online - Opponent Analysis: Pittsburgh Panthers — 2024 Syracuse Football preview (r1vals.com; Barth)
As we countdown to kickoff in September, we’re doing a team-by-team opponent preview. Today, we're previewing Syracuse's matchup with Pitt on Oct. 24.
Most important offensive player, defensive player
Offense: Rodney Hammond is the most important offensive player coming into the season. With a new offensive coordinator, a new play-action heavy playbook, and a new full-time quarterback, Pitt needs to have great running back play to compete early in the season. Hammond has been a breakout candidate for a while, and going into his senior year he will need to produce. If Hammond can play to that level, he will buy time for this offensive line that will be extremely important in getting through the first month of the season and new playbook.Defense: Donovan McMillon is the best player on defense. Highlighted last year in our rising star section, McMillon had three INTs last season, and with a new crop of starting cornerbacks, teams will be sure to test him at the safety position. Pitt continues to breed NFL talent at the defensive back position, and that continues this season.
Rising star on offense, defense
Offense - Kenny Johnson could take over for Bub Means, who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints, as the 2nd biggest threat in the WR room. Johnson is explosive and previously emerged as Pitt's primary kickoff returner, earning Honorable Mention All-ACC as a return specialist last season. With the new offense, slot receivers are very important. Expect Johnson to make his presence known.Defense - Pitt's lack of depth on the defensive line makes this hard to determine, but I would say the rising star is Sean Fitzsimmons. With two lineman moving on to Colorado, Fitzsimmons has the chance to solidify himself as the starting defensive tackle. Another player of interest would be Nate Matlack . A former three-star prospect, and transfer from Kansas State, has the chance to compete at defensive end and raise his stock in the NFL draft next offseason.
Team outlook: Best-case scenario
Pitt has an average schedule, with a hard out of conference game (WVU) and two games against new ACC schools (SMU and Cal). If Kade Bell improves the offense to where it was pre-Cignetti and Gavin Bartholomew, Rodney Hammond and Konata Mumpfield can get the ball to make plays, this team can win 8-9 games in the regular season. The offensive and defensive skill is there, the question will be how quickly, if at all, the new pieces will mesh with the new offensive playbook.Team outlook: Worst-case scenario
Kade Bell never gets the offense to click and the defense does not replace the loss of production from their transfer departures. If those things happen, this team could finish 3-9 or worse. This season may be the catalyst season that determines Pat Narduzzi’s future as a head coach in the ACC by 2026.Head coach / program is on the rise, stagnant, decline because ...
The program is stagnant. Pat Narduzzi had established himself as one of the best coaches in the ACC, but then put all his chips on Frank Cignetti/Phillips Jurokevic and lost everything he had. This team could be very good, and back on the upswing. But it could also go very badly and put Narduzzi on the hot seat heading into 2025....
The Juice Online - Running Backs — 2024 Syracuse Football preview (r1vals.com; Stechchulte)
LeQuint Allen joined Kyle McCord on the Maxwell Award watch list for this season and also was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, which is the award given to the best collegiate running back. These honors make sense, as he ran for 1,064 yards last season and scored nine rushing touchdowns. Allen also tacked on a tenth score as a receiver, hauling one of his 38 receptions into the end zone. The junior rolled up at least 90 yards from scrimmage nine times last season, including logging seven 100-yard rushing games, and SU went 5-4 in those contests.
Allen was used sparingly in the spring game, gaining 72 yards and two scores on just six carries. That light usage comes from his status as arguably the best player on the team, as Allen is a complete running back and should be the defensive focus of just about every Syracuse opponent.
Also earning a significant role in the spring game was Yasin Willis, a freshman from Newark, New Jersey who had originally committed to Pittsburgh. Willis was rated a four-star prospect and the top recruit in the state by Rivals and showed why in that exhibition with less than a semester on campus.
Willis was the second running back to see action in the spring game and spent the outing mixing in with the starters, then playing for the second-string after the first team was granted the second half off. The freshman was a bowling ball, cited by Fran Brown as part of a “thunder and lightning” tandem with Allen after turning a dozen touches into over 100 yards from scrimmage and a score.
Will Nixon, son of new offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, transferred into the program this spring after spending two seasons at Nebraska and two more at Washington. Nixon was a reserve with the Huskies, compiling 54 carries and 21 receptions over 26 games. His most productive outing last season was 48 yards on a half-dozen rushes against Boise State.
The Orange also added a pair of three-star backs as part of their 2024 recruiting class. Jaden Harris, who ran for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in his scholastic career, comes to SU as a top-ten ranked player in the state of Indiana. Malachi James, who also played wide receiver and defensive back in high school, set a New Jersey state record in the 100-meter dash as a senior and brings that blazing speed to the SU program.
LEADING RETURNING RUSHER: LeQuint Allen – 1,064 yards on 245 carries and nine touchdowns
Football’s fresh start at Syracuse (observertoday.com; Frank; AP)
Expectations are growing in Syracuse, where Orange football is undergoing a fresh start under Fran Brown, who is already cashing in on his reputation as one of the nation’s top recruiters.
Hired in December to replace Dino Babers, the former Georgia defensive backs coach has persuaded key players to stay put and assembled the program’s highest-rated recruiting class since rankings have been compiled. He also lured a group of high-profile transfers, including former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and ex-Texas A&M defensive lineman Fadil Diggs.
“I want to make sure that Syracuse gets back to where they belong, where it was,” Brown said. “You’re going back to Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, all those guys that played. I want to get back to those same eras. You had (quarterback) Donavan McNabb, (receiver) Marvin Harrison, (defensive end) Dwight Freeney, (safety) Donovin Darius. All those guys are important to me.”
The Orange faltered under Babers, who was never able to recreate the success he enjoyed during a 10-3 finish in 2018. He was fired one game short of completing his eighth season, and finished with a 41-55 record, and 20-45 in conference play.
A first-time head coach, Brown has several important, high-impact players who can help the Orange surpass the modest expectations of ACC media members who picked them to finish 12th in the 17-team conference.
The offense has a chance to be dynamic under McCord, a former five-star recruit who threw for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions for the Buckeyes in 2023.
His surprising choice of Syracuse gave Brown and the program an immediate shot of adrenaline.
Key returnees include running back LeQuint Allen (1,064 rushing yards and nine touchdowns), a second-team All-ACC pick last season. Another is All-ACC preseason tight end Oronde Gadsden II who returns after a season-ending Lisfranc injury and is expected to be one of McCord’s top receiving targets. And then there’s slot receiver/returner Trebor Pena, who was limited to one game last year due to injury.
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The Next Duce Chestnut? Syracuse Football’s Rising Star "Means Business" (orangefizz.net; Staff)
Last January, Marcellus Barnes Jr. confirmed his commitment to Syracuse at the All-American Bowl. The four-star cornerback chose Syracuse over finalists, including Ole Miss and Georgia.
A few months later, experts and Orange fans are eyeing Barnes to be the next Syracuse football rising star, following the steps of Duce Chestnut in his former position.
The Making of Barnes
Barnes played for McCallie High School. He helped McCallie achieve a Tennessee Division II 3A state championship and a 12-1 record. Last year, he finished with 56 tackles, 11 pass break up and 5 interceptions.Many recruiting scouts see Barnes playing as a nickel corner and as an off-ball safety in the deep third. According to 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Cooper Petagna, Barnes possesses the growth potential to add additional weight to his frame. He was 6-1 170 pounds entering 2024.
Besides Barnes’ versatility on the field, he was a two-time state qualifier in the 100-meter dash. Given that lateral quickness and track-like speed, experts expect Barnes can play special teams and back up more veteran secondary players in Syracuse. If you know the exacta bet meaning in horse racing, you can probably bet on Barnes to come second in Oranges’ top 4 cornerbacks.
Who Led Him to Syracuse?
Barnes was originally committed to Virginia Tech before eventually choosing to play for Syracuse University. He chose Syracuse over Ole Miss, Baylor, Georgia, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Mississippi State, and Michigan State, among others....
SU football flexes new depth in the receiver room (cnycentral.com; Wenskoski)
As SU football inches closer to Week One, the depth chart for Kyle McCord's top receiving targets is coming into focus.
Tight end Oronde Gadsden II figures to be the top threat, but who will step up behind him?
The answer may not have worn Orange last season.
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Fran Brown has been tight lipped regarding the depth chart behind Gadsden, but Georgia transfer WRs Jackson Meeks and Yazeed Haynes figure to be at the top of the list. A fully healthy Trebor Pena, Dan Villari, Umari Hatcher, Darrell Gill Jr., and Colorado State transfer Justus Ross-Simmons.
"I can tell you this- Gill is doing really well and Umari Hatcher has stepped up a lot," said Brown. "Of course, Meeks is doing well. Meeks is leading us and getting everything going. Meeks will probably be unstoppable when the time comes."
When pressed on who stood out in last weekend's second intra-squad fall scrimmage, wide receivers coach Ross Douglas was complimentary towards the entire group.
"I think a lot of people stood out," said Douglas, who comes to the Orange after previously serving as the WRs coach for the New England Patriots. "Throughout this fall camp, there's been a lot of people who have stepped up in different instances. There was positive things from everybody."
...
Best and Worst case record for Syracuse football in 2024 (scacchoops.com; JFann)
Let's take a look at Syracuse Football.
Best / Worst Case Record for :
Louisville | Virginia | Miami | Duke | Georgia Tech | SMU | Boston College | Pittsburgh | Florida State | Virginia Tech | Cal | NC State | Clemson | North Carolina | Stanford| Wake Forest
ACC 2024 Football Schedule
Syracuse
The Dino Babers era has come to a close at Syracuse. There will always be that magical 10-win top 15 season in 2018, but otherwise, there were 5 more losing seasons, and last year the Cuse were 5-6 when Babers and Syracuse parted ways. Dino Babers ability to coach especially on the offensive side of the ball was rarely questioned, but he just didn’t accumulate much talent at Syracuse. In the end, it was his downfall. In walks, Fran Brown fresh off coaching the last two years for some great Georgia Bulldog teams. What Brown lacks in head coaching experience he makes up for in enthusiasm, and he’s already landed big-time transfer QB Kyle McCord by way of Ohio State. Could Syracuse sneak up on people this year?
Will Go 9-3 (5-3) if:
If QB Kyle McCord and the offense take flight. Last season Syracuse couldn’t throw the ball at all ranking 114th in the country in passing. If McCord succeeds at QB, remember he gets to work with a healthy Orande Gadsen at TE. That could potentially be quite a 1 – 2 punch. Look at the early part of the schedule Ohio, Georgia Tech, Stanford, Holy Cross and at UNLV. It wouldn’t be a stretch to see Syracuse start the season 5-0, then you could have something. Syracuse gets Virginia Tech and Miami at home leaving only a road game at NC State as likely out of reach of Syracuse. The defense has some talent with Marlowe Wax at linebacker. There are pieces there for Syracuse you can’t ignore.
Will Go 5-7 (2-6) if:
Fran Brown is learning on the job as head coach. Brown has some great pedigree coming from the Kirby Smart and Georgia coaching tree, but how will he do as head coach is a huge question. Georgia Tech is a tricky game number two, and while the early part of the schedule is soft another upset has Syracuse 3-2 going to NC State. They play 1 game from October 5 to November 23 at home. That’s a long time to be on the road and can wear on any team. The roster seems to have been upgraded by Brown, but how will the new schemes take? There are a lot of question marks for Syracuse, that could have the Orange missing the post-season.
Syracuse Football's Biggest Surprises of Fall Camp are HUGE for the Orange | Syracuse Orange Podcast (bvmsports.com; podcast; BVM Sports)
Syracuse Football's fall camp has revealed major surprises that could significantly impact the upcoming season. Key developments include FAU transfer Michael Johnson Jr. emerging as a strong backup option for starting quarterback Kyle McCord. Additionally, four-star prospect Marcellus Barnes is in contention for a cornerback spot alongside Clarence Lewis, Jayden Bellamy, and Devin Grant. Dion Wilson has hailed Zeed Haynes as one of the top offensive players, indicating that competition for starting positions is heating up.
By the Numbers
- Michael Johnson Jr. transferred from FAU, potentially solidifying the backup QB role.
- Marcellus Barnes is competing with at least three other players for a starting cornerback position.
- Fall camp is underway, with fierce competition for starting spots among newcomers and returning players.
- Key performers are emerging, setting the stage for potential shifts in team dynamics.
As fall camp progresses, the coaching staff will evaluate performances leading up to the season opener, potentially solidifying depth charts and altering strategies for the season.
Bottom Line
Syracuse Football is poised for significant changes in its roster dynamics due to emerging talents, which could pave the way for a stronger performance this season.
Michael Johnson Jr. should START for Syracuse Football in a Potential Bowl Game *IF* he's QB1 2025 (bvmsports.com; Sportsdesk)
Syracuse Football's fall camp reveals standout performances, particularly from FAU transfer Michael Johnson Jr., who is emerging as a strong backup option behind Kyle McCord. The competition is fierce for cornerback spots, with four-star prospect Marcellus Barnes vying against Clarence Lewis, Jayden Bellamy, and Devin Grant. Coach Fran Brown has noted the impressive contributions of Zeed Haynes on offense, highlighted by Dion Wilson. Jackson Holzer discusses these developments in depth on the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.
By the Numbers
- Michael Johnson Jr. transferred from FAU as a backup behind starting QB Kyle McCord.
- Four-star prospect Marcellus Barnes competes with three others for a cornerback position.
- Fall camp has uncovered unexpected players stepping up for the Orange.
- Competition is heating up for starting positions, notably in the quarterback and cornerback spots.
As the season approaches, fans can anticipate continued development from Johnson Jr. and the defensive candidates as they prepare for potential starting roles in upcoming games, including a possible bowl game scenario.
Bottom Line
Michael Johnson Jr.'s performance could be pivotal for Syracuse Football, particularly if he advances to the starting quarterback position, influencing the team's success moving forward.
Syracuse Football: Why the Orange will finish 5-7 in 2024 (TNIAAM; Wall)
Monday August 19: 5-7 Kevin
Tuesday August 20: 6-6 Steve
Wednesday August 21: 7-5 Max
Thursday August 22: 8-4 Dom
Friday August 23: 9-3 Carson
Saturday August 24th: 10-2 Mike
Sunday August 25th: CFP Bound- a special guest
**********************************************************************************************
I debated starting this year’s series with 4-8, but this feels like it would be a bad enough season. Let’s get to this dark and twisted path...
Ohio Bobcats- Win (1-0, 0-0)
Syracuse comes right out and starts the Fran Brown era with a freeze option pass to Zeed Haynes on the first offensive play. The Dome is one big party as the Orange score 55 points to get a huge opening win.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Loss (1-1, 0-1)
The first bump in the road comes early as Haynes King out-duels Kyle McCord in a double-overtime thriller. Some Orange fans are already wondering if John Wildhack made the right hire.
Stanford Cardinal- Win (2-1, 1-1)
Are you entertained yet? The roller coaster September continues as Justin Barron intercepts a Justin Lamson pass and returns it to open the second half. Syracuse opens up a two-score lead that the rest of the way and win the first “Block S Battle”.
Holy Cross Crusaders- Win (3-1, 1-1)
It’s Youth Day in the Dome as the Orange showcase a number of young players. Yasin Willis, Ja’Meer Thomas and Emmanuel Ross all find the end zone and Syracuse fans get a relaxing afternoon.
UNLV Rebels- Loss (3-2, 1-1)
Are you sitting down? Here’s where it gets messy. Replacing a short trip down the Thruway with a flight to Sin City ends up with the Orange unable to cash in. Like many others who dream of finding a jackpot in Vegas, Syracuse comes home empty-handed.
NC State Wolfpack- Loss (3-3, 1-2)
This turns into a game where Syracuse could use a Chris Bell barrage from deep. NC State slows the pace and keeps the ball as they grind out a 17-13 win. A dream season is becoming nightmarish...
Pittsburgh Panthers- Loss (3-4, 1-3)
Oh you thought it was bad before, Another What loss at Pittsburgh as Syracuse botches an extra point and loses three fumbles on a rainy Thursday night. Orange fans don’t need Fright Night at the Fair to be terrified this October.
...
Is the ACC the Worst Power Conference in College Football? (orangefizz.net; Aitken)
The ACC has gotten the short end of the stick in college football over the past few years. In each of the last three seasons, the conference has been completely left out of the College Football Playoff. That was particularly rough last year, when Florida State went 13-0 and were the ACC Champions, yet got left out of the CFP.
This offseason, a lot has changed in the landscape of college football. The Pac-12 collapsed, with just Oregon State and Washington State left in what’s barely even a real conference anymore. The best of the Pac-12 got scooped up by the Big Ten, while other teams flocked to the Big 12 and the ACC. With all those changes, and just four power conferences left, the hierarchy has certainly changed.
The SEC has long been the best football conference, and that’s still true. That’s backed up by CBS’s recent rankings. It’s also proven by the numbers. Four of the last five national champions have been SEC teams. Plus, four of the top six teams in the preseason AP poll. That includes one of the SEC’s additions this offseason, Texas. The conference also added powerhouse Oklahoma.
The only other conference in the same echelon as the SEC is the Big Ten. The conference features last year’s national champion, Michigan, plus last year’s national runner up, Washington. The Big Ten also scooped up the best pieces from the Pac-12: Washington, Oregon, UCLA, and USC. The conference has four of the top ten teams in the preseason AP poll. That says it all.
Now it comes down to the ACC and the Big 12. There are a lot of numbers that indicate that these two conferences are neck and neck. Both have seven CFP appearances in the last decade. The ACC has four teams in the AP Top 25, the Big 12 has five teams. Both conferences have three teams inside the top 20. However, the ACC is just a bit better historically and right now. The ACC owns two championships in the last decade, compared to none from the Big 12. The ACC also has the highest-ranked team out of the two conferences, #10 Florida State. In terms of depth, the ACC also wins. In The Athletic’s recent ranking of all 134 DI teams, there are two Big 12 teams (Cincinnati and Arizona State) ranked below the ACC’s worst team (Stanford).
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Syracuse Football on Instagram: "we really live it "
cusefootball on August 18, 2024: "we really live it ".
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ACC News
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5699400/2024/08/20/acc-football-tiers-rankings-cfp-projections/ (theathletic.com; $; Navarro, Raynor & Marks)
The Atlantic Coast Conference might be immersed in turmoil and legal issues these days, but it’s still the third-best conference in college football.
Sorry to Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, but the ACC’s two national titles since the College Football Playoff started in 2014 are two more than the Big 12 and just as many as the Big Ten. With that said, there’s not a lot of confidence that the ACC will be winning title No. 3 in 2024 in a season in which it expands to 17 teams, from coast to coast, with the additions of Cal, Stanford and SMU.
Will Florida State and Clemson still dominate what’s now a division-less conference? Can Miami finally surge to the top? Will a surprise team like NC State make a title run? How will the newcomers fair? And what defines success for each of the 17 teams?
Here’s how we view the ACC in 2024 as the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams, with analysis from our ACC experts, plus expected wins and projections using Austin Mock’s model.
Tier 1 Playoff contenders
Florida State Seminoles
9.1 Expected Wins
Clemson Tigers
8.5 Expected Wins
Miami Hurricanes
8.5 Expected Wins
North Carolina State Wolfpack
8.2 Expected Wins
Tier 2 Likely bowl teams
Louisville Cardinals
7.7 Expected Wins
Virginia Tech Hokies
8.8 Expected Wins
SMU Mustangs
8.3 Expected Wins
Syracuse Orange
6.5 Expected Wins
North Carolina Tar Heels
7.5 Expected Wins
California Golden Bears
6.3 Expected Wins
Tier 3 Bowl bubble
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
5.3 Expected Wins
...
Which ACC Contender Will FLOUNDER In 2024? | Training Camp Reports | Most Watched CFB Games (youtube; podcast; Locked on ACC)
Which of the ACC’s top contending teams might flounder this season? Host Kenton Gibbs makes a strong case for Clemson, with their quarterback situation and offensive line, could fall short of the top two predictions they are receiving in most ACC standings. Host Alex Donno wonders if Florida State, considered a consensus to repeat as champions, won’t have some trouble replacing playmakers like Jordan Travis, Keon Coleman, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. The “offseason champion” narrative will cling to Miami until Mario Cristobal’s team proves that they can live up to the hype. Who will fall short this year?
The guys offer updates on the latest happenings around ACC football training camps. Is confidence surging in Chapel Hill? Are the Duke Blue Devils being slept on? Does Miami have a new standout safety ready for a breakout? What do we think of the Florida State Week One depth chart? Meanwhile, Pete Nakos of On3 Sports released his prediction of what will be the top ten most watched college football games this season. Only one game involving an ACC team made the list. Why?
ACC expert picks 2024: Most overrated and underrated teams, projected order of finish, bold predictions (cbssports.com; Patterson)
Conference membership and realignment has become a mainstay off-field talking point of college athletics, and the ACC enters the 2024 season as both the beneficiary and potential victim of such matters. The effective dissolution of the Pac-12 has resulted in two West Coast additions -- Cal and Stanford -- that turn the Atlantic Coast Conference into something of an "All Coasts Conference." Additionally, SMU has made a long-awaited jump back into college football's premier circle.
Simultaneously, the ACC is fighting a high-profile legal battle with Florida State and Clemson over its so-called "iron-clad" grant of rights, leaving the future membership of those two legacy institutions up in the air.
On the field, the expansion to 17 teams leaves plenty of room for surprises thanks to imbalanced schedules and a handful of contenders, five of which received multiple first-place votes in the conference's preseason media poll. While the Seminoles are picked to win the conference again following a dream 2023 season, voters believe Clemson, Miami, NC State and even Virginia Tech have the personnel capable of making a title run.
Here at CBS Sports, our group of experts have shown little consensus on the direction the ACC standings will take this fall. Three different teams have received the designation of "champion," while an even greater number have been deemed "overrated" or "underrated" -- oftentimes with some crossover.
Let's have a look as our CBS Sports college football experts have provided their picks and predictions for the ACC ahead of the 2024 season.
Most overrated team
Clemson: The Tigers made the drop from underwhelming to legitimately mediocre one season ago, ultimately losing three games to unranked opponents and finishing 4-4 in conference play for the first time since 2010. The Tigers are still one of the most talented teams in the league, but how much production can Clemson lose and still maintain? The defense typically replaces well, but the Tigers lost five starters to the NFL Draft and safety Andrew Mukuba to the transfer portal. The offense was a mess last year and will have to move forward without RB Will Shipley and WR Beaux Collins. If this team didn't don the orange and purple, no one would confuse them for an ACC title contender. -- Shehan Jeyarajah (Dennis Dodd, Jerry Palm)Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets went 7-6 last season but finished with wins in four of their last six, including a close loss to Georgia and a bowl win over UCF, and I think that late momentum has caused people to be a bit too optimistic about their chances. Yes, the Georgia game was tight, but the Bulldogs may have been more focused on the SEC Championship Game. Also, QB Haynes King turns the ball over far too often for me to have too much faith in them. Over Tech's six losses, four were by double-digits. Oh, and if not for a Mario Cristobal clock management masterpiece, this team finishes 5-7 and the sentiments are much different heading into 2024. -- Tom Fornelli
Louisville: An offense that already relied heavily on the transfer portal took a huge blow when wideout Caullin Lacy went down with a collarbone injury during preseason camp. QB Tyler Shough lacks proven playmakers at his disposal, and he has yet to prove he can provide consistent play when healthy. -- Richard Johnson (Chip Patterson)
Duke: The Blue Devils landed at No. 11 in the league's preseason media poll, which is too generous for a rebooting program with an unfavorable schedule. The Blue Devils must play seven of the ACC's top nine teams from the preseason media poll and get just one of the bottom eight. Manny Diaz is a good hire, but there are too many roster questions to expect the Blue Devils to produce a bowl bid against this slate in his first year. -- David Cobb
Miami: Don't read this and automatically assume it means Miami will be a bad team. Miami has enough talent to be a good team. Transfer Cam Ward is an underrated quarterback who, at his best, boasts Heisman Trophy upside. There are plenty of impact players around him in a loaded offense. The defense boasts experience and a front seven that should give other teams problems. But until Miami actually goes out and proves that it can return to its former glory, I have a hard time projecting anything besides a decent season -- especially with Mario Cristobal's track record of coaching blunders and underperforming. -- Will Backus
Most underrated team
SMU: Call me crazy, but I don't think SMU's jump to the ACC is going to be much of one. Sonny Dykes and Rhett Lashlee have carefully built this program up to Power Four level. The Mustangs get Florida State at home. Their toughest road game is at Louisville a week later. No Clemson. Everybody has seemed to have dismissed that Lashlee has kept this thing cooking after Dykes' departure. Last year's 11-3 team that won the American was arguably SMU's best since the 1980s.SMU has a billionaire sugar daddy who organized the move to the ACC. With access to better players, the Ponies should compete with the ACC's elite. Fourteen starters return to a program that finished in the top 11 in scoring offense and defense. Watch Miami transfer tailback Brashard Smith, who caught 69 passes in three years with the 'Canes. Last year, he scored rushing, receiving and special teams touchdowns. -- Dodd (Palm)
Pitt: This is more about faith in what coach Pat Narduzzi has done over the long haul at Pitt. Yes, last season was awful -- the Panthers went 3-9 and 2-6 in the ACC -- but it was the first time the Panthers finished with a losing record since going 5-7 in 2017. Maybe last season was the start of a horrific downturn, or maybe it was an outlier. I suspect the latter. -- Fornelli
Cal: The Bears were seemingly left for dead last season before winning (and covering) in three straight games to finish the regular season at 6-6. Now, coach Justin Wilcox has all six of his all-conference selections from a year ago, most notably star running back Jaydn Ott, and loads of added experience from a 23-player transfer class that ranked No. 4 in the ACC, per 247Sports. SMU may be catching all the buzz as the newcomer most likely to be a threat in Year 1, but Cal could be a dream killer for a couple of ACC title contenders. -- Patterson
NC State: The Wolfpack have been painfully close to ACC contention nearly every season under coach Dave Doeren, but this might be his best team yet. Offensively, quarterback Grayson McCall teams with underrated running back Jordan Waters for a new dynamic. However, the receiver combo of Kevin Concepcion and Noah Rogers might be the most undervalued part of the roster, especially if the defense can maintain its typical excellence. A trip to the ACC Championship Game is well within reach for Doeren's squad -- along with that elusive 10th victory. -- Jeyarajah
Miami: The Hurricanes are going to have the best offense in the ACC this season, which will carry them as their aggressive defensive identity congeals around new parts up front over the course of the year. This year's schedule also looks wide open, building up to a massive October featuring games against Louisville and Florida State. -- Johnson
Stanford: Second-year coach Troy Taylor went through a true Year 0 type of experience last season as the program rebooted with a 3-9 record following 12 years under David Shaw. Most key contributors return, and they now have familiarity with the scheme. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ashton Daniels brings breakout potential to the table after cutting his teeth against a series of difficult opponents in 2023. Look for this offense to put up some big numbers and surprise a couple of teams. -- Cobb
Georgia Tech: Four of Brent Key's 11 career wins, including in his time as interim coach, have come against teams ranked inside the AP Top 25. The Yellow Jackets gave top-ranked Georgia a run for its money late in the season last year and went on to win their first bowl game since 2016. They had one of the ACC's most efficient scoring offenses in 2023 and return an overwhelming amount of production on that side of the ball. The defense was a letdown in a majority of the losses, so Key went out and hired defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci, who engineered the ACC's top scoring defense at Duke last season. Not saying that the Jackets are going to win the conference, but don't be surprised if they beat some teams that they shouldn't. -- Backus
Bold predictions
- Dennis Dodd: In February, ESPN will exercise its option not to extend the ACC contract beyond 2027. Florida State -- having played the long game -- will have its out and be able to put itself on the market. FSU will do so at a much reduced rate to get out of the grant of rights since it will only have three years to run. Don't ask me where FSU goes, but if it is as free agent beginning in 2028, there will be Power Four interest. Basically, the next round of major realignment begins less than a month after the 2025 championship game. Buckle up.
- Tom Fornelli: The ACC will shock the world by getting three teams into the 12-team playoff, but nobody else in the league will finish ranked in the top 20.
- Chip Patterson: There will be a four-way tie for first place with Florida State, Clemson, NC State and Virginia Tech all finishing with a 7-1 conference record. Unfortunately for the dark horse picks of the bunch, the tiebreaker scenario would favor the teams at the top of the odds board to start: FSU and Clemson.
- Shehan Jeyarajah: Both Florida State and Clemson will get locked out of the ACC Championship Game. Instead, programs like Miami, NC State, SMU and Louisville will finally break through and give the ACC a third unique team in the College Football Playoff since the format started in 2014. The reign of the titans is over, which will only add more agitation in the FSU and Clemson board rooms.
- Richard Johnson: Noah Rogers ends up being the best receiver in the league. The Ohio State transfer may have been buried on the depth chart at Ohio State, but he's transferred home to Raleigh and his connection with Grayson McCall will create an explosive dimension for the 'Pack.
- David Cobb: The U is back. Miami finally has the talent and coaching continuity needed to win its first conference title since 2003. Transfer quarterback Cam Ward (Washington State) and transfer running back Damien Martinez (Oregon State) are stars, and the defense also looks feisty with the likes of Rueben Bain and Francisco Mauigoa in the front seven. If not now, when?
- Jerry Palm: While I am picking the Seminoles to win the league again, they will do so with multiple losses. They will be just outside the top 10 and the lowest rated of the major conference champions
- Will Backus: The ACC will be the only Power Four conference that doesn't send at least two teams to the College Football Playoff. Sorry, but if a 14-0 Florida State can't make the cut over a one-loss team from another conference, I have a hard time seeing the committee put anyone besides the automatic qualifier in the field. Plus, someone has to make room for Notre Dame.
ACC predicted order of finish
Dennis Dodd | Tom Fornelli | Chip Patterson | Shehan Jeyarajah | Richard Johnson | David Cobb | Jerry Palm | Will Backus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Florida State | Clemson | Clemson | Miami (Fla.) | Miami (Fla.) | Miami (Fla.) | Miami (Fla.) | Clemson |
| 2. | SMU | Florida State | Florida State | NC State | Florida State | Florida State | Florida State | Florida State |
| 3. | Clemson | Miami (Fla.) | NC State | Florida State | Clemson | Clemson | Clemson | NC State |
| 4. | Virginia Tech | NC State | Virginia Tech | SMU | NC State | NC State | NC State | Miami (Fla.) |
| 5. | Miami (Fla.) | Virginia Tech | SMU | Louisville | North Carolina | SMU | Louisville | Virginia Tech |
| 6. | NC State | Louisville | Miami (Fla.) | Clemson | Virginia Tech | Louisville | Virginia Tech | Georgia Tech |
| 7. | Georgia Tech | North Carolina | North Carolina | Virginia Tech | SMU | Virginia Tech | North Carolina | Louisville |
| 8. | Louisville | Pittsburgh | Louisville | North Carolina | Louisville | North Carolina | SMU | North Carolina |
| 9. | Pittsburgh | SMU | California | Syracuse | Wake Forest | Wake Forest | Boston College | SMU |
| 10. | North Carolina | Syracuse | Syracuse | Georgia Tech | Duke | Boston College | Wake Forest | Boston College |
| 11. | Wake Forest | Boston College | Georgia Tech | California | Georgia Tech | Stanford | Pittsburgh | Duke |
| 12. | Boston College | Georgia Tech | Wake Forest | Duke | Syracuse | Pittsburgh | California | Syracuse |
| 13. | Syracuse | California | Boston College | Boston College | Pittsburgh | Syracuse | Syracuse | California |
| 14. | Duke | Virginia | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Boston College | Georgia Tech | Stanford | Pittsburgh |
| 15. | Stanford | Stanford | Duke | Stanford | California | California | Georgia Tech | Wake Forest |
| 16. | Virginia | Wake Forest | Stanford | Wake Forest | Virginia | Virginia | Duke | Stanford |
| 17. | California | Duke | Virginia | Virginia | Stanford | Duke | Virginia | Virginia |
ACC champion
Clemson: The Tigers threw a lot of young players into the fire last season, so it shouldn't be a surprise that they started a little slow and finished strong with a 5-0 run to close out the year. Now, those young Tigers are prepped to be stars in 2024, and Cade Klubnik should be improved in Year 2 with Garrett Riley and the additional leadership of Tajh Boyd on the coaching staff as assistant quarterbacks coach. This was a program that won 10-plus games for 12 straight season, and now many are selling stock because of a 9-4 showing last year. But with better injury luck and more experience at key positions, I'm expecting a return to the top for the Tigers. -- Patterson (Fornelli, Backus)...
NC State football preview: Top storylines for Wolfpack in 2024 season (blueridgenow.com; Baxley)
The preseason is coming to a close for N.C. State football, which is beginning preparation for a Week 1 matchup with Western Carolina.
The Wolfpack, which opens the season Aug. 29 against the Catamounts at Carter-Finley Stadium, begins the year at No. 22 in the USA TODAY Sports US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the AP Top 25.
Picked to finish fourth in the ACC preseason poll behind Florida State, Clemson and Miami, N.C. State is in its 12th season under head coach Dave Doeren. The Wolfpack finished with a 9-4 record, including a 6-2 mark in conference play, in 2023.
Here are three of the main storylines for N.C. State entering the 2024 season.
How much better will NC State’s offense be with Grayson McCall, others?
Of the15 players added via the transfer portal in the offseason, eight of them are on the offensive side of the ball. Following a season in which wide receiver KC Concepcion was the ACC Rookie of the Year, the Wolfpack are positioned to be a more balanced group in 2024.
Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall and Notre Dame transfer Zeke Correll are two of N.C. State’s four captains this season. Noah Rogers, Wesley Grimes, Justin Joly and Jordan Waters are among the skill players added to boost a unit that was 91st in total offense last season.
With new weapons and improved depth, offensive coordinator Robert Anae has more to work with in 2024. The Wolfpack could have one of the top offenses in the ACC, with a shot to average 30 points per game for the first time since 2021.
Sean Brown, Wolfpack defense ready to step up without Payton Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson was Mr. N.C. State during his time with the Wolfpack, finishing his career as the 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best players in the nation.
With Wilson no longer covering the field as an eraser of mistakes, there are questions about the Wolfpack’s ability to fill the void left by one of the best players in program history. Enter linebacker Sean Brown, a captain alongside defensive lineman Davin Vann, as one of the key pieces for a revamped unit.
All-ACC cornerback Aydan White is back to lead a deep defensive backfield and the Wolfpack brought in seven defensive players from the transfer portal. Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson has fielded a top 25 defense in each of the last three seasons. In 2022, the Wolfpack held every opponent to 30 or fewer points for the first time since 1980. Gibson’s latest group will be hungry to prove it’ll be fine without Wilson.
...
Projected 2024 W-L Records (X) (RX; HM)
Projected 2024 W-L Records (X)
From X (fka twitter): ACC Football Prediction 24-25
(Note: I took his overall W-L and subtracted his ACC W-L to get his projected OOC W-L)
| Projected ACC Standings: | |||
| Team | W-L | OOC | ACC |
| Clemson | 11-1 | 3-1 | (8-0) |
| Miami | 11-1 | 4-0 | (7-1) |
| Florida State | 10-2 | 4-0 | (6-2) |
| Virginia Tech | 10-2 | 4-0 | (6-2) |
| Georgia Tech | 9-3 | 3-1 | (6-2) |
| NC State | 10-2 | 4-0 | (6-2) |
| North Carolina | 9-3 | 4-0 | (5-3) |
| Louisville | 8-4 | 3-1 | (5-3) |
| SMU | 9-3 | 4-0 | (5-3) |
| Syracuse | 8-4 | 4-0 | (4-4) |
| Duke | 6-6 | 4-0 | (2-6) |
| Boston College | 5-7 | 3-1 | (2-6) |
| Pittsburgh | 5-7 | 3-1 | (2-6) |
| California | 6-6 | 4-0 | (2-6) |
| Virginia | 3-9 | 2-2 | (1-7) |
| Stanford | 3-9 | 2-2 | (1-7) |
| Wake Forest | 3-9 | 3-1 | (0-8) |
ACC Championship Game: Miami over Clemson
Observations:
The OP is predicting that ACC teams will have a cumulative non-conference record of 58-10 (.853). By comparison, last season the league was 44-23 (.616). I would love for him to be correct, but that seems like a really big one-year jump......
Thoughts on the 2024 Season (RX; HM)
Thoughts on the 2024 Season
As the 2024 College Football season begins, and so does the new 12-team College Football Playoffs era with autobids for the top five conference champions, I know what some of you are thinking: all my team needs to do is win its conference games - non-conference games don't matter, right?
WRONG!
If anything, non-conference games are more important than ever. Why? It's simple math. Suppose your team loses 2 games out of conference, but goes undefeated in ACC play and makes it to the ACC CG. Are they in the playoffs? NO! They must still win the ACC CG and finish ranked below no more than four other conference champs. That's not something you want to hang your hat on!
Put another way, if every ACC team loses a couple of OOC games (or loses their one and only P4 OOC game), that puts the entire conference in a position of 17 teams vying for a single playoff spot.
On the other hand, if every ACC team were to sweep their non-conference games, then the ACC CG runner-up and/or the 3rd-place team could be looking at an at-large bid, in addition to the champion.
Which odds do you like better: 1 out of 17 (less than 6%), or 2 out of 17 (almost 12%)? What about 3 out of 17 (17.6%)? Why do you think SEC teams focus so much practice time on their non-conference games?
...
Links, News and Rumors 2024 Aug 19 (RX; HM)
Links, News and Rumors 2024 Aug 19
From 247Sports: College Football Playoff bubble teams entering 2024 season
(tl;dnr version: if your mascot is "Tigers", you're on the list!)
Memphis, Missouri, Clemson, and LSU Tigers are all "on the bubble" - at least according to 247Sports.
_____
From CBS Sports: Louisville WR Caullin Lacy suffers broken collarbone in scrimmage, expected to miss 6-8 weeks
...
Best Game each week (RX; HM)
Best Game each week
This morning I'm taking a stab at the best game each day that college football is played (except for some MACtion - I don't know enough about those teams to rank the games), with the better overall game highlighted in color (see key below):
| Best Game, by date | ||
| Day Date | Best ACC game of the day | Beat non-ACC game |
| Week 0 | ||
| Sat 8/24 | Florida St vs Georgia Tech | Florida A&M vs Norfolk St |
| Week 1 | ||
| Thu 8/29 | N. Carolina at Minnesota | N Dakota St at Colorado |
| Fri 8/30 | Texas Christian at Stanford | Temple at Oklahoma |
| Sat 8/31 | Clemson vs Georgia | Notre Dame at Texas AM |
| Mon 9/02 | Boston College at Florida St | n/a |
| Week 2 | ||
| Fri 9/06 | BYU at Southern Methodist | W Illinois at Indiana |
| Sat 9/07 | Tennessee vs N.C. State | Texas at Michigan |
| Week 3 | ||
| Thu 9/12 | n/a | Arizona St at Texas St |
| Fri 9/13 | n/a | Arizona at Kansas State |
| Sat 9/14 | West Virginia at Pittsburgh | Alabama at Wisconsin |
| Week 4 | ||
| Thu 9/19 | n/a | S Alabama at App State |
| Fri 9/20 | Stanford at Syracuse | Illinois at Nebraska |
| Sat 9/21 | N.C. State at Clemson | Tennessee at Oklahoma |
| Week 5 | ||
| Thu 9/26 | n/a | Army at Temple |
| Fri 9/27 | Virginia Tech at Miami | Washington at Rutgers |
| Sat 9/28 | Louisville at Notre Dame | Georgia at Alabama |
| Week 6 | ||
| Thu 10/03 | n/a | Texas State at Troy |
| Fri 10/04 | Syracuse at UNLV | Michigan St at Oregon |
| Sat 10/05 | Clemson at Florida State | Iowa at Ohio State |
| Week 7 | ||
| Tue 10/08 | n/a | FIU at Liberty |
| Wed 10/09 | n/a | New Mexico St at Jax. St |
| Thu 10/10 | n/a | Coastal Carolina at JMU |
| Fri 10/11 | n/a | Utah at Arizona St |
| Sat 10/12 | Stanford at Notre Dame | Texas vs Oklahoma |
...
Reminder: 2023 FSU deserved to be IN (RX; HM)
Reminder: 2023 FSU deserved to be IN
ESPN has their own "FPI" with secret formulas which they use to justify things like putting two one-loss teams into the playoffs ahead of undefeated Florida State last season. That's because ESPN has an agenda. RPI doesn't have an agenda - it only cares about wins and losses and margin of victory. That's why, even after that beatdown in the Orange Bowl, FSU still finished in the Top 4 of the RPI ranking:
| Rank | School | W-L | RPI | SOS |
| 1 | Michigan | 14-0 | 46.64 | 54.85 |
| 2 | Georgia | 13-1 | 45.82 | 56.76 |
| 3 | Washington | 13-0 | 45.7 | 55.02 |
| 4 | Florida St. | 13-1 | 44.58 | 53.31 |
| 5 | Alabama | 12-2 | 44.56 | 60.13 |
| 6 | Ohio St. | 11-2 | 44.02 | 57.91 |
| 7 | Oregon | 12-1 | 43.92 | 53.35 |
| 8 | Texas | 12-2 | 43.45 | 58.35 |
| 9 | Missouri | 11-2 | 41.99 | 57.82 |
| 10 | Mississippi | 11-2 | 40.94 | 56.42 |
| 11 | Penn St. | 8-3 | 40.31 | 60.1 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 10-3 | 39.13 | 55.29 |
| 13 | LSU | 9-3 | 38.93 | 57.75 |
| 14 | Louisville | 8-4 | 38.52 | 54.02 |
| 15 | Arizona | 10-3 | 37.4 | 52.54 |
| 16 | Notre Dame | 10-3 | 37.35 | 53.4 |
| 17 | Iowa | 9-2 | 36.86 | 51.81 |
| 18 | Liberty | 12-1 | 36.44 | 46.94 |
| 19 | Oregon St. | 8-5 | 36.21 | 57.04 |
| 20 | Tulane | 11-3 | 36.13 | 49.3 |
| 21 | Kansas St. | 8-4 | 35.5 | 58.16 |
| 22 | Oklahoma St. | 10-4 | 34.95 | 54.53 |
| 23 | Tennessee | 7-4 | 33.44 | 56.27 |
| 24 | N.C. State | 9-4 | 33.44 | 53.95 |
| 25 | James Madison | 11-2 | 33.25 | 51.3 |
| 26 | SMU | 10-3 | 32.65 | 45.78 |
| 27 | Toledo | 11-2 | 32.53 | 46.43 |
| 28 | Troy | 11-3 | 31.59 | 51.56 |
| 29 | N. Carolina | 8-5 | 31.32 | 53.31 |
| 30 | Utah | 8-5 | 31.11 | 55.78 |
| 31 | Clemson | 9-4 | 31.09 | 54.8 |
| 32 | UNLV | 9-5 | 30.93 | 51.3 |
| 33 | Kansas | 9-4 | 29.3 | 53.44 |
| 34 | UCLA | 8-5 | 28.22 | 52.38 |
| 35 | West Virginia | 9-4 | 27.94 | 50.75 |
| 36 | Texas A&M | 7-6 | 27.76 | 54.18 |
| 37 | Fresno St. | 9-4 | 27.23 | 45.76 |
| 38 | Air Force | 9-4 | 26.94 | 49.14 |
| 39 | UTSA | 9-4 | 26.74 | 46.81 |
| 40 | Memphis | 10-3 | 23.42 | 49.39 |
| 41 | Duke | 8-4 | 23.4 | 56.6 |
| 42 | Wyoming | 9-4 | 23.15 | 54.1 |
| 43 | Appalachian St. | 10-5 | 22.59 | 53.29 |
| 44 | USC | 8-5 | 22.38 | 56.12 |
| 45 | Coastal Car. | 8-5 | 22.16 | 55.2 |
| 47 | Ohio | 10-3 | 21.92 | 42.39 |
| 48 | Boise St. | 8-6 | 21.77 | 56.54 |
| 49 | Northwestern | 8-5 | 21.76 | 53.68 |
| 50 | Maryland | 8-5 | 21.61 | 52.49 |
| 51 | Iowa St. | 7-6 | 21.52 | 57.97 |
| 52 | Rutgers | 7-5 | 21.51 | 54.56 |
| 53 | N. Mexico St. | 10-4 | 21.32 | 43.98 |
| 54 | Jacksonville St. | 9-4 | 21.24 | 45.16 |
| 55 | Texas Tech | 7-6 | 21.17 | 56.5 |
| 56 | Bowling Green | 7-5 | 20.95 | 52.01 |
| 57 | Georgia Tech | 7-6 | 20.88 | 55.21 |
| 58 | Miami (FL) | 7-6 | 20.84 | 54.57 |
| 59 | W. Kentucky | 7-5 | 20.82 | 51.77 |
| 60 | Miami (OH) | 8-4 | 20.78 | 44.95 |
| 61 | Kentucky | 7-6 | 20.72 | 54.35 |
| 62 | San Jose St. | 7-6 | 20.48 | 53.1 |
| 63 | Virginia Tech | 7-6 | 20.45 | 52.97 |
| 64 | Georgia St. | 7-6 | 20.4 | 53.27 |
| 65 | Texas St. | 8-5 | 20.35 | 47.05 |
| 66 | Boston Coll. | 7-6 | 20.23 | 52.55 |
| 67 | Wisconsin | 7-6 | 20.23 | 52.07 |
| 68 | Marshall | 6-6 | 20.13 | 54.95 |
| 69 | South Carolina | 5-6 | 20.12 | 57.9 |
| 70 | Auburn | 6-7 | 19.87 | 56.1 |
| 71 | California | 6-7 | 19.86 | 56.46 |
| 72 | Minnesota | 6-7 | 19.69 | 55.94 |
| 73 | South Florida | 7-6 | 19.64 | 49.66 |
| 74 | Army | 5-5 | 19.47 | 51.75 |
| 75 | South Alabama | 6-6 | 19.46 | 51.02 |
| 76 | UCF | 6-7 | 19.25 | 53.23 |
| 77 | Syracuse | 6-7 | 18.97 | 52.41 |
...
Other
In primetime DNC speech, Gov. Hochul touts Micron’s investment in Syracuse (PS; $; Olander)
Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted Syracuse and Micron Technology’s memory chip fabrication plant during a primetime speech Monday at the Democratic National convention in Chicago.
“Look no further than the city of Syracuse, New York, where a company called Micron is building a $100 billion microchip factory with union labor,” Hochul said to the crowd. “It’s the largest private investment in American history and it’s going to create 50,000 good-paying jobs.”
Hochul, who gave one of the most visible speeches of her career, shared her support for Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, using Syracuse and Micron as a key example of the positive economic impact of the Biden-Harris administration.
Micron is the world’s fourth largest producer of semiconductors and plans to locate it new facility on a 1,400 acre site in Clay, just north of Syracuse. The company announced in April that it would receive an additional $6.1 billion from a federal grant to build a plant in Clay – just 10 minutes from Syracuse.
...
2024 NY State Fair opening day could see lake effect -- rain, that is (PS; Coin)
These two iconic Central New York events don’t usually happen simultaneously: the New York State Fair and lake effect.
This year, they do. Lake effect rain -- yes, that’s a real thing -- could bring light showers to the fair’s opening day Wednesday.
“You read that correctly, a lake effect influence in August,” said the National Weather Service.
That’s because an abnormally cold air mass for this time of year will push into Upstate New York on Wednesday. Temperatures could be 10 to 15 degrees below normal.
The high on Wednesday in Syracuse is expected to reach just 65 degrees, according to the weather service. The normal high for Aug. 21 is 80.
The greatest chances for rain Wednesday will be in the morning and early afternoon. Gates open at 10 a.m.
Only a tenth of an inch is expected, but it could be enough to get your T-shirt damp as you dash from building to building.
Rain isn’t unusual for the state fair, but lake effect rain is. That generally happens in the fall, when upper air temperatures drop faster than the temperature of the lakes.
Lake effect rain, like its better known counterpart, lake effect snow, is produced by cold air blowing over relatively warmer lakes.
On Wednesday, the temperature in the mid-atmosphere will be about 37 degrees -- “chilly for this date,” the weather service said. Lake Ontario is about 68 degrees. That 31-degree gap is enough for lake water to evaporate and be blown onto shore as rain.
After Wednesday, clear skies and warmer temperatures will dominate the rest of the week and weekend. Expect partly cloudy to mostly sunny conditions Thursday through Sunday.
Temperatures will climb, too, from a high of about 74 on Thursday to 84 on Sunday.
...
D&C
NYS Fair Butter Sculpture: Watch the unveiling of this year’s creamy artwork here (PS; Miller)
The New York State Fair’s best-kept secret will no longer be a secret this morning.
Veteran sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton have barely left the refrigerated display case inside the Dairy Building for the past 10 days. They’ve been working feverishly in the cooler to take 800 pounds of butter and transform it into a work of art. The 56th annual American Dairy Association North East butter sculpture will be unveiled at 9:30 a.m. today. The Fair opens 23½ hours later, at 9 a.m. Wednesday and runs through Labor Day.
You can watch the unveiling live on syracuse.com’s Facebook page, or see it below. After the media event, we will post a story about the sculpture with photos on syracuse.com. We’ll be sure to give you plenty of warning to not proceed unless you actually want to see the sculpture before heading to the Fair.
The butter used for the sculpture comes from Batavia. After being gawked at during the Fair’s 13-day run, the butter will return to Western New York where it will be recycled into renewable energy at Noblehurst Farms in Pavilion.
Butter sculptures through the years:
- 1970: Dairy Princess and Butter Churn (William Clements)
- 1971: Commissioner of Agriculture and Cow (William Clements)
- 1972: Lifeguard and Girl (William Clements)
- 1973: Dairy Princess Coronation (William Clements)
- 1974: Carousel (William Clements)
- 1975: Juggler (William Clements)
- 1976: Little Miss Muffet (William Clements)
- 1977: The Magic Cow (William Clements)
- 1978: Kids on Skateboards (William Clements)
- 1979: Disco Dancers (William Clements)
- 1980: Milk Run Marathoners (William Clements)
- 1981: The “Real” Seal (William Clements)
- 1982: Dairy Do-Si-Do (William Clements)
- 1983: The Fitness Cycle (William Clements)
- 1984: Milk Bottle Centennial (William Clements)
- 1985: Soccer Player (William Clements)
- 1986: Darryl Strawberry (William Clements)
- 1987: Tom Sawyer (Raymond Mackintosh)
- 1988: Cow Jumping Over the Moon (Raymond Mackintosh)
- 1989: Wizard of Oz (Raymond Mackintosh)
- 1990: Original Fair Arch (Raymond Mackintosh)
- 1991: Boy with Double Dip Cone (Raymond Mackintosh)
- 1992: The Olympic Dream (Raymond Mackintosh)
- 1993: Kids from Camp Good Days & Special Times (Raymond Mackintosh)
- 1994: Pizza Tosser (Raymond Mackintosh)
- 1995: Everybody Loves Milk & Cookies (Duke Epolito)
- 1996: Everything’s Better With Butter (Sharon BuMann)
- 1997: The Ultimate “got milk” Moment (Sharon BuMann)
- 1998: Milk Memories (Sharon BuMann)
- 1999: Midnight Snacking (Sharon BuMann)
- 2000: Little Rascals (Sharon BuMann)
- 2001: Milk Maid: Queen for a Day (Sharon BuMann)
- 2002: The Pride of New York (Sharon BuMann)
- 2003: Mixin’ It With Milk (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2004: Love for the Land (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2005: Milk, Moms and Morning (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2006: Healthy Goals (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2007: Dairy Farming Today (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2008: Cow Jumping Over the Moon (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2009: Cow Power (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2010: Dairyville 2020 (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2011: Feeding Our Future (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2012: New York Goes for the Gold with Greek Yogurt (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2013: Getting Fresh with Local Dairy (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2014: The Great American Milk Drive (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2015: Thanks for the Milk, Moo York! (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2016: Milk Life Celebrates The Success of Team USA and the Athletes of New York State (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2017: Dairy Farmers’ Tribute to New York State Troopers (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2018: Your Milk Comes From A Good Place (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2019: Milk. Love What’s Real (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2020: Nourishing Our Future (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2021: Back to School, Sports and Play … You’re Gonna Need Milk for That (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2022: Refuel Her Greatness—Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Title IX (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2023: Dairy Every Day is a Healthy Way — Keeping Kids’ Health on Track” (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
- 2024: TBD (Jim Victor and Marie Pelton)
