sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Forgiveness Day!
Forgiveness is a process, not an act, and it teaches the forgiver about themselves as well as about those being forgiven. It can set them on a path to healing from mental or emotional pain, trauma, and grief. It relieves stress—from anger, resentment, and bitterness—and gives permission to heal and to stop living in the past, so the future can be looked to instead. It provides physical health benefits too, since less anxiety and stress transfers to lower blood pressure, a stronger heart, an improved immune system, and even possibly the reduction of physical pain. National Day of Forgiveness provides the opportunity to understand the benefits that forgiveness provides, and it encourages developing ways to incorporate forgiveness into one's life.
SU News
Opponent Preview: Everything to know about Holy Cross (DO; Girshon)
Syracuse hosts Holy Cross in the JMA Wireless Dome following its first loss under Fran Brown. The Orange started the year 2-0, taking care of business versus Ohio before upsetting then-No. 23 Georgia Tech, generating buzz of a potential move into the AP Top 25 with a win over Stanford.
Despite being a near double-digit point favorite, SU only led for just over three minutes versus the Cardinal in its first game since its Week 3 bye. Stanford led 13-10 at halftime, and its lead grew to 20-10 after Kyle McCord threw a third-quarter pick-six. From there, however, Syracuse outscored the Cardinal 14-3, taking a 24-23 lead with just over three minutes on a Jackson Meeks touchdown reception.
While the Orange finally took their first lead of the game, Stanford stormed right back. After a crucial fourth-and-9 first-down conversion to Elic Ayomanor, Stanford kicker Emmet Kenney nailed a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Ahead of Syracuse’s (2-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) next matchup against Holy Cross (1-3, 0-0 Patriot League), here’s what to know as the Orange look to bounce back:
All-time series
Syracuse leads 24-5.Last time they played …
The Tommy DeVito-led Orange hosted the Crusaders on Sept. 28, 2019. SU was 2-2 heading into the matchup, but it became quickly apparent its record would reach above .500. Syracuse forced Holy Cross to go three-and-out on the first possession of the game before DeVito led it on a 63-yard touchdown drive that took less than two minutes.SU never trailed, cruising to a 41-3 win. DeVito finished the game 19-for-31 passing, notching 269 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Taj Harris registered the most yards from scrimmage, turning six catches into 107 yards and a touchdown.
The Crusaders report
Like Syracuse, Holy Cross is also in its first year under a new head coach, as it hired former Merrimack head coach Dan Curran last December. The Crusaders were previously helmed by Bob Chesney, who guided them to five straight Patriot League championships from 2019 to 2023 before being hired as James Madison’s head coach.
The Crusaders’ roster looks much different than it did a season ago with Chesney’s departure, especially under center. Their quarterback last year, Matthew Sluka, transferred to UNLV after passing for 1,723 yards and rushing for another 1,243. The Orange were slated to face Sluka next week, but he announced Tuesday night he would be using a redshirt to enter the transfer portal after a dispute with UNLV surrounding Name, Image and Likeness compensation.
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Syracuse offense gives Holy Cross coach 7-on-7 vibes: ‘That’s not a good thing’ to prep for (8 things to know) (PS; $; Leiker)
New Holy Cross coach Dan Curran was complimentary talking about Syracuse football’s offense in his weekly press conference ahead of the Crusaders coming to the Salt City this weekend.
One statement he made about about how the Orange’s passing attack presents on film stood out.
“Listen, when those guys get it going with (Kyle) McCord and those receivers – and they’ve got five guys I think that can really play — it looks like they’re playing 7-on-7,” Curran said. “Obviously, as a team preparing for them, that is not a good thing.”
McCord has finished every SU game this season with over 300 passing yards and an above 60% completion rating, even last weekend’s loss to Stanford.
Those 1,074 yards have mostly been distributed between five targets: Trebor Peña, Oronde Gadsden II, Umari Hatcher, Jackson Meeks and LeQuint Allen. All five have over 100 yards. Hatcher and Meeks have done it on fewer than 10 catches.
Syracuse’s passing offense is No. 4 in the country behind Ole Miss, Miami and TCU, the first two of which are currently AP Top 25 teams.
Curran seemed well aware McCord and the group of receivers will be a handful for his defense.
“I think the ability to make those guys earn it — we’re certainly gonna have to mix up coverages a little bit ‘cause if you don’t against a kid like McCord, you’re gonna pay dearly,” Curran said. “He does a great job processing and getting the ball out on time and throwing with anticipation and a ton of accuracy.”
Here’s what else to know ahead of the Syracuse-Holy Cross game.
What Holy Cross’s coach said about SU
Here’s more of what Curran said during his weekly press conference.On coach Fran Brown: “Coach Brown and his staff have done a tremendous job bringing new energy and excitement around the football program, one that’s got a great history and tradition. Obviously he’s got a great reputation as a recruiter, and then him and his staff did a great job bringing in a bunch of talent, utilizing the transfer portal.”
On Syracuse’s defense: “You got a ton of depth on the defensive backfield. Safeties, corners, guys that are playing multiple positions. Versatile guys they’re moving around.”
On SU wide receiver Trebor Peña: “All those guys are playmakers,
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Syracuse football triple threat from Camden have roots in peewee football (youtube; podcsat; Syracuse Orange)
When coach Fran Brown put his South Jersey stamp on the Syracuse University football program, it included three powerhouse players from there that he had his eye on. But Kyle McCord, Denis Jaquez Jr. and Duce Chestnut didn't just hail from his hometown, their origin story formed much earlier–in little league football.
Longtime Worcester Reporter Talks Holy Cross Football Before Syracuse Game (youtube; radio; Cuse Sports Talk)
Kevin Shea, Sports Director for Spectrum News 1 in Worcester, Massachusetts, joins Steve Infanti and Paulie Scibilia to preview Holy Cross football ahead of this weekend's sold out game in the JMA Dome.
Fran Brown Talks Syracuse Football Loss to Stanford, Holy Cross Game (youtube; podcast; Cuse Sports Talk)
Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown discusses what went wrong against Stanford, what he's expecting from the Orange against Holy Cross, speaks on NIL disputes across the country, and more.
Is Syracuse football overrated, underrated, or properly rated? And what does that have to do with sausage pizza?
New Players that COULD PLAY for Syracuse Football against Holy Cross | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Orange Football shouldn't have much trouble with the Holy Cross Crusaders this week. That means regulars like Kyle McCord, Oronde Gadsden, and Fadil Diggs could see limited playing time for Fran Brown's team. With that, look out for backups Michael Johnson Jr., Emanuel Ross, and Malachi James to potentially see extended playing time. On defense, keep an eye out for KingJosepth Edwards, Braheem Long Jr., and Ibn McDaniels.
Jackson Holzer goes over new players that could play for Syracuse on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.
Syracuse Football: In latest ACC quarterback rankings, Kyle McCord outside top five (itlh; Adler)
Last Friday night in Central New York, Syracuse football senior quarterback Kyle McCord didn't have his best game, as the Orange lost in heart-breaking fashion to fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Stanford on a last-second field goal.
Still, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCord, a four-star transfer from Ohio State, has tallied a solid first three contests of his 'Cuse career, with Syracuse football residing at 2-1 so far in the 2024 season.
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As the Orange prepares to host Holy Cross this Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome, the native of Mount Laurel, N.J., is No. 2 within the ACC in passing yards per affair, at 358.0. In that same category, McCord is also No. 3 around the country heading into week five.
For the entire 2024 campaign to date, McCord is completing 67.7 percent of his passes for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns, against just three interceptions. He also has one rushing score.
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Syracuse Football will play a much different UNLV team in two weeks. How will that affect the Orange? (itlh; Nederveld)
In his second year with UNLV, head coach Barry Odom is 3-0, something that hasn't happened in Las Vegas since 1984. However, the make-up of the team will be vastly different from here on out as QB Matthew Sluka and RB Michael Allen are both out for the year. Interestingly, the two aren't injured, but just announced that they will be redshirting for the rest of the season to preserve their eligibility.
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Through three games, all starts, Matthew Sluka, who in preseason I ranked as the eighth-best quarterback Syracuse football plays in 2024, has thrown for 318 yards, six touchdowns, with one interception while only completing 43.8% of passes. He's been much better on the ground, running 39 times for 253 yards and a touchdown.
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Syracuse football: can the Orange continue to move the ball through the air? (TNIAAM; Wall)
The Syracuse Orange lost a close game and a lot of talk turned to the ineffective running game. Sure, it would be nice if Syracuse could grind out yards between the tackles, but what if this offense is better suited to be pass-heavy?
Kyle McCord has thrown for over 300 yards in each game in a Syracuse uniform. He’s completing 67.7% of his passes with 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. McCord has spread the ball around to 10 different receivers and the Orange are averaging 8.5 yards on each attempt.
Can Syracuse keep up this pace on the road, outdoors, or against better competition? Right now, the Orange’s yards per play is the highest it’s been since 2016 and the points per game are second only to the 2018 team.
Syracuse Orange Offense
| Year | Yards per Play | Points per Game |
| 2024 | 6.57 | 31. |
| 2023 | 5.28 | 23.5 |
| 2022 | 5.99 | 27.7 |
| 2021 | 5.65 | 24.9 |
| 2020 | 4.45 | 17.8 |
| 2019 | 5.21 | 28.3 |
| 2018 | 5.68 | 40.2 |
| 2017 | 5.33 | 27.4 |
| 2016 | 5.45 | 25.7 |
| stats courtesy of cfbstats.com |
pro-style offense than letting your quarterback spread the field and attack the defense through the air?
The idea that a team needs to have a balanced approach might sound great in theory, but if one area is proving to be stronger, why not keep focusing on it?
I’m sure the Orange coaches aren’t planning to abandon the run, but they’ve also got to design a plan that gives this team the best chance to win. Right now, it sure seems like trusting Kyle McCord and a deep group of receivers could be that strategy.
Syracuse football: what to watch for vs Holy Cross (TNIAAM; Staff)
Syracuse Orange (2-1, 1-1) go back into non-conference play against the Holy Cross Crusaders (1-3) of the Patriot League. It’s a Noon kick on ACCNX in front of a sold-out JMA Wireless Dome.
Here’s what we’ll be watching for on Saturday as the sober students file into the Dome early for this one:
Kevin: Empty the bench when?
The Orange didn’t look efficient last week so Fran Brown probably wants to get his starters some plays to sharpen up before they hit the road. What we don’t know is what it will take for Fran to pull the first string in this one? Does he go into the second half if the Orange get up by three scores? Too often Dino Babers left his starters in for too long against FCS opponents, so I’m curious to learn Fran’s approach.
Max: Reboot the running game
LeQuint Allen only saw eight carries (his fewest in over a year), and SU tallied just 26 rushing yards as a team in its loss to Stanford. Playing from behind might explain part of that, but getting Allen going is essential to this offense, regardless of the score. The Crusaders are a great bounce-back spot for the Syracuse tailback, who should receive a heavy dose of carries in the first half. It also wouldn’t hurt to get Yasin Willis more involved if Will Nixon remains sidelined.
Dom: The defense shining again
It wasn’t a totally perfect performance, but Syracuse’s defensive unit forced several turnovers and genuinely played better versus Stanford compared to the first two weeks of the season. Holy Cross doesn’t boast the most efficient offense out there, and this could be a moment for the unit to start finding some consistency across the board before the schedule really starts to ramp up.
Mike: More defensive experiments
There have already been a flurry of adjustments in Elijah Robinson's unit, and there's at least one more scheduled to happen with Justin Barron moving to LB on the latest depth chart. The Stanford loss showed that these aren't the type of changes you want to be doing on the fly so if there are any other tests with moving guys around, do them here when it doesn't have a high risk of costing SU a game.
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The Juice Online - Syracuse Orange v. Holy Cross Crusaders Prediction & Preview (9/28/24) (r1vals.com; Giancola)
Syracuse (2-1, 1-1 ACC) hosts Holy Cross, looking to rebound after its first loss of the season.
Opponent: Holy Cross Crusaders
Date & Time: Saturday, Sept. 28, 12:00 p.m.
Location: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
TV: ACC Extra/ESPN+
PREDICTION (The Juice's Season Record: 1-2)
After a crushing last-second defeat to Stanford last Friday, the Orange are looking to bounce back against Holy Cross. For the first time in the Fran Brown era, the JMA Wireless Dome will be sold out.Holy Cross comes into the matchup against SU with a 1-3 record. Their singular win came against a 1-4 Bryant Bulldogs team. However, records are sometimes deceiving.
In the Crusaders' three losses, they have only lost by 6 points or less. Though all these games have been against FCS teams, there is a possibility that if all went right, the Orange could have been facing a 4-0 team.
After facing multiple dual-threat quarterbacks, Syracuse will get a break from that in this matchup. Starting Crusader QB Joe Pesansky has only used his legs 19 times this season, rushing for 77 yards.
The Syracuse defense can breathe a sigh of relief because their run defense is in the bottom 30 in Division 1-A. Though Pesansky is not a weapon on the ground, he is through the air. The quarterback has the 18th most passing yards in the FCS this season, just shy of 1,000 yards.
Because the defense had a questionable first three games of the season, Fran Brown made some adjustments.
Junior defensive back Devin Grant has returned to his natural safety position, which means freshman Marcellus Barnes Jr. earns the starting nod at cornerback. Star senior Justin Barron moves to linebacker to fill the hole left by Marlowe Wax.
It will be interesting to see if these changes help tighten the defense.
Though the run defense has been questionable all season, the run offense hit a season-low last game. SU finished with just 34 rushing yards against Stanford, and Holy Cross boasts the 35th-best run defense in FCS.
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'Sold out Dome': SU football prepares to host FCS Holy Cross (cnycentral.com; Ladd)
Syracuse University football will host FCS-level Holy Cross University on Saturday, September 28 at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse.
The Orange enter the game after losing to Stanford University on Friday, September 19 in front of nearly 40,000 fans at the Dome. A pivotal 4th and 9 conversation led to Stanford winning the game 26-24, on a game-winning field goal as time expired. The loss moved Syracuse to 2-1 on the season, with a 1-1 record in ACC play.
The '4th and 9 yards' conversion
Syracuse erased a 20-10, 3rd quarter deficit in that game with 3:13 left to play on 13-yard touchdown connection between quarterback Kyle McCord and Jackson Meeks. The defense just could not keep Stanford out of scoring range on the following possession. Syracuse's 1st year head coach Fran Brown addressed the pivotal 4th and 9 play in his weekly press conference on Monday.The game against Holy Cross falls on 'friends and family weekend' on the Syracuse University campus, helping sell out the JMA Wireless Dome for what is predicted to be a lopsided game. According to ESPN's Football Prediction Index, Syracuse has 95.8 percent chance to beat the Crusaders Saturday afternoon.
Holy Cross enters the game 1-3 on the season, despite coming off a 7 and 4, 2023 season. The two teams last met in 2019, when the Orange beat Holy Cross, 41-3.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon on Saturday.
Stats to know coming in:
- Season passing leader: Kyle McCord: 86-127 completions-attempts, 1,074 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
- Season rushing leader:LeQuint Allen: 38 rushing attempts for 206 yards
- Season receiving leader: Trebor Pena 22 receptions, 267 yards, 4 touchdowns
- Leader in sacks: Fadil Diggs 2 sacks for 8 yards lost
- Leader in tackles: Justin Barron with 22 total tackles
Syracuse looking to rebound from loss to Stanford in preparing to host FCS opponent, Holy Cross (apnews.com)
Holy Cross (1-3) at Syracuse (2-1), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ACC Extra/ESPN+)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Syracuse by 28 1/2.
Series record: Syracuse leads 24-5.
What’s at stake?
With the meat of its schedule approaching, Syracuse needs to shake off last week’s disheartening, last-second home loss against Stanford. Anything less than a dominating effort against the FCS Crusaders will be cause for concern. Holy Cross will try to keep things reasonably close and hope for a moral victory before moving into Patriot League play.Key matchup
Holy Cross may be able to keep it close for a half if the Crusaders’ running game can make some plays against Syracuse’s inconsistent rushing defense, which is 104th in the nation. Syracuse’s offensive line versus the Crusaders front will be one to watch. Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord was sacked four times against Stanford, and the running game managed just 26 yards. The Orange must show improvement in protecting their quarterback and opening up holes to gear up to face much tougher competition starting with UNLV on Oct. 4.Players to watch
Holy Cross: Linebacker Frankie Monte had a career-best 17 tackles, including 10 solo tackles, and a quarterback hurry against Yale. He can’t do it alone but it will be interesting to see if he and his defensive crew can wreak some havoc to disrupt the Orange running game.https://collegefootballnews.com/col...ss-prediction-game-preview-betting-lines-2024 (CFN; Fiutak)
Syracuse has to quickly get over the shocking late loss to Stanford last week. With three straight road games to follow, and with five in the next six, everything needs to be tuned up now.
Holy Cross is on the map for being the former school of Matthew Sluka - by the way, Syracuse goes to UNLV next.
The Crusaders might be 1-3, but all three losses were close. It’s a decent enough team to at least give the Orange a little bit of a push.
Syracuse vs Holy Cross Preview
Syracuse vs Holy Cross How to WatchDate: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
Venue: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY
How to Watch: ESPN+
Syracuse (2-1), Holy Cross (1-3)
Why Holy Cross Will Win
Again, the Crusaders haven’t been all that bad.
They’re good at forcing takeaways, stingy with the ball, and they have enough of a passing game to keep things moving.
There’s a little bit of a rushing attack to test a Syracuse defensive front that’s not making enough big things happen - especially again the run - but …
Why Syracuse Will Win
Syracuse will throw its way out of the funk.The Stanford game might have been a major disappointment with a late meltdown in the secondary, but it won’t come down to that here.
Kyle McCord has been wonderful - outside of the two picks thrown against the Cardinal - and he’s about to hit close to 70% of his throws for about 320 yards against a Holy Cross defense that won’t bring enough of a pass rush.
Syracuse vs Holy Cross: Who Will Win
Syracuse will get this going right away.Two drives, two scores, and after a lull, it’ll pick it all back up just before halftime to put this away without too much of a bother.
There will be a little cleaning up to do, though, after turning it over two times to make everyone have to keep working in the second half.
Syracuse vs Holy Cross Prediction, Betting Lines
Syracuse 44, Holy Cross 16Line: Syracuse -28.5, o/u: 58.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Syracuse vs Holy Cross Must See Rating: 1.5
(L-R) Syracuse University mascot Otto the Orange, former Syracuse and NFL quarterback Don McPherson, Live Nation Upstate New York/Connecticut President Jim Koplik, JMA Wireless Dome manager Pete Sala and JMA Dome announcer Michael Veley announce Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, that Billy Joel and Sting will perform at the Syracuse stadium on April 11, 2025. It will be Joel's record eighth concert in the former Carrier Dome. (Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com)Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com
SU legend explains why he was at Billy Joel concert announcement, rumors of other artists (PS; $; Herbert)
Why was Syracuse football legend Don McPherson at a concert announcement? Frankly, he was just as confused as everyone else.
McPherson said he was invited by JMA Wireless Dome manager Pete Sala to Thursday’s press conference to help announce that Billy Joel would be performing at the Syracuse University stadium on Friday, April 11, 2025. It’ll be Joel’s record eighth performance in the former Carrier Dome, and will also feature Sting.
Tickets will be available Friday, Oct. 4, at 9 a.m. through Ticketmaster; prices start at $73.50 (additional fees may apply). Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Monday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m., and a venue presale will begin Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. with special code BILLYJMA. There will be an eight-ticket limit.
Due to high demand, fans may also want to check resellers like VividSeats, StubHub, TicketNetwork or SeatGeek for tickets.
OK, but what does Don McPherson have to do with Billy Joel? Well, both of them are from Long Island.
“I am a native Long Islander and Billy Joel, to me, is everything,” McPherson said.
They also both have numbers hanging in the rafters of the Dome.
McPherson’s No. 9 is one of seven retired jerseys in Syracuse football history — plus the legendary number 44, worn by multiple players including Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little. McPherson led the Orange football team to an undefeated season in 1987 before a pro career in the NFL and CFL, plus is known for philanthropic work including efforts to combat gender-based violence.
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Dark Horse on Instagram: "@darkhorse.nyc x @cusefootball LIMITED REDROP SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS STORE ️SEPTEMBER 27-29"
796 likes, 33 comments - darkhorse.nyc on September 26, 2024: "@darkhorse.nyc x @cusefootball LIMITED REDROP SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS STORE ️SEPTEMBER 27-29".
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ACC News
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/57...ball-power-rankings-clemson-pittsburgh-miami/ (theathletic.com; Raynor & Navarro)
Welcome to The Athletic’s ACC power rankings. Each week, Grace Raynor and Manny Navarro take turns drafting teams based on how they performed the previous week (and all season). Manny has the first pick this week. Grace will pick first next week.
1. Miami (previous ranking: 1): Heisman favorite Cam Ward and the seventh-ranked Hurricanes outscored USF 36-0 over the final two-plus quarters to improve to 4-0 for the second year in a row. You might remember that at this point last year, Miami hosted Georgia Tech as a 19.5-point favorite and its season completely unraveled. This year, Virginia Tech comes to town, and the Canes, oddly enough, were 19.5-point favorites earlier this week. The line has since moved to 17.5 … but the similarities are still a little weird. — Navarro
2. Clemson (3): Well, well, well. I wrote after Week 1 that Clemson had lost its way after a one-sided loss to Georgia. But the Tigers have since proved me wrong, finding their offensive identity again in recent weeks by putting up 66 points against App State and 59 points against NC State. This suddenly looks like a Playoff team again. — Raynor
3. Louisville (2): The Cardinals scored in all three phases — offense, defense and special teams — for the first time since 2013 to get past Georgia Tech, 31-19, and now head to South Bend for a critical road test. The key to beating Notre Dame? Slowing down the Irish’s rushing attack. Notre Dame is 1-3 in the Marcus Freeman era when it runs for fewer than 100 yards (including last year’s season-low 44-yard output at Louisville). Last week, the Cards limited Georgia Tech to 98 rushing yards on 37 attempts. — Navarro
4. Boston College (7): Who had Boston College beating Florida State and Michigan State on their bingo cards? The Eagles are in great shape in coach Bill O’Brien’s inaugural year and have been the darlings of the ACC. Despite Michigan State outgaining Boston College and averaging more yards per play, the Eagles delivered in crunch time with a game-winning drive and game-clinching interception. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be bowling come December. — Raynor
5. SMU (10): We had to move the Mustangs up for a couple of reasons. One, they pounded TCU 66-42 thanks in part to three non-offensive touchdowns. Two, the 18-15 loss to BYU in Dallas on Sept. 6 looks a lot more impressive after those same Cougars roughed up Kansas State last week. If SMU (a 5.5-point favorite) beats Florida State convincingly in its ACC opener, Rhett Lashlee’s team probably deserves to be ranked. – Navarro
6. Pittsburgh (8): The Panthers look like a completely different team and are 4-0 after finishing 2023 with a 3-9 record. Up-and-coming offensive coordinator Kade Bell has resurrected the offense, which currently ranks second in the ACC behind only Miami after Pitt finished with the worst offense in the league in 2023. This is also a team that has proven it can win close games, beating Cincinnati by one point and West Virginia by four. The Panthers are off this week after 73 points against Youngtown State last Saturday. — Raynor
7. Duke (13): Duke hosts rival North Carolina with a chance to be 5-0 for the first time since 1997. Manny Diaz hasn’t defeated his former boss, Mack Brown, head-to-head as a head coach, but his quarterback, Maalik Murphy, is playing well enough to lead Duke to its first win in the battle for the Victory Bell since Daniel Jones was at Duke in 2018. — Navarro
8. California (5): Cal was riding high after starting the season 3-0 but dropped a few spots this week after its loss to Florida State. Who would have thought heading into this season that falling to the Seminoles would be considered a “bad loss?” Quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for 303 yards, but the Bears failed to score a touchdown and went just 2-for-5 in the red zone. They also had 10 penalties. Getting back on track during this idle week will be crucial, because it doesn’t get easier from here. Next on the schedule: Miami. — Raynor
9. Virginia (14): Tony Elliott’s team rebounded nicely from its home loss to Maryland a couple of weeks ago by rolling up 525 yards, including 384 on the ground, in a dominant win at Coastal Carolina. The Cavaliers are idle this weekend and then host Boston College and Louisville on back-to-back weekends before taking a road trip to Clemson. Can Virginia get to six wins and a bowl game by season’s end? That’ll be tough. Every opponent left on the schedule — outside of 2-2 Virginia Tech — has a winning record. — Navarro
10. Stanford (17): We wrote last week that Stanford needed a splashy win before the Cardinal could move up from last place in the rankings, and boy, did they deliver. Stanford’s 26-24 win at Syracuse was a thriller, with kicker Emmet Kenney hitting the game-winning 39-yard field goal as time expired. Syracuse took a 24-23 lead with 3:13 to play, but Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels led the Cardinal down the field on a methodical final drive that set up Kenney’s heroics. The Carrier Dome isn’t always an easy place to play, so kudos to the Cardinal for picking up their first ACC win in program history. — Raynor
11. Syracuse (4): The Orange were rolling until they ran into Stanford last week and decided not to double cover Elic Ayomanor late. Quarterback Kyle McCord and the offense are playing really well. But the defense, which ranks 92nd nationally, has been far too leaky at times. The good news: Unbeaten UNLV, which hosts Syracuse in two weeks, just lost its starting QB to an NIL dispute. — Navarro
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ACC: The Conference Of Quarterbacks | 2024 ACC Football (youtube; podcast; ACC DN)
The ACC has been called the Conference of Quarterbacks, and through Week 4 the ACC has lived up to that name. Cam Ward is a leading Heisman contender and ACC quarterbacks litter the top of all the NCAA's passing statistics. Players like Ward, Clemson's Cade Klubnik, Georgia Tech's Haynes King, Pitt's Eli Holstein, Boston College's Thomas Castellanos, Louisville's Tyler Shough, and Duke's Maalik Murphy have all found success this season as some of the nation's best quarterbacks. Check out our video and see why the ACC really is the Conference of Quarterbacks.
Louisville vs. Notre Dame Game Preview | 2024 ACC Football (youtube; video; ACC DN)
The No.15 Cardinals will travel to South Bend where they are 1-1 all-time to take on the No.16 Fighting Irish. It is a game of major implications on each side, as both teams have championship aspirations. Louisville is led by QB Tyler Shough on offense, who has yet to throw an interception, and has a rock-solid running game. Louisville's defense ranks in the top 3 in the ACC in both scoring defense (11.0 PTS/GM) and total defense (268.7 YDS/GM). Notre Dame has 215 wins all-time versus teams from the ACC and presents UL with a familiar foe at QB in former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard. He has multiple 100-yard rushing games and spearheads a dangerous Irish offense. Their defense is as good as always, giving up less than 10 points per game, and a paltry 256.2 yards per game. UL defeated the Irish last season in one of the biggest wins in Louisville's history and will be looking to make it two in a row on Saturday. UL Head Coach Jeff Brohm and Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman set the table for this delectable matchup.
Which ACC Contenders are Emerging? - ACC SQUAD (youtube; podcast; Locked on College Football)
Welcome to ACC Squad, your ultimate roundtable podcast for everything Atlantic Coast Conference! In Week 5, hosted by Alex Donno of Locked On ACC, we’re gearing up for some thrilling matchups as we analyze the current state of ACC football and make predictions for the upcoming games.Join us as we delve into the key storylines from Week 5, highlight must-watch matchups, and discuss which players are poised to make a significant impact. Whether you’re supporting the Boston College Eagles, Clemson Tigers, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Louisville Cardinals, Miami Hurricanes, NC State Wolfpack, North Carolina Tar Heels, Syracuse Orange, California Golden Bears, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Pittsburgh Panthers, SMU Mustangs, Stanford Cardinal, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, or Wake Forest Demon Deacons, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!
Miami (FL) football bold predictions for ACC showdown vs. Virginia Tech (yardbarker.com; Shoemaker)
The Miami Hurricanes are looking like one of the best teams in the country right now. The No. 7 Canes (4-0) are undefeated through four weeks, though they have yet to begin ACC conference play. That will change on Friday with a Week 5 showdown at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Miami will host one of their longtime rivals, the Virginia Tech Hokies, dating back to their Big East days. In this unusual Friday night matchup, anything can happen—as it often does in these settings—but the Hurricanes will do everything they can to avoid an upset.
The Hokies (2-2) came into the season as a dark horse favorite to break into the College Football Playoff but haven’t lived up to that potential. They were upset by Vanderbilt in Week 1 and suffered a close loss to Rutgers last weekend. However, this is the conference opener for both teams, which means everything is still on the line.
Friday night will be pivotal, as both teams have a chance to jump-start their push for the ACC title. Miami will aim to fend off the Hokies and stay undefeated as they continue their pursuit of their first ACC championship. Now, let’s dive into some bold predictions for Miami versus Virginia Tech in Week 5.
Cam Ward throws a touchdown to at least three different receivers
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) passes the football against the Florida A&M Rattlers during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Through the first four games, Cam Ward has positioned himself as a strong Heisman Trophy candidate, transforming Miami into one of the most explosive offenses in the country. He’s done this by effectively spreading the ball around to his talented receiving corps, tight ends, and running backs. So far, eight different receivers have found the end zone on a pass from Ward this season.
Xavier Restrepo has been Ward’s favorite target, currently leading the team with five receiving touchdowns. Expect Ward to connect with Restrepo and at least two other receivers for touchdowns on Friday night.
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What's Wrong with the 2024 Hokies? (RX; HM)
What's Wrong with the 2024 Hokies?
Virginia Tech opened the season at Vanderbilt, a game they were expected to win. Instead, they lost a Heartbreaker.
The Hokies then exorcized a troublesome demon by winning at Old Dominion.
Then this happened...
Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech
Condensed Game, 2024
Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech Condensed Game | 2024 ACC Football
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights stunned the Virginia Tech Hokies with a 26-23 win in Blacksburg. Kyron Drones completed 13-27 passes for 197 total yards with an interception in the loss. Bhayshul Tuten did most of the heavy lifting for the Hokies in the loss, running the ball 15 times for 122 yards with 3 rushing touchdowns. Athan Kaliakmanis completed 16-25 passes for 285total yards with a rushing touchdown in the win.
I went back and looked at the video and what I noticed was a difference in the way the team played in the first and 4th quarters. This is born out if we look at scoring (and points surrendered) by quarters:
| Virginia Tech scoring by quarter | ||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
| Virginia Tech | 21 | 3 | 20 | 24 |
| G5 Opponents | 0 | 17 | 7 | 7 |
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
| Virginia Tech | 0 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| P4 Opponents | 17 | 16 | 10 | 10 |
Friday 2024 Sep 27 Preview: VT at Miami (RX; HM)
Friday 2024 Sep 27 Preview: VT at Miami
Friday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Virginia Tech (2-2) at #7 Miami (4-0)
Series History:
Miami leads series, 25-15; Last meeting: UM, 20-14 (2022)
Head Coaches:
Virginia Tech: Brent Pry (12-16 in third season at VT; 12-16 in third season overall)
Miami: Mario Cristobal (16-13 in third season at UM; 78-73 in 14th season overall)
Notes:
• Friday’s contest will be the ACC opener for both teams. Miami holds a 25-15 advantage in the all-time series against Virginia Tech.
• Miami’s Cam Ward became just the 13th player in NCAA history to log 15,000 career passing yards, hitting the milestone against USF. Ward and Oregon’s Dillion Gabriel are the only two active FBS quarterbacks with 15,000 yards.
• Miami has been successful on both sides of the ball, boasting the No. 2 passing offense (405.0 yds/game) and is the FBS leader in sacks per game (4.00).
• Virginia Tech has been successful at stopping the pass, boasting the No. 2 pass defense in the ACC (160.0 yds/game). The Hokies have shut down teams in the red zone, allowing a score just 68.4 percent of the time - the second best in the ACC.
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Links - FBSchedules Edition - 2024 Sep 27 (RX; HM)
Links - FBSchedules Edition - 2024 Sep 27
Here are samples from 3 articles posted on FBSchedules (please check them out as time permits!):
California adds Texas Southern to 2025 football schedule
The California Golden Bears... will host Texas Southern [SWAC, FCS] at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. The game will mark the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron._____
From BYU adds four football series, reveals several changes and cancellations
GAMES RESCHEDULEDBYU announced the rescheduling of several future games today. Four of the changes were previously reported and have specific dates set (indicated in parentheses):
| Opponent | Old Date | New Date |
| at NIU | 2020 | 2030 |
| vs SMU | 2027 | 2031 |
| vs Navy | TBD | 2031 |
| vs Michigan St | 2020 | 2032 (Sept. 11) |
| vs Coastal Car | TBD | 2033 (Sept. 17) |
| at Va Tech | 2026 | 2033 (Sept. 10) |
| vs USF | 2026 | 2034 |
| vs Missouri | 2020 | 2035 (Sept. 8) |
| at Troy | 2026 | 2035 (Sept. 15) |
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From Ole Miss, BYU cancel future football series
The Ole Miss/BYU series isn't the interesting thing, but this is:...
Other
The Syracuse Inner Harbor Fest is Sept. 27 and 28 along Solar Street and the harbor. Photo courtesy Inner Harbor Fest.SYR
Food, fireworks and Dragon Boats highlight this weekend's Syracuse Inner Harbor Fest (PS; $; Cazentre)
Food trucks, craft beverages, live music, carnival rides, games, fireworks and more come to Syracuse’s Inner Harbor this weekend.
And with its waterside location, a special highlight is the Dragon Boat Races and related activities.
The 2nd annual Syracuse Inner Harbor Fest takes place Friday (Sept. 27) and Saturday (Sept. 28) along Solar Street and the waterfront. The event benefits Clear Path for Veterans and The Baldwin Fund.
Food Trucks include Limp Lizard, Baga Bowls on the Go, Bold Coast Lobster, The Pizza Cutters, Kiki’s Authentic Greek Food, Oompa Loompyas, Saucy Sandwich, Christiano’s Kitchen, Soup R’ Smash Bros, and more. There are craft beers and wine slushies from Ashley Lynn Winery.
Carnival rides, treats and games are provided by Main Event Amusements.
The event is produced by COR Development Company in partnership with NYE Automotive, Empower Federal Credit Union, Equitable Advisors, and Limp Lizard.
FRIDAY
The event runs from 4 to 10 p.m. today. The Dragon Boat Eye Dotting Ceremony is at 6 p.m. That’s described as a “captivating ritual where we awaken the spirit of our majestic dragon boats, ensuring safe and successful races.”
Live music from MotherCovers is 7 to 10 p.m.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, the festival starts with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m.
Dragon Boat Races on the water take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday’s live music includes JP Shaggy, Born to Run Band and Name Brand Covers.
There will also be an “all day” SU football watch party. The Orange take on Holy Cross with kickoff at noon.
Fireworks over the harbor start at 10 p.m.
On-street parking is free, and there are also free spots available in the nearby Destiny USA Pink Lots.
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