Orangeyes Daily Articles for Wednesday - for Football | Syracusefan.com

Orangeyes Daily Articles for Wednesday for Football

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No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Croc Day!

Crocs came onto the casual footwear scene in 2002, after being created in Boulder, Colorado, as a form of a boat shoe. Known for bringing comfort and style together, their coziness can be attributed to Croslite, a proprietary closed-cell foam resin. Over a billion Crocs are sold in over 90 countries each year. There are over 120 styles available for men, women, and children, with the signature shoe being the Classic Clog.

A fan of the shoes created National Croc Day and consumers picked up on it, eventually bringing it to the attention of Crocs, Inc., in 2017. The following year, Crocs released a limited edition gold-foiled Classic Clog on the day, which sold out within hours. In 2019, they partnered with Pizzaslime, a "premier streetwear brand," to create a glow-in-the-dark Classic Clog for the day. On National Croc Day, everyone is to wear Crocs. People show them off on social media, and National Croc Day parties are held. Crocs are so esteemed that the whole month of October has been dubbed Croctober.

SU News

Pat Narduzzi Pitches Pitt-Syracuse to the College Football World (pittsburghsportsnow.com; Ludwig)


Syracuse threw for just eight yards last season against Pitt and still won the game. It helps to rack up nearly 400 yards on the ground, I guess.

It’s still kind of hard to believe how the Pitt vs. Syracuse matchup at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx worked out last year. Pitt wasn’t able to muster any sort of offense, and the Orange knew a steady run game would be enough to knock the Panthers off.

65 carries for 392 yards and two touchdowns on the ground last season. ‘Cuse might do that through the air this time around.

It’s the first season of the Fran Brown era in Syracuse, and the Orange are 5-1 (2-1 ACC) largely because of the new, explosive passing attack. Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord has been exactly what ‘Cuse needed.

McCord is one of the top passers in the nation at the halfway point, having completed 185-of-282 pass attempts (65.6%) for 2,160 yards with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Pat Narduzzi certainly respects the threat McCord poses to his defense.



“That one transfer quarterback, that Kyle McCord, is a tremendous football player,” Narduzzi said Friday. “If you’re not a Pitt fan, if you’re not a Syracuse fan, but you’re a quarterback fan, you should get your tickets now because that guy is going to play in the National Football League.

“We watched him on third down the other day. I don’t know if he throws an incomplete pass, especially on third and medium. He throws darts. He’s accurate. He’s smart. He knows where to go with the ball. He will be the best quarterback that’s walked in to play us in this stadium in a while. So, we got a great chore ahead for us to defend him and a slew of really good receivers.”

McCord has been one of the highest-rated quarterbacks in college football this season, ranked in the top 10 nationally in passing yards and touchdowns, and it will be a big test for the Panthers’ secondary.

According to Pro Football Focus, McCord has made 21 big-time throws this season (tied for the most in college football) and gets the ball out of his hand quickly. 2.47 seconds from the snap, to be exact.

Syracuse has done a good job keeping McCord clean this season, surrending pressure on less than 25% of his dropbacks, but he’s been excellent in a clean pocket and under pressure.
...


Fran Brown says top wide receiver tried to practice Tuesday, will be ‘off’ against Pitt (PS; $; Leiker)

It seems likely Syracuse football will be without leading receiver Trebor Peña on Thursday night against Pittsburgh.

SU coach Fran Brown updated Peña’s status Tuesday night during his weekly radio show on the Syracuse Sports Network by Learfield.

He seemed to imply that Peña spent last week in concussion protocol after a hard hit at the end of last game against N.C. State but then had a separate issue arise with his lower body entering this week of prep.

“Trebor just didn‘t completely — his legs wouldn‘t match up," Brown told Voice of the Orange Matt Park. “Protocol, because he was concussed first week, but then there was a concussion with the legs and everything wouldn‘t go. We‘re not sure about Trebor. He tried to go today but it just wasn’t what we thought, so Trebor will be off.”

Earlier Tuesday, prior to the team’s evening practice, Brown said on an appearance with ESPN Radio Syracuse that Peña missed the previous two days of practice and was “not moving the way he normally moves.”

The hit Peña suffered from the N.C. State defender was ruled targeting.

Brown had said postgame that Peña would “be ready to play the next game.”

Syracuse has found success with a host of receivers this season and should not face too much of an issue against Pitt with Peña’s absence, despite him leading the team in receptions and being a trustworthy target for quarterback Kyle McCord.

Wide receiver Jackson Meeks has the second-most receptions (38) and leads in receiving yards with 459, beating out Peña by a single yard. Tight end Oronde Gadsden and running back LeQuint Allen Jr. both also have 30-plus receptions.

Other rotational pieces in the Orange’s receiving game include Umari Hatcher, Darrell Gill Jr. and Justus Ross-Simmons, who was limited through the first half of the season as he rehabbed a hamstring injury suffered in fall camp.
...

https://www.nbcsports.com/college-f...ay-top-classes-sneaky-syracuse(nbcsports.com; Garcia Jr)
Rivals national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. has thoughts on National Signing Day, how top uncommitted prospects might influence the recruiting team rankings and a Syracuse team that’s having a sneaky good season.

1. SIGNING DAY IS ABOUT TO BE A MOVIE
Don’t look now, but the de facto National Signing Day is coming up right around the corner. While the first day of the Early Signing Period is always a busy one with commitments, confirmations of top prospects and of course the flip game, it might feel more frantic than usual this year. We’re beginning to expect more chaos than usual on this front because of the timeline.
Signing Day is Dec. 4, as early as it’s been in years, and of course this is the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff. It means more teams will be playing deeper into the winter, therefore potentially spending less time on the road and or recruiting come December. The weekend prior, the last chance to see prospects on campus in person, is not only a holiday weekend (Thanksgiving) but it’s rivalry weekend. The following Monday used to be the day most failing coaches received word that they were headed out the door. Should that happen, imagine prospects trying to sign with a program just two days later?
Throw in the transfer portal, the usual NIL-led surprises and the usual change-of-heart factors and we could be set for a show on the first Wednesday in December.




2. SOUTHERN RECRUITS TO DECIDE TOP CLASS?

Piggy-backing off of the initial topic, there could still be plenty of shakeup atop the Rivals recruiting team rankings. At one point, the top class seemed like a foregone conclusion with Ohio State running away with things. The Buckeyes still hold the top spot by a considerable margin, but several of their top commitments have taken trips elsewhere of late from five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord to blue-chip pass rusher London Merritt. Linebackers Riley Pettijohn and Tarvos Alford remain extremely coveted by others, too, so the home stretch for these out-of-state and out-of-region recruits could become storylines that stick.

Should there be a departure or two from the stacked commitment list, the door would surely feel open come December. The programs ranked behind the Buckeyes, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Auburn, Texas, Oklahoma and Miami are all in the mix for some of the best still available such as five-stars Jahkeem Stewart, Justus Terry, Javion Hilson and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. The decisions from those prospects could be enough to sway the top of the team rankings.


3. SNEAKY SYRACUSE AND REMEMBER-ME QB
https://images./image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,t_large/gyafo5npjq7zl2i0sp6z
Kyle McCord
© Rich Barnes-Imagn Images


The ACC has been at the butt of low-hanging fruit jokes for years, especially since Clemson‘s run atop the sport came to an end, but the 2024 season has been a pleasant surprise on Saturdays. Miami and Pitt are undefeated, Clemson has bounced back from the Georgia loss in a big way, newcomer SMU is ranked and the rest of the league has plenty of reason for optimism.

Even Syracuse, under first-year head coach Fran Brown, has a chance to see a ranking next to its name with a win over the Panthers on Thursday evening.

Sneaking under the radar along with his team, transfer quarterback Kyle McCord deserves his own due. He is approaching his touchdown numbers (19 passing, one rushing) from the entire 2023 season with a -- let’s be honest -- much less talented group of targets to operate with compared to the one he left at Ohio State. The Orange offensive momentum should continue, too. It is about to face a defense that hasn’t shown well against the pass, with the Panthers ranked outside of the top 100 in yards in passing yards allowed per game.
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Syracuse Opponent Analysis: Pittsburgh Panthers (10/24/24) (r1vals.com; Hammett)
Syracuse will face off against Pittsburgh on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. To get prepared for the game, we spoke with Jim Hammett from Panther Lair.

What has been the biggest reason for Pitt's hot start?

It sounds simple enough, but the offense is improved, the defense is making enough big plays, and the team is finding ways to win close games. It is pretty much the polar opposite of what the 2023 Pitt football team looked like after they finished with a 3-9 record.

Pat Narduzzi revamped his offensive coaching staff, and brought in Kade Bell from Western Carolina as the new offensive coordinator, and his impact has been noticeable. The Panthers were anemic on offense last season, but have been one of the most explosive teams in the country this year averaging over 40 points per game. Because Pitt has the ability to score, and score quickly, they are never really out of a game. The Panthers overcame a 21-point deficit on the road to beat Cincinnati, and erased a West Virginia 10-point lead in the final four minutes in previous wins this seasons.

Pitt’s defense has had some spotty moments, but really shined bright in the 17-15 win over Cal last time out. The Panthers generated six sacks and shut down the Golden Bears’ running game. Pitt has also generated some big stops throughout the year during some of those comeback bids. Plus, Pitt has a really good kicker in Ben Sauls, who has not missed a field goal yet this season (10-for-10, a nice weapon to have in close games.

Who are the major contributor's on Pitt's offense?
Pitt’s high-powered offense is really fueled by Desmond Reid, one of the more unique offensive players in the country. Reid followed Kade Bell from Western Carolina, and his 5-foot-8 frame was a question mark coming into the season, but he put those concerns to rest right away. Reid is second in the country in all-purpose yards per game, trailing only Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. Reid has 494 rushing yards and three touchdowns, 341 receiving yards and four scores, plus a 78-yard punt return.
Eli Holstein is the other big name on offense. The redshirt freshman quarterback bas been brilliant, guiding the team to its best start since 1982. Holstein struggled a bit last time out against Cal, but has 1,700 yards 15 touchdowns to just five interceptions, plus 266 yards and three scores on the ground.

Who are the major contributor's on Pitt's defense?

Pitt’s defense is led by Kyle Louis, a redshirt sophomore linebacker. Louis has 54 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, three sacks, and two interceptions this season. He is almost always around the football. Senior safety Donovan McMillon is another name to watch, he has four double-digit tackle games this season.

Give us a prediction for the game.

This is just a game I have looked at for a while and figured: high-scoring, anything can happen, and that is still kind of my read here on game week. Both teams are actually pretty fun for a change, and that is not always the case in this series. These two schools have met every year since 1955, and this is the first time in quite a while it feels like a mutually big game for each side.

I’ll give the edge to Pitt just because the game is at home, and Vegas seems to be trending in that direction as well. I believe both teams will be able to move the ball on each other, so it will come down to a big play or two by one of the defenses.

Pitt’s defense is coming off its best performance of the year, so I think they’ll carry that momentum over a little bit. I’ll say Pitt 38-35.


Betting Odds Shift for Pitt vs. Syracuse (pittsburghsportsnow.com; Ludwig)
Pitt opened last week as an early betting favorite against Syracuse, and the line has continued to shift in favor of the Panthers since.

Pitt was set a 3-point favorite last week, but the line of DraftKings and FanDuel has grown over the last couple of days. DraftKings currently has Pitt as a 6-point favorite while FanDuel has the Panthers as a 5.5-point favorite.

A bet for Pitt to cover the spread on DraftKings holds -108 odds. The total point spread has been set at 62 points and the money line odds at -218 for Pitt and +180 for Syracuse. A bet for Pitt to cover the spread on FanDuel holds -115 odds. The total point spread has been set at 61.5 points and the money line odds at -220 for Pitt and +180 for Syracuse.

Syracuse is off to a strong start in the Fran Brown era, sitting at 5-1 (2-1 ACC) at the midway point. The Orange are led by Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord, who has thrown for 2,160 yards with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. ‘Cuse is scoring 33.8 points per game, but like the Panthers, the defensive numbers don’t look great.

It’s a good test for both teams, who still largely control their destiny in the conference. And Pitt is looking for revenge.

Pitt has played Syracuse the third-most times in program history but the Orange are rarely brought up in the same breath as the likes of West Virginia, Penn State or even Notre Dame.

There isn’t the same proximity (although, ‘Cuse is one of the closer ACC destinations) or the same deep-rooted history between Pitt and Syracuse that Pitt shares with either WVU and Penn State — and the fanbases aren’t nearly as antagonistic. But Pat Narduzzi considers the series a rivalry nonetheless.

“There’s been a lot of close games,” Narduzzi said in the buildup to the Syracuse game last season. “I think it’s a tough game. I think it’s physical. And I do see it as a rivalry. The longer I’m here, I really do. It’s one of the old Big East games that was played, and I do see it as a rivalry that we get to embrace.”

And with the ACC’s scheduling model, Pitt has been placed in a “pod” with Syracuse and Boston College. Under that scheduling model, Pitt will Syracuse and Boston College annually through 2030. And Narduzzi is just fine with that.
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Syracuse football: what’s college football saying about the Orange after week 8 (TNIAAM; Wall)
Each week, we’ll take a look at what other college football media sites are saying about the Syracuse Orange. Let’s see what they are saying after the Orange’s second bye week.

Syracuse.Com

Chris Carlson keeps Syracuse 5th this week between Pittsburgh and Louisville.

ESPN

In this week’s SP+ rankings Syracuse holds in the 51st spot with the offense 35th while the defense ranks 64th and special teams 116th. The Orange are ranked between JMU and Maryland. Pittsburgh is ranked 30th with both their offense and defense 39th. The Panthers special teams unit is ranked 6th by SP+ so that’s something to keep an eye on.

The Football Power Index bumps Syracuse up one spot to 61st place between Nebraska and Mississippi State. FPI predicts the Orange for 7.1 wins and gives them a 92% chance of making a bowl game. Pittsburgh is ranked 33rd by FPI this week.

ACC/ESPN Media

Andrea Adelson has Syracuse 5th and Pitt 3rd.

CBS Sports

In the CBS Sports power rankings Syracuse is up four spots to 27th between Vanderbilt and Washington State. Pitt is 15th in these rankings.

The Athletic

The Orange jumps up eight spots to 26th in The Athletic’s Top 134 Power Rankings placing them still in between Washington State and UNLV. Pitt is 18th this week

AP and Coaches Poll

Pitt is ranked 19th in the AP and 20th in the Coaches Poll. Syracuse received fifteen votes in the AP Poll and twenty-seven votes in the Coaches Poll putting them as the 2nd team outside the top 25 in both.

ACC Week Eight Scores

Boston College 21 Virginia Tech 42

Florida State 16 Duke 23

Miami 52 Louisville 45

Wake Forest 23 UConn 20

Virginia 31 Clemson 48

NC State 24 California 23

Notre Dame 31 Georgia Tech 13

SMU 40 Stanford 10
...

5 Things to Know: Syracuse at Pitt - Syracuse University Athletics (cuse.com)
The Syracuse football team heads to Pittsburgh on Thursday night for an ACC showdown against the No. 19 Panthers. Here's five things to know about the matchup.

1. Most Frequent Rival
'Cuse and Pitt will meet for the 80th time on Thursday. The Panthers are the Orange's most frequent opponent in program history, in a series that dates back to 1916.

The two teams have met annually since 1955. Penn State (71), Colgate (68) and West Virginia (61) are the only three other programs that SU has matched up with 60 times or more.

2. Another Ranked Test
The Panthers, who check in at No. 19 and 20 in the AP and USA Today Coaches Poll, respectively, mark the third ranked squad Syracuse has faced this season at the time of their meeting. Having already defeated then No. 22 Georgia Tech and No. 25 UNLV, 'Cuse is seeking its third ranked win of the 2024 campaign.

Syracuse has not defeated three ranked teams in a single season since 1998. It'll also be the second road game against a ranked squad. If the Orange are able to leave Acrisure Stadium with a victory – something that SU hasn't managed since 2001 – it'll mark the first season since 1992 that SU will come away with multiple ranked road victories.

3. End of the Road
Syracuse has been away from the JMA Wireless Dome since Sept. 28 and that three-game (plus a bye) road swing will conclude on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. The Orange are looking to move to 3-0 in road games this season. It'd be the first time since 2010 that 'Cuse won three straight away from the Dome in the regular season. That 2010 squad managed four-straight road victories in a six-game span, winning at USF, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Rutgers.

The 35-day stretch without a home game will conclude on Nov. 2 when Virginia Tech visits the Dome. Secure your seats for the first home game in over a month at Cuse.com/Tickets.There's also a mini-plan available, where fans can get tickets to both the Virginia Tech and UConn games for a special price. Click here to take advantage of that deal!

4. McCord Making Moves
QB Kyle McCord has thrown for over 300 yards in each of his first six starts at Syracuse, tying the program record for 300+ yard games in a single season. He is rising rapidly on a number of Orange record lists.

His 19 touchdown passes tie for sixth in a single season in school history with Tommy DeVito (2019), Ryan Nassib (2010) and Donovan McNabb (1996). His next TD pass will tie McNabb's 1997 campaign for fifth. Don McPherson (1987), McNabb (1998) and Nassib (2011) are all tied for second with 22. Nassib's 2012 season is the program record with 26.

McCord is also on pace to shatter the single-season passing record. He's got a 62.3 yard cushion in the yards-per-game category. He needs 1,589 yards (264.8 avg. per game) over the final six games to tie Ryan Nassib's 2012 season mark of 3,749.

5. Spread Offense
McCord's favorite target has been whoever is open through the first six weeks, and everyone is getting theirs. Syracuse is currently the only school in the country with three wide receivers averaging 70+ yards per game. That equates to three of the top-63 players in the country in the statistic all playing at SU.


Jackson Meeks leads the way (76.5), followed by Trebor Pena (76.3) and Oronde Gadsden II (72.2).

Syracuse football’s leading receiver day-to-day for Pittsburgh, status yet to be determined (PS; $; Carlson)

Syracuse wide receiver Trebor Peña, the team’s leader in receptions this season, has missed the past two SU practices and is day-to-day heading into the Orange’s nationally-televised showdown with No. 19 Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said during an appearance on ESPN Radio Syracuse’s Orange Nation program that Peña’s status will be determined by what he is able to do at practice on Tuesday afternoon.

“That’s a little bit of an injury concern,” Brown said during his radio appearance. “It seems like he should be able to practice. He’s got certain things that he can do but he’s not moving the way he normally moves. ... He’ll be able to play if he can just practice well today.”

Brown’s weekly coach’s show is scheduled for Tuesday night on TK99 and he indicated that he’d provide an update on how Peña fared at practice.

Peña was hit in the head late in Syracuse’s most recent game against North Carolina State, with the Wolfpack receiving a penalty for targeting on the play.

Brown said that Peña’s injury was a “two-part thing” and that his “legs are killing him right now.”

After the win over the Wolfpack, Brown said his initial expectation was that Peña would be able to play against Pittsburgh.

Peña is Syracuse’s leading pass-catcher this season with 42 receptions and also leads the team with five touchdown receptions. He is second among SU receivers averaging 76.33 yards per game. His ability to convert short routes over the middle and his chemistry with quarterback Kyle McCord seem as if they would be especially helpful against Pittsburgh, a team that likes to blitz up the middle and speed up quarterbacks.

According to Pro Football Focus, Peña has been targeted on 35 passes shorter than 10 yards this season. He has made receptions on 31 of them.

Peña also returns punts for the Orange and has avoided any major miscues on special teams.
...

Syracuse football at No. 19 Pitt how to watch, betting odds and prediction in week 9 (itlh; Adler)
Coming off its second and final bye week of the current campaign, Syracuse football is set to play arguably its most important game so far in the 2024 season when the Orange travels to long-time rival Pittsburgh this Thursday night.

The 'Cuse (5-1, 2-1 in the ACC) has won three straight games, including the last two on the road. The Orange will wrap up its month-long road tour in October when it faces the No. 19 Panthers (6-0, 2-0 in the ACC) in a key Atlantic Coast Conference clash.

To date in the 2024 term, head coach Pat Narduzzi has guided Pittsburgh to an impressive first half of this season. After going just 3-9 in 2023, the Panthers have yet to lose and are one of four squads that remain undefeated in ACC competition.

For Syracuse football, the program needs one more victory to qualify for the post-season for the third year in a row, although first-year head coach Fran Brown, his top-flight staff and their players are hungry to continue piling up triumphs and contend for a ACC championship as well as a potential berth to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

The Orange's two-point home setback to Stanford last month isn't looking so hot these days, given the Cardinal's struggles of late. However, when it heads to Pittsburgh, the 'Cuse has a chance to beat a third foe in the 2024 season that was ranked in the major top-25 polls at the time of the contest.

Syracuse football previously knocked off then-No. 23 Georgia Tech at the JMA Wireless Dome and then-No. 25 UNLV in Las Vegas.

Syracuse football at No. 19 Pittsburgh odds, spread and total

When I wrote this article, FanDuel had the Orange as a 5.5-point betting underdog at the Panthers, with the over/under set at 62.5 points.

Syracuse football at No. 19 Pittsburgh how to watch

Date: Thursday, Oct. 24
Game Time: 7:30 pm EST
Venue: Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh
TV/Streaming: ESPN and fuboTV
Pittsburgh's record: 6-0, 2-0 in the ACC
Syracuse's record: 5-1, 2-1 in the ACC
Syracuse’s full 2024 schedule: Click here

Syracuse football at No. 19 Pittsburgh prediction and pick

Here's the week-nine depth chart for the Orange, courtesy of 247Sports analyst Mike McAllister. A couple of things to mention here. Brown says that freshman defensive back Marcellus Barnes is "ready to go" against the Panthers.

Marlowe Wax Jr., the team's star senior linebacker who has been out for multiple games due to an injury, will "probably play next week" when Syracuse football hosts Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 2, according to Brown.
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(youtube; podcast; The Orange Zone)
Samantha Croston, Ashley Wenskoski, James Mungro and Rachel Culver preview what is shaping up to be one of the ACC games of the year - Syracuse (5-1) at No. 19 Pittsburgh (6-0). The Orange have not won in the Steel City since 2001.
00:00-3:57: Opening thoughts on the SU vs. Pitt matchup
3:58-6:04: Pat Narduzzi comments on Kyle McCord
6:05-9:30: SU injury updates, is Pitt/Syracuse a rivalry?
9:31-12:02: Crow bars
12:03-20:02: Ins and outs of how these teams matchup
20:03-23:21: Predictions for SU vs. Pitt

Syracuse vs Pitt Game Preview | College Football Picks and Predictions (youtube; podcast; ROC Boys)
Syracuse vs Pitt Game Prediction

Fran Brown and this Syracuse Football Program head on the road to play the undefeated Pitt Panthers. A great QB battle with two of the best QBs in the ACC. Taking a look at a few key matchups.

How Syracuse Football is Adjusting without Marlowe Wax vs. Pitt Panthers | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Orange Football gets set to take on undefeated, AP Top-25 Pittsburgh Panthers on Thursday night. Syracuse Head Coach Fran Brown says that Marlowe Wax will not play, which means Derek McDonald and Justin Barron will remain as the middle and weak side linebackers. Corner Marcellus Barnes is expected to make his return and should help against Konata Mumpfield. Plus, an update on Zeed Haynes and the rest of the Cuse offense.

Jackson Holzer gives you his thoughts on Syracuse's depth chart against Pitt on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.

Syracuse Football Head Coach Fran Brown Gives Update on Marlowe Wax, Talks Pitt History (youtube; podcast; Cuse Sports Talk)
Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown joins Steve Infanti and Paulie Scibilia. He reflects on how he handles the bye week, provides some injury updates, and discusses Syracuse's history against Pittsburgh

ACC News

ESPN outlines 'break glass in case of emergency' scenario for ACC in College Football Playoff race (on3.com; Goldkamp)


On ESPN’s CFP Rankings Show on Tuesday night, the Worldwide Leader spent some time breaking down various College Football Playoff scenarios, including what could be a fascinating finish in the ACC.

Because of the league’s unbalanced schedules, there’s a chance three different teams win out.

“I think we’ve got a really interesting scenario bubbling up in the ACC,” ESPN’s Greg McElroy said. “I think Miami, we all kind of know who they are. They’re looking really good. They’re undefeated. But what about Clemson and then, secondarily, SMU?”

The remaining schedules for both Clemson and SMU are quite navigable. Check them out below.

McElroy broke down what he hopes to see as the College Football Playoff picture continues to unfold.

“I want to see win out right now for Clemson, and then I want to see win out for SMU, because both those teams could be 11-1 with losses in the non-conference,” McElroy said.

Using ESPN’s Playoff Predictor, host Rece Davis input those scenarios and noted that meant Clemson “almost certainly” would be the team finding itself in the ACC title game. SMU would be left out.

But that might not even be bad news for SMU when it comes to the College Football Playoff.

“It’s crazy to think, Rece, that we could have a scenario where you have three undefeated ACC teams with Miami, Clemson and SMU, none of which play each other,” McElroy said. “So the fact that they all could be undefeated, you might have an SMU team, like this points out, that wins all their games, still doesn’t get to the ACC Championship Game, and then finds a scenario where they get in as an at-large ahead of the team that beat them in the tie-breaker, because the team that beat them in the tie-breaker, in this particular case Clemson, loses to Miami, which gives them the second loss, which bounces them out.”

Confused yet? That’s OK. Most scenarios have a way of playing themselves out before we get to that level of craziness in the College Football Playoff.

Still, ESPN isn’t wrong for pointing it out. It’s a definite possibility given the schedules.

“So we are looking at a potential break glass in case of emergency situation in the ACC as it relates to the conference championship and the possibility of an at-large team sitting at home,” McElroy said.
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ACC Football: Miami, Pitt put unbeaten records on the line this week (augustafreepress.com; Graham)

Two of the 10 undefeated teams in FBS are in the ACC#6 Miami (7-0, 3-0 ACC) and #19 Pitt (6-0, 2-0 ACC).

But would you believe, the ACC Football game of the week might very well be the game in Durham between #22 SMU (6-1, 3-0 ACC) and Duke (6-1, 2-1 ACC)?

Gotta say, what Manny Diaz has been able to do at Duke in Year 1 really puts the struggles that Virginia is experiencing in Year 3 under Tony Elliott in perspective.

Syracuse at #19 Pitt


Thursday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET

Series:
Pitt leads series, 43-33-3

Last meeting: Syracuse, 28-13 (2023 at Yankee Stadium)

ESPN: Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Dan Mullen (analyst), Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)

SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 137 / SiriusXM 193 / SiriusXM 371

SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 371 / SiriusXM 955

Louisville at Boston College


Friday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. ET

Series:
Louisville leads series, 9-7

Last meeting: Louisville, 56-28 (2023)

ESPN2: Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (sideline)

SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 371

SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 371

Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech


Saturday, Oct. 26, Noon ET

Series:
Virginia Tech leads series, 11-8

Last meeting: Georgia Tech, 28-27 (2022)

ACCN: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)

SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 137 / SiriusXM 193 / SiriusXM 371

SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 371 / SiriusXM 955
...


ACC football midseason outlook: Duke leading the charge locally, UNC set to face Virginia (youtube; podcast; 99.9 The Fan)

Paul Ihander and Graham Hill assess the current state of ACC football at the midway point of the season. Manny Diaz and his Duke Blue Devils continue to shine as the top team locally but will be battle-tested this Saturday against SMU. Meanwhile, UNC returns to action this week after their bye, gearing up to take on Virginia.

ACC Tier Rankings Week 9: Some Surprises! Who Climbed A Tier and Who Fell? Lets Discuss! (youtube; Talking College Football)

On this episode of Talking College Football with JJ Kitchen, JJ talks about the contenders in the ACC and ranks each of the football programs through 9 weeks of the season and there may be some surprises!As always you can find JJ on Twitter at JJ_Kitchen40. Please Subscribe, Comment, Like, and Share the video! JJ loves the conversation with everyone and hopes to hear from everyone.

ACC Power Rankings - Week 9 (youtube; podcast; Voice of College Football)

ACC Power Rankings - Week 9

https://allsportsdiscussion.com/2024/10/22/2024-week-8-acc-football-power-rankings/ (ASD; JFann)

17. Florida State (1-6)

Last Week: 17

Florida State is not even leaving a debate at who is the worst team in the ACC this year. They could at least make it interesting. I don’t see it changing this week with Miami.

16. North Carolina (3-4)

Last Week: 16

I hope UNC worked on that defense during the BYE week. A game at Virginia is next.

15. Stanford (2-5)

Last Week: 15

Stanford is just a mess at this point after losing big to SMU. Wake Forest might be a winnable game though Saturday.

14. California (3-4)

Last Week: 11

Cal just keeps finding ways to lose games late. Blowing a 23-10 4th quarter lead to NC State could be crippling. Oregon State is an absolute must-win.

13. Wake Forest (3-4)

Last Week: 13

Wake Forest got by UConn, but it wasn’t pretty. It doesn’t matter a W is a W. Stanford is a chance at a 2 game-winning streak.

12. NC State (4-4)

Last Week: 14

NC State is feeling great after a comeback win over Cal. Enjoy the BYE week Wolfpack.

11. Boston College (4-3)

Last Week: 10

Boston College fell way behind to Virginia Tech, made a run, then fell apart. They host Louisville trying to avoid their third loss in a row.

10. Virginia (4-3)

Last Week: 9

Virginia had some decent moments against Clemson but were overmatched. Their bowl hopes are dead I think without beating UNC this weekend.

9. Georgia Tech (5-3)

Last Week : 7

It’s not so much that Georgia Tech lost to Notre Dame, but how badly they played especially their special teams which has become a trainwreck. Now they head to Virginia Tech, possibly (probably) without QB Haynes King again.

8. Virginia Tech (4-3)

Last Week: 12

It’s time to start rewarding Virginia Tech for their recent solid play. A hobbled Georgia Tech heads to Lane Stadium to face the surging Hokies.

7. Duke (6-1)

Last Week: 8

Duke might be the quietest team in the country with 6 wins. If they beat SMU, people really take notice.

6. Louisville (4-3)

Last Week: 6

Louisville hasn’t lost to a team that’s not currently ranked. The Cards are better than their record, and this week I think they prove it against Boston College.

5. Syracuse (5-1)

Last week: 5

Who knew Syracuse vs Pittsburgh on Thursday night would be one of the ACC games of the year? Believe it.

4. SMU (6-1)

Last Week: 4

SMU is in a great position for a special season. A game at Duke will be a good tough test this week.
...

ACC Power Rankings: Week 9 (stateoftheu.com; Schiffman)
The ACC looked pretty good as a whole last weekend. There are still four teams without a conference loss in the Miami Hurricanes, Clemson Tigers, SMU Mustangs, and Pittsburgh Panthers. Virginia Tech had a dominating win over Boston College. Oh, and Duke beat Florida State for the first time in school history. Good stuff.



Without further ado, let’s get to the rankings.

1. Miami - 7-0 overall, 3-0 conference

The Hurricanes won another shootout, this time at Louisville last Saturday afternoon. Miami’s offense looked unstoppable as they moved the ball well on the ground, plus had some explosive pass plays. Miami’s defensive secondary needs work as Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough carved them up. Still, the defense got a big fourth-quarter stop and the offense kept scoring touchdowns. This team knows how to win.

2. Clemson - 6-1, 5-0

The Tigers keep rolling along and looking good. They took care of Virginia last weekend, 48-31. Clemson is now the betting favorite to win the ACC. Some people also have them ranked ahead of Miami. Fine. Clemson’s loss against Georgia looks even better now with how the Bulldogs handled Texas. After their bye this Saturday, Clemson has Louisville, Virginia Tech, and Pitt in a row in what will be the toughest stretch of their season.

3. SMU - 6-1, 3-0

The Mustangs took care of the Cardinal last Saturday, going up 21-0 in the first quarter. If Lashlee can get his team past Duke this weekend, a matchup against potentially undefeated Pitt looms on November 2nd. If SMU can keep getting out to big leads and playing from ahead, they have a real shot of making it to Charlotte for the ACC Championship.

4. Pittsburgh - 6-0, 2-0

The Panthers are coming off a bye and feeling great. They welcome Syracuse this Thursday night for the biggest ACC matchup of Week 9. I can’t imagine the Pitt crowd being anything less than completely insane for that game. With SMU and Clemson coming down the road, the Panthers really do control their own destiny.

5. Syracuse - 5-1, 2-1

The Orange aren’t done yet. They are also coming off a bye, so the travel to Pitt on Thursday night isn’t as bad. Syracuse doesn’t play SMU or Clemson, but if they can run the table for the next five weeks in order to set up a season-ending game with Miami at home, that would be huge. Don’t rule it out!

6. Duke - 6-1, 2-1

Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils are having quite the season in 2024. They came back to beat rival UNC and they defeated FSU last Friday night for the first time in school history. Pretty cool, despite the Seminoles being a complete and utter dumpster fire. As I mentioned earlier, SMU comes to Durham for a primetime matchup this Saturday night. A win against his former offensive coordinator and a ranked-road favorite would give Duke some solid momentum heading into their game at Miami on November 2nd.
...

ACC Football Power Rankings: 2024 Week 9 (SI; McGavic)
You'd think the race for the Atlantic Coast Conference title might start to tighten up as we approach the final month of the season, but in reality, there's still some potential for chaos left.

Of course, Miami and Clemson are still the unquestioned frontrunners to get to Charlotte and do battle for the ACC title. But teams like SMU, Pitt, and even Syracuse are still lurking around, waiting for a chance to make their move towards the top. Not to mention that the shuffling of teams in the middle and bottom third of the conference continues onward.

So where do things currently stand in the conference following eight weeks of football? Check out our week nine ACC power rankings below:

1. Miami Hurricanes

  • Record: 7-0, 3-0 ACC
  • Last Week's Ranking: No. 1
  • Week 8 Result: W, 52-45 at Louisville
On one hand, Miami's prolific offense could single-handedly carry them all the way to an ACC Championship or a College Football Playoff berth. On the other, their defense has looked incredibly suspect over the last month. Not to mention that the ACC Command Center gave the Canes the benefit of the doubt again.

2. Clemson Tigers

  • Record: 6-1, 5-0 ACC
  • Last Week's Ranking: No. 2
  • Week 8 Result: W, 48-31 vs. Virginia
While Clemson got off to a slow start, this game wasn't nearly as close as the final score suggests. The Tigers' offense exploded in the second and third quarters, and the defense took their foot off the gas when they went up four scores. Miami is the frontrunner until proven otherwise, but this team is a worthy challenger for that spot.

3. SMU Mustangs

  • Record: 6-1, 3-0 ACC
  • Last Week's Ranking: No. 4
  • Week 8 Result: W, 40-10 at Stanford
If there's anyone that seems like they can crash the party and challenge either Miami or Syracuse, SMU certainly seems like they could. Stanford hasn't been super impressive, but the Mustangs jumped all over the Cardinal and have been cruising over the last month. Looking at their remaining schedule, running the table isn't out of the question.

4. Pitt Panthers

  • Record: 6-0, 2-0 ACC
  • Last Week's Ranking: No. 3
  • Week 8 Result: Bye Week
The next two weeks will be very telling for Pitt. While undefeated, the Panthers haven't exactly been super convincing at times this season, and they get Syracuse and SMU in back-to-back weeks. Hopefully Pitt utilized their bye week properly.

5. Syracuse Orange

  • Record: 5-1, 2-1 ACC
  • Last Week's Ranking: No. 7
  • Week 8 Result: Bye Week
What I said about Pitt could arguably be also used to describe Syracuse. The Orange are knocking on the door of the AP Top 25, but have not won a power conference game by more than a touchdown, and have a very bad loss to Stanford on their resume. Their matchup with Pitt could determine who this team truly is.
...

ACC Power Rankings updated after Week 8 of college football (on3.com; Kosko)
The latest ACC Power Rankings are here following Week 8 of college football and a full slate of action, courtesy of the On3 Massey Ratings.

The On3 Massey Ratings – which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated high school sports team rankings since 1995 – rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

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Let’s dive into the ACC Power Rankings following Week 8 of the college football season.

1. Miami (+1)

The Hurricanes vaulted back up to the top spot in the ACC with their win over Louisville. The shootout 52-45 win was the latest in close calls for Miami.

After narrowly beating Cal and Virginia Tech in their last two games, Miami didn’t make things easy this time. Still, Mario Cristobal and crew are still undefeated as we get closer to November.

2. Clemson (-1)

Clemson won its sixth game in a row but moved down one spot in the ACC rankings, per Massey. At this rate, Miami and Clemson might be interchangeable the way both teams are playing.

Cade Klubnik had another solid outing, throwing for 308 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Phil Mafah added 78 yards and two scores on the ground in a 48-31 win over Virginia.

3. SMU (+1)

SMU dominated Stanford on Saturday, winning 40-10 on the road. Kevin Jennings threw for 322 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Sitting at 6-1, there’s a lot of attention on Miami and Clemson at the top but there should be respect given to Rhett Lashlee’s crew. SMU is still undefeated in the ACC and doesn’t play Miami or Clemson in the regular season.

4. Pittsburgh (-1)

Pitt had a bye week following the win over Cal the week prior. Now, all attention turns to Thursday night when Syracuse comes to town.

Still undefeated, Pitt is in the same boat as SMU where they are the teams that are saying “what about us?” If the Panthers come away with another win, we might have to look closer at the great job Pat Narduzzi is doing this year.

5. Louisville

Miami did just enough to get by Louisvolle in this one. Despite being 4-3, the Cardinals did not drop in the ACC rankings.



Tyler Shough had a heck of a game, throwing for 342 yards and four touchdowns. But it was not enough in the shootout loss. Louisville hits the road against Boston College on Friday night.

6. Duke (+1)

Duke improved to 6-1 on the season by beating Florida State 23-16 Friday night. It wasn’t a good night on offense though.



Maalik Murphy was 12 of 24 passing for 70 yards and Star Thomas led the way on the ground with 88 yards and a score. Still, this team is bowl eligible under Manny Diaz. Still quite the year for this ACC squad!

7. Georgia Tech (-1)

It was a tough loss for Georgia Tech, 31-13 to Notre Dame, on Friday night. The Yellowjackets actually had a 7-0 lead after the first quarter.



The wheels came off though as GT fell to 5-3 on the season. They also dropped a spot in the ACC rankings this week. Next up, they’ll go on the road to take on Virginia Tech Saturday.

8. Syracuse

Syracuse had a week off following the win over NC State. Now, the Orange will hit the road to take on Pittsburgh Thursday night, looking to hand the Panthers their first loss.



One more win and Fran Brown will be bowl eligible in his first season as head coach. This is also a manageable schedule until the finale against Miami on November 30th.
...

ACC Power Rankings: Week 9 (tarheelblog.com; Ferenchick)
This weekend, we at least got a slight break from North Carolina football, as the Tar Heels had their idle bye week. This has not been the most fun season to follow UNC, which — for us Carolina fans — has dampened what’s been an otherwise pretty interesting ACC season.

With another week of action in the books, let’s take a look at that interesting ACC with this week’s edition of our power rankings.

1. Miami (7-0, 3-0 ACC)

Last Week: Beat Louisville 52-45

Louisville gave the Hurricanes a test, but Miami passed it and won on the road to add a pretty solid win to their résumé.

This Week: Saturday vs. Florida State

2. Clemson (6-1, 5-0 ACC)

Last Week: Beat Virginia 48-31

After putting up just three points in the first quarter and a half, Clemson turned it on after that to mostly cruise past UVA.

This Week: Bye

3. SMU (6-1, 3-0 ACC)

Last Week: Beat Stanford 40-10

Going on the road to Stanford, the Mustangs had no issue in their “This is Still Weird That It’s an ACC Game Bowl.”

This Week: Saturday at Duke

4. Pitt (6-0, 2-0 ACC)

Last Week: Bye

The Panthers got a week off as they prepare to put their undefeated record to the test in the second half of the season.

This Week: Thursday vs. Syracuse

5. Duke (6-1, 2-1 ACC)

Last Week: Beat Florida State 23-16

It wasn’t the margin you might expect for a team near the top of the conference beating a team near the bottom, but beating FSU was a mental barrier that the Blue Devils overcame for the first time in program history over the weekend.

This Week: Saturday vs. SMU

6. Syracuse (5-1, 2-1 ACC)

Last Week:
Bye

Pitt’s opponent this week is also coming off a bye, and will be looking to build on a very nice first six games.

This Week: Thursday at Pitt

7. Louisville (4-3, 2-2 ACC)

Last Week: Lost to Miami 52-45

Even though the Cardinals lost to Miami, they still get jump some teams for playing the Hurricanes very close. None of their losses on the season are all that bad, either.

This Week: Friday at Boston College
...


The middle of the pack is vast and volatile, ACC Power Rankings- Week nine (rubbingtherock.com; Farmer)

There’s a clear top and bottom to the ACC. Miami, Clemson, and SMU round out the top three, while Florida State, Virginia, Stanford, and Wake Forest hold steady at the bottom. The middle of the pack is much more interesting regarding the ACC power rankings. However, No. 4-13 could probably beat the other 9 on any given Saturday.

Let's start from the bottom. NC State hasn't been a good team this season. The Wolfpack have four wins by a combined 35 points to Western Carolina, Lousiana Tech, Northern Illinois, and California. To quote Sesame Street, "One of these is not like the others." The only thing saving NC State from being in the "bottom tier" is its win over Cal.

California has done well, kind of. The Golden Bears started hot with three straight wins, including one over Auburn. But since then, they've lost four in a row. The thing about Cal is it plays up or down to its competition. FSU isn't good, but Cal lost 14-9. Two weeks later, Miami — the No. 1 team in the rankings — needed some questionable calls to knock off California. Then the Bears play up to Pitt and down to NC State. They're by far the most confusing team in the ACC.


RankSchoolGame ResultPrevious rank
1MiamiW, Louisville 52-451
2ClemsonW, Viginia 48-312
3SMUW, Stanford 40-103
4PittsburghBYE6
5LouisvilleL, Miami 52-454
6Virginia TechW, Boston College 42-217
7Georgia TechL, Notre Dame 31-135
8SyracuseBYE9
9DukeW, Florida State 23-1611
10CaliforniaL, NC State 24-238
11Boston CollegeL, Viginia Tech 42-2110
12North CarolinaBYE12
13NC StateW, California 24-2314
14Florida StateL, Duke 23-1613
15VirginiaL, Clemson 48-3115
16StanfordL, Stanford 40-1016
17Wake ForestW, UConn 23-2017

At the top, we have Louisville, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech. All Three have shown flashes of greatness while falling flat on their faces later. None of them have a chance of making the ACC Championship, but one or two could play a spoiler role if the top-3 aren't careful.
...


What's at stake in Week 9, TV-wise (RX; HM)

What's at stake in Week 9, TV-wise
Every school wants their football team to play on ABC, and if not that, ESPN at least. Sometimes the networks want to see who wins the previous weekend before they decide between two or more games. That is the case this week in a big way...

ACC Games on six day hold

  • Louisville at Clemson
  • Duke at Miami
  • Stanford at NC State
  • Pitt at SMU
  • Va Tech at Syracuse
  • N Carolina at Florida St
TV Options for the ACC: 12 pm on ABC, ESPN, ACCN, or CW; 3:30 pm on ACCN; 7:30 pm on ABC, or ESPN, or 8 pm ACCN.

SEC TV Options

12 pm on ABC or ESPN, or 12:45 pm on SECN
  • Vanderbilt at Auburn
  • Ole Miss at Arkansas
7:30 pm on ABC or ESPN, or 7:45 pm on SECN
  • Kentucky at Tennessee
  • Texas A&M at S Carolina
That's a total of 10 games for 10 TV slots, with some restrictions of course.
To help us understand the possibilities, I've put the TV slots into a table, along with some known games:


Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024
NetworkNoon3:30 PM7:30 PM
ABCACCFlorida vsACC
or SECGeorgia*or SEC
ESPNACCTexas TechACC
or SECat Iowa Stor SEC
ESPN2MemphisNavyTCU
at UTSAat Riceat Baylor
CWACC
TBD
ACCNACCACCACC
TBDTBDTBD
ESPNUToledo
at E Mich
SECNSECUmass atSEC
TBDMiss StTBD
FoxOhio StK State
at Penn Stat Houston
CBSAir ForceOregon
at Armyat Michigan


Hopefully that helps some, but I think we can break it down even further. First, who do the teams play this week who are competing for these TV slots next week?

Week 9 Schedules

Here are this week's SEC games, with "on hold" teams in bold:
  • Oklahoma at 18 Ole Miss
  • Arkansas at Miss. State
  • 21 Missouri at 15 Alabama
  • 5 Texas at 25 Vanderbilt
  • 8 LSU at 14 Texas A&M
  • Auburn at Kentucky
  • Tennessee and S. Carolina are both idle.
Here are this week's ACC games, again with "on hold" teams in bold:
  • Syracuse at 19 Pitt
  • Louisville at Boston College
  • Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech
  • North Carolina at Virginia
  • Wake Forest at Stanford
  • Oregon State at California
  • Florida State at 6 Miami
  • 22 SMU at Duke
  • Clemson and NC State are both idle.
But how might the decision process go? Let's see if we can guess...

Noon TV Slot

The SEC has two games for this time and two TV slots, so one game will end up on the SECN and the other will either go to ABC or ESPN. Similarly, the ACC has to fill one slot on the ACCN and one on the CW, but that means one game will end up on either ABC or ESPN. Let's assume for now that Stanford/NC State, VT/Syracuse, and UNC/FSU are all out of the running - that leaves the following games possibly competing for that noon kickoff on ABC:
  • Vanderbilt at Auburn
  • Ole Miss at Arkansas
  • Louisville at Clemson
  • Duke at Miami
  • Pitt at SMU
...

2024 Jason Witten Award Semifinalists (RX; HM)

2024 Jason Witten Award Semifinalists

From the official ACC release of Tuesday, October 22, 2024...

Syracuse’s Barron, North Carolina’s Rucker Tabbed Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalists

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference had a pair of football players in Justin Barron of Syracuse and Kaimon Rucker of North Carolina named semifinalists for the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award, it was announced on Tuesday.
Barron has been stellar this season for the Orange. Tabbed the ACC Linebacker of the Week and Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week on October 14, Barron switched positions from a defensive back to linebacker early this year after injuries to the position group. He is second on the team with 41 total tackles, including 18 solo stops, and has added 3.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack, one interception, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery and a team-high four quarterback hurries.
A team captain in 2023, Barron worked with numerous organizations this past year. He has volunteered with Syracuse City Schools meeting with and reading to local children, participated in Syracuse football's neighborhood cleanup program where they clean trash off sidewalks and roadways on city streets, volunteered at the Salvation Army by preparing clothing, as well as both the Rescue Mission and Samaritan Center preparing and serving food. He has met with veterans and their families at Clear Path for Veterans, worked at the CNY Diaper Bank, participated in the CNY Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Walk, worked on charity events with the Syracuse Mets, prepared boxes of food at the Syracuse Food Bank, completed community service initiatives at the Walter Camp Foundation dinner in Connecticut, while he was there for their awards dinner and visited a Veterans hospital during the Boca Raton Bowl week, meeting with disabled veterans. He has also used his Name, Image and Likeness for good causes and partnered with a local smoothie shop to raise nearly $3,000 for charity through a player charity promotion.
...


FSU/UM Win Trends, 2017-24 (RX; HM)

FSU/UM Win Trends, 2017-24
It's "Sunshine State Rivalry" Week, so let's do something fun: let's look at win trends for the Noles and the Canes, starting with the Noles.

Florida State visits Miami Saturday at 7:00 pm on ESPN

Florida State

Florida State's 1-6 start has a lot of Seminole fans questioning the direction the football program is heading, but a look at wins and losses by year tells an interesting story in my opinion...

Florida State, 2017-24*
YearALLACCOOCgraph (wins)
20177-63-54-1*******
20185-73-52-2***
20196-74-42-3****
20203-62-61-0***
20215-74-41-3*****
202210-35-35-0**********
202313-19-04-1*************
2024*1-61-50-1******
Total50-4331-3219-11(5 games to play)


I'd have to say that until this season the football program has been on what looks like a pretty clear upward trend. Is this season a total disaster for Florida State? Yes! Does that mean it's floundering aimlessly? Not necessarily. I definitely think the CFP "snub" hurt the program last year, but I think the way the team handled it - by essentially giving up on the Orange Bowl, followed by a mass exodus of the best players - is the real reason why it's struggling so much this year.

Miami

But there's another ACC football team in Florida. What about the Hurricanes? Let's see...
Miami Hurricanes, 2017-24*
YearALLACCOOCgraph (wins)
201710-37-23-1**********
20187-64-43-2*******
20196-74-42-3******
20208-37-21-1********
20217-55-32-2*******
20225-73-52-2*****
20237-63-54-1*******
2024*7-03-04-0************
Total57-3736-2521-12(5 games to play)


Finding a clear trend for the Hurricanes is much harder to do, and I think that's because of two factors: the impact of "Coastal Chaos" and the variability of Miami's non-conference schedule as compared to Florida State's. When the ACC had divisions, the Atlantic was by far the more stable of the two
...
Other

Here’s why Micron is running behind in New York, and what it means to historic project (PS; $; Coin)


Just over two years ago, Micron Technology announced it would build, with substantial help from taxpayers, the nation’s largest chipmaking complex in the northern suburbs of Syracuse.

Construction was scheduled to start in June 2024. That was pushed back to early 2025. And now, groundbreaking won’t start until at least November 2025, nearly a year and half behind the original schedule.

At the same time, all of the other major chipmakers that have won big awards from the federal CHIPS Act are putting up factories and installing equipment across the country. Even Micron is pouring 30,000 tons of concrete a week at a chip plant it’s building — in Idaho.

In the town of Clay, however, the 1,400-acre site where Micron proposes to build four massive factories remains heavily forested and brimming with wetlands. Micron’s only presence there are several plywood signs.

The main reason for the holdup? Micron hasn‘t finished the massive environmental impact report required by the state and federal governments to move the project forward.

It’s a complicated task. The draft environmental impact statement will be thousands of pages long and must analyze in detail the project‘s effects on everything from air pollution and traffic to its impact on the housing market to details about its construction timelines.

And even after it submits that document to federal and local governments, that will jumpstart a series of public hearings and reviews likely to take many more months.

Most of the other big chipmakers don‘t have to submit that big report thanks to a new law signed by President Biden last month. Micron didn‘t qualify for that break in New York. Even if it had, the state’s environmental review is just as time-consuming.

It’s not unusual for timelines to be pushed back on construction projects, and it’s likely rescheduling will continue for this one, which promises to be the biggest single manufacturing project in New York state history. A Micron official conceded last year that the initial timeline had been “aggressive.”
...


Y7ZAW4OAZNC4TJG4N35PULHQMU.jpg

The new retail plaza at the corner of Erie Boulevard East and Bridge Street in DeWitt. Provided photo

A new shopping plaza is coming to a busy suburban corner near Syracuse (PS; Doran)

A new shopping plaza is coming to the corner of Erie Boulevard East and Bridge Street, right next door to a new Chick-Fil-A.

The small shopping plaza already has two tenants, a Supercuts and a new Tropical Smoothie Cafe, said Grazi Zazzara Jr. a local developer who owns the parcel and the new retail plaza.

Zazzara said the plaza has a 2,500 square-foot space that still can be leased.

The plaza should open by the end of the year.

Construction on the Chick-fil-A next door is expected to start soon. The Ski Company is also nearby.

After 48 years, a Marshall Street shop selling Syracuse Orange gear is closing down (PS; $; Cazentre)
Brian Tarrant rolled up the shirt, hat and other Syracuse Orange-themed gear he’d just purchased and reached over to shake hands with the man who just sold it to him.

“Congratulations on a great career,” Tarrant said to Dave Jacobs, the owner and chief sales clerk at the Shirt World shop near the Syracuse University campus. “It was bad news to hear, but you deserve to go out like this.”

The bad news Tarrant mentioned was the decision by Jacobs and his wife Sandra to close Shirt World this weekend. The shop at 125 Marshall Street that specializes in SU-themed sportswear was founded in 1976 by Jacobs' parents, Richard and Sonia.

“Thanks man, that means a lot,” Jacobs said to Tarrant on Monday afternoon as shoppers poured into the store, lured by news of the closing and what the shop bills as a “huge” going-out-of-business sale. “And look at this crowd.”

Both men are former SU football players, and Tarrant, a former defensive end who graduated in 1996, said he’s been shopping at Shirt World since his playing days.

“This was always the place to get your Syracuse stuff,” said Tarrant, now a business executive in Las Vegas who maintains ties with the SU program. “For me, it always will be.”

Jacobs is a former All-American kicker who stands today as the 9th leading scorer in Orange football history. His family opened the sports shop on Marshall Street while he was still in school and setting kicking records in the late 1970s.
...
 
The ESPN thing outlines the ACC vs SEC issue

On one path that say the 2-3 loss SEC team gets in because of good losses.
On the other path they say the losing ACC championship team goes out because of a good loss but the non playing ACC team gets in..

BIAS

But I do think its true that SU running the table and beating Miami and not playing in the game is the best chance to make it.
 

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