Orangeyes Daily Articles for Monday for Football

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SU News

How close did Syracuse come to playing for spot in ACC title game this weekend? We have an answer (PS; Mink)

Syracuse will host one of the most meaningful games of the college football season this weekend with Miami (Fla.) playing for a spot in the ACC title game.

This year, having more than one conference loss sunk an ACC team’s hopes of playing for a league title.

In Syracuse, fans will look back on the early season loss to Stanford (3-8, 2-6 ACC) as the most head-scratching result in Fran Brown’s first season.

The early November loss at Boston College (6-5, 3-4) felt just as deflating, given the Eagles played much of the game with a backup quarterback and opted to put the ball in the air all of 13 times.

But given how the season has played out, the clunker in Pittsburgh will go down as perhaps the Orange’s most devastating defeat to its title hopes.

How so?

If all prior ACC results hold, a potential 7-1 league record, with wins over Stanford and Boston College, still wouldn’t have been enough for Syracuse to reach the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte.

ACC tie-breaker rules show Syracuse would have still finished behind Clemson and Southern Methodist based on its record vs. common conference opponents all played equal times (1-1). And Clemson would have edged Syracuse for the ACC’s No. 2 team based on its record vs. common conference opponents all played equal times (3-1).

In other words, Pitt sunk Syracuse.
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GALLERY: Syracuse Football hosts UConn on Senior Day (cnycentral.com; photo gallery)

https://www.syracuse.com/orangelacr...football-dispatches-stubborn-huskies.html(PS; Carlson)

Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord continued collecting some of the most prestigious passing records in school history on Saturday, setting a new high-water mark at SU for single-season passing yards and tying the mark for touchdowns in a single year.

McCord completed 37 of 47 passes for a career-high 470 yards and two touchdowns during a 31-24 win over UConn, and wide receiver Darrell Gill Jr. demolished his previous career bests with nine catches and 177 yards.

With one game remaining, McCord has 3,946 passing yards for the season, moving past Ryan Nassib’s 3,749 and positioning himself to become the program’s first 4,000-yard passer.

McCord has 26 touchdown passes, tying Nassib’s total in 2012. He fell 12 yards short of Nassib’s record of 482 passing yards in a single game.

The Orange (8-3, 4-3 ACC) moved the ball for 538 yards of offense against a UConn (7-4) team that has compiled strong defensive numbers without playing anyone nearly as potent as the Orange. Syracuse struggled to finish drives, missing a pair of field goals in the first half, settling for another field goal in the second half and turning the ball over on downs to open the third quarter.

The inability to turn drives into points kept the game in question deep into the fourth quarter when the Orange needed big plays and a recovered onside kick to finally dispatch the stubborn Huskies.

UConn’s final chance ended when Gill safely fielded an onside kick with 1:27 remaining, keeping the Huskies from earning a potential final drive to try and tie the game.
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The family of Syracuse coach Dick MacPherson accepts his Ring of Honor recognition during halftime as the Syracuse Orange clashed with the University of Connecticut Huskies at JMA Wireless Dome Saturday, November 23, 2024. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com)N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com

‘It’s joyous’: Syracuse commemorates Dick MacPherson with ‘fitting spot’ in Ring of Honor (PS; $; Lacy Jr)

College Football Hall of Fame football coach Dick MacPherson took his rightful place among Syracuse royalty with his spot in the Ring of Honor inside the JMA Wireless Dome during halftime of Saturday’s game against UConn.

MacPherson’s family was in attendance as Syracuse University honored the program’s third-winningest football coach.

The family received a Ring of Honor jacket and a framed image of a replica Ring of Honor ring. MacPherson’s grandsons and former SU players Cameron and Macky MacPherson were among the family members to honor the coach.

“It’s joyous. It’s a little bit difficult because he’s not with us anymore, but we know he’s with us in spirit,” Macky MacPherson said. “And I think to be able to represent not only him but to represent our family as well on that field today has been a tremendous thing.

“To see the community rally around us and to say such wonderful things; the number of people I’ve reached out to, myself, my mom, my brother Cameron here. It’s been unbelievable, the number of Coach Mac stories that were pouring in.”
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Edge Deangelo Thompson flips commitment from FAU to Syracuse, discusses decision (247sports.com; McAllister)

Syracuse football has flipped class of 2025 Miami (FL) Northwestern edge prospect Deangelo Thompson. Thompson took an official visit to Central New York this weekend and was previously committed to Florida Atlantic University (FAU). FAU, however, is going through a coaching change and that caused Thompson to look around. Thompson is listed at 6-4, 215 pounds. He also held offers from Florida International, Temple, Troy, Tulane and others. He had been committed to the Owls since July. He is rated a three star prospect by 247Sports.

"As a kid, I always wanted to live in New York and me getting the opportunity to play at Syracuse shows me your dreams really can come true," Thompson said. "I'm truly thankful for the opportunity that the coaching staff is giving me. I've been receiving love the whole time Syracuse's been recruiting me. After taking my official visit I feel like this would be the best spot for me because it just feels so right in my hear. It's a feeling like a home away from home. My family loves it and I love it. We've been through so much so we are truly thankful. I'm a kid from Miami who only left the state twice, Syracuse being my second time. So I just truly feel so blessed and very thankful."
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Jaxson Gates commits to Syracuse, discusses decision (247sports.com; McAllister)

Syracuse football has landed a commitment from class of 2026 La Verne (CA) Damien athlete Jaxson Gates. Gates visited Syracuse over the weekend and attended the Orange's win over UConn on Saturday. That trip was enough to seal the deal for Gates, who is being recruited as a cornerback.

"The biggest reason I decided to choose Cuse is because the program is on the rise," Gates said. "Coach Fran has done so much to the program in just one year and with him being the DB coach, I know he can develop me into the best player possible."

During the visit, Gates said it was not one specific thing that clinched his decision. It was the simply the way he was treated and getting a feel for the environment at Syracuse.

"Just the environment," Gates said. "I loved the coaching staff. The way they interacted with me meant a lot to me and my family."

Gates was also in attendance the week prior when Syracuse beat Cal as a guest of Cal. That is two weeks in a row he checked out Orange victories in person.

Syracuse was the only school to offer at this juncture in his recruitment. The offer came last month. He was receiving interest from schools like Cal, Utah, San Diego State and UCLA. Gates had 30 tackles, eight passes defensed and one fumble recovery during his junior season. He was named to the All Baseline League Second Team this past season.
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Syracuse Football SCORES Verbal Commitm
ent from 2026 3️ DB Jaxson Gates | Syracuse Orange Podcast podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Orange Football Head Coach Fran Brown secured his second verbal commitment of the class of 2026 from three-star cornerback Jaxson Gates. Gates chose Syracuse due to the program being on the rise and Fran Brown's history of teaching defensive backs at Georgia. Gates joins fellow 2026 three-star D'Antae Sheffey as Syracuse's high school recruiting current class.

Jackson Holzer gives his thoughts on Syracuse's latest commit on this mini edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.

Fran Brown to Land 2025 4️ Kaylib Singleton to Syracuse Football? | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse; premieres at 11 AM EST)

Syracuse Orange Football is predicted by Rival Recruiting Analyst John Garcia to land 2025 four-star cornerback Kaylib Singleton. Singleton would be Fran Brown's second four-star recruit in the class, along with Demetres Sameul. Singleton would also be the fourth cornerback in the Orange's 2025 high school recruiting class.

Jackson Holzer gives his thoughts on this latest recruiting prediction on this mini edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.

Don McPherson on the past, present and future of SU football; Was Coach Jack right to call out fans? (youtube; podcast; Syracuse Orange)

On this episode of Syracuse Sports presented by Crouse Health, Brent Axe addresses SU women's basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack calling out SU fans for not going to the JMA Wireless Dome in bigger numbers to support her team. Brent discusses if she was right to call out SU fans and what solution there is (if at all) to get more fans to the games.

Brent also chats with Orange QB legend Don McPherson, who finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1987. Axe and McPherson discuss Kyle McCord's seismic impact on the Orange in just one season, how SU will move on from the record-setting QB and if alumni relations with former players is improving under Fran Brown. Brent and Don also share memories and stories of former SU coach Dick MacPherson, who was recently inducted onto the Ring of Honor at the JMA Dome.

Episode 505- Syracuse Football/Basketball: Orange in NY/UConn Postgames/Fan Feedback! (youtube; podcast; Cuse Militia)

What's up Cuse Nation?!?! A lot to go over here. First we'll talk some Syracuse basketball going 0-2 in NYC. Then, we'll talk about the win over UConn for Syracuse football. And of course, get your thoughts on all of it too!

Syracuse Football: It's an honor to have record-setting QB Kyle McCord play for 'Cuse (itlh; Adler)

Over the weekend, Syracuse football senior quarterback Kyle McCord had some touching sentiments regarding his tenure on the Hill, and I know that the vast majority of Orange fans feel precisely the same way about him.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCord, a former five-star prep recruit who hails from Mount Laurel, N.J., transferred to the 'Cuse this past off-season to spend his senior year competing for first-year head coach Fran Brown and his top-flight staff.

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The decision by McCord, a four-star transfer from Ohio State, to suit up for the Orange was one of numerous transfer-portal recruiting wins for Brown and his assistants ahead of the 2024 campaign.

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Syracuse Football: I'm beyond tired of College GameDay gushing over the SEC, Big Ten (itlh; Adler)

It's widely known that Syracuse football is one of only several power-four conference schools that has yet to see ESPN's widely popular program, College GameDay, visit its campus.

And that won't transpire during the 2024 season. Per a post on X, in week 14, College GameDay will be in attendance this coming Saturday night as Texas A&M hosts in-state rival Texas in a Southeastern Conference showdown.

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This past Saturday afternoon, the Orange defeated non-conference foe UConn at the JMA Wireless Dome, on senior day, by seven points. After that 'Cuse win, first-year head coach Fran Brown made his pitch for College GameDay to head to the Hill on November 30, when Syracuse football (8-3, 4-3 in the ACC) will host top-10 Miami in the 2024 regular-season finale for the Orange.

"There will be no better place to be next week. I can’t wait for those guys to hopefully accept the challenge," Brown said, per a piece by Brent Axe of Syracuse.com.
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Syracuse football: Orange continue building winning culture (TNIAAM; Wall)

The Syracuse Orange dominated the UConn Huskies in every category but the final score. Fans were upset by the second straight game which came down to an onside kick recovery, but let’s take a step back.

Syracuse moved to 8-3 in a game where they lost Trebor Pena at halftime. A game they played without Marcellus Barnes, Jayden Bellamy and Alijah Clark in the secondary. A game where they had two touchdowns wiped out by penalties and two missed field goals. As they have all season, the Orange were their own biggest opponent, but they made enough plays to win for the eighth time this season.

This is the fifth season since 2000 where the Orange have won at least 8 games. No matter what you think about the strength of schedule, or the missed opportunities, Syracuse heads into next week’s final game against Miami with a chance to tie the highest-win total since 2000.

Back in spring we heard Fran Brown tell his team this message

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Syracuse football PFF Grades: Orange’s young defensive linemen playing among the best in their class (PS; $; Carlson)

Only one first-year player in the country has taken more snaps on the defensive line this season than Syracuse’s Maraad Watson. Only 22 second-year players have been asked to play more than SU sophomore Rashard Perry.

The Orange’s young defensive tackles are holding their own at a young age and were among Syracuse’s four highest-graded defensive players by Pro Football Focus during a 31-24 win over UConn, continuing a strong season for both at a position where years in the weight room are usually a critical part of success.

Perry ranks 23rd among second-year defensive linemen playing 288 snaps this season. Among defensive linemen in his class that have played at least 50 snaps he has the fourth-best PFF grade.

Watson has played 381 snaps on the defensive line this season, more than any first-year defensive lineman but one. New Mexico State’s Malaki Ta’ase has played 390. Watson’s PFF grade is 18th among defensive linemen in his class that have played at least 50 snaps.

Both underclassman been asked to play such large roles earlier than expected because of season-ending injuries to Dion Wilson, Kevin Jobity Jr. and Braylan Ingraham.

Together the pair held up well against UConn’s run game on Saturday, offsetting the strength of the Huskies’ offense.

UConn rushed for 124 yards against the Orange but that fell 76 yards below the season-average for the Huskies. UConn popped a couple of big plays but wasn’t able to churn out first downs on the ground, eliminating its best chance at a win.
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Syracuse football: three takeaways from SU’s 31-24 win over UConn (TNIAAM; Fowler)

On a record-setting day for QB Kyle McCord throwing the football, the Syracuse Orange edged the UConn Huskies 31-24 on Saturday inside the JMA Wireless Dome.

It wasn’t pretty but the win gave the Orange their first eight-win regular season since 2018, and the third since 2000. Here are our three three takeaways from SU’s win over UConn:

QB Kyle McCord, that’s it, that’s the takeaway​

McCord didn’t miss a beat against the Huskies, almost everything seemed to go the Ohio State transfer’s way over the 60 minutes. McCord set a career-long in passing yards last weekend at Cal, and seven days later, he did it again - 470 yards in the air on 34 completed passes (two passing touchdowns), his first 400-yard passing game this season.

Before the game started, former Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib held both Syracuse’s single-season passing yards and passing touchdowns record, but when the game ended, the same couldn’t be said. McCord’s 470 passing yards was more than enough to surpass the single-season passing yards record, now set at 3,946 (and counting), and his two passing touchdowns moved him into a tie for the single-season passing touchdowns set at 26 TDs.
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What was attendance for Syracuse-UConn football? It marked a season low (PS; Carlson)

Syracuse announced an attendance of 35,453 for its football game against UConn on Saturday, its lowest attendance of Fran Brown’s first season as the team’s coach.

The number was likely tamped down by the fact that some students left early for Thanksgiving weekend and the opponent, UConn, wasn’t particularly well regarded. The Orange also hosts a high-profile game next Saturday when Miami (Fla.) comes to the JMA Wireless Dome, a game that could match nationally ranked opponents.

Brown even made the case the ESPN’s “College GameDay” should pay a visit for the regular-season finale during his postgame press conference.

Syracuse is averaging 38,905 fans per game this season. Its previous low number this season came in its season opener against Ohio, when the school announced a crowd of 37,225.
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145 reactions | should’ve known by now Geno ❌ @garrett.williams3 : #AZvsSEA | FOX | Syracuse Football

should’ve known by now Geno ❌ @garrett.williams3 : #AZvsSEA | FOX.

www.facebook.com

Syracuse Football on Instagram: "these two, man catch @orondegii + @kylemccord and co. one last time in the Dome this Saturday vs Miami‼️ ️ Cuse.com/tickets"

cusefootball on November 24, 2024: "these two, man catch @orondegii + @kylemccord and co. one last time in the Dome this Saturday vs Miami‼️ ️ Cuse.com/tickets".

www.instagram.com

Dwayne Murray on Instagram: "Syracuse Football had a great win yesterday. I wonder if this little guy helped encourage the team."

5 likes, 0 comments - icyorange06 on November 24, 2024: "Syracuse Football had a great win yesterday. I wonder if this little guy helped encourage the team.".

www.instagram.com

Syracuse Football on Instagram: "PL44SED‼️ @tucker5timez : #TBvsNYG on CBS"

cusefootball on November 24, 2024: "PL44SED‼️ @tucker5timez : #TBvsNYG on CBS".

www.instagram.com

ACC News

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sp...-alabama-clemson/76396576007/(tennessean.com; Toppmeyer)

Greg Sankey’s X account went silent Saturday.

Nothing the SEC’s commissioner could tweet would erase the sting of a disastrous day in his conference’s quest to stack the College Football Playoff.

Just days ago, Sankey took to Elon Musk’s social media platform to stump for SEC teams’ playoff bona fides, posting a graphic that showed strength of schedule metrics favoring teams from Sankey’s conference.

By Sunday morning, Sankey’s propaganda campaign had withered. His most recent X activity shows a repost of a soccer score, because, why would Sankey post about the expanded conference he orchestrated cannibalizing itself on the football field?

Saturday began with six SEC teams in playoff contention.

By the end of another savage day in this feral season, three of those contenders had suffered a crippling third loss.

What seemed far-fetched a week ago – three bids for the ACC?!? – is now in play, because Florida, Oklahoma and Auburn wouldn’t roll over for Mississippi, Alabama and Texas A&M.

Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss Rebels puckered up tightly in The Swamp as their playoff hopes burst under Billy Napier’s thumb. So, yeah, I guess Florida isn't hiring Kiffin. Maybe, Ole Miss should hire Napier. Just kidding.

There’s no kidding about how the Rebels blew their season. They went 0 for 3 on red-zone opportunities against Florida. After Ole Miss went for broke on the offseason player-buying circuit, Mark Stoops and Napier spoiled Kiffin’s dream season. That’s gotta hurt.

The only silver lining for Kiffin is that Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer elbowed him out of the way for the day’s most embarrassing defeat. Send for DeBoer’s offensive guru card. Membership revoked after Alabama mustered three measly points in a loss at woebegone Oklahoma. The Sooners hadn’t beaten a Bowl Subdivision team in nearly two months until Alabama arrived in town.

Your turn, Texas A&M. In losing to Auburn in four overtimes, the Aggies somehow found a way to allow Auburn to score 43 points – the same Auburn that mustered seven points against Vanderbilt and leads the conference in turnovers.
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Friedlander: Biggest ACC takeaways from Week 13 (saturdaydownsouth.com; Friedlander)

It’s going to take until Tuesday night when the Playoff Committee unveils its newest rankings to find out for sure. But based on the chaos that has taken place around the country this weekend, things figure to shake out favorably for the ACC.

If nothing else, losses by Big 12 contenders BYU and Colorado on Saturday should solidify the ACC’s claim to a first-round bye for its champion.

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And while it’s still too early to know if the Committee will find an excuse to leapfrog another 2-loss SEC team ahead of 1-loss SMU and/or Miami again this week, defeats by No. 5 Indiana, No. 7 Alabama and No. 9 Ole Miss at least provide a realistic chance of 2 ACC teams being ranked in the top 10 heading into the final week of the regular season.

The 8th-ranked Hurricanes and No. 13 Mustangs kept that possibility on the table by avoiding the upset bug and remaining on track to meet for the conference championship in Charlotte in 2 weeks.

They went about their business in different manners. SMU led from start to finish on the way to a 33-7 beatdown of Virginia in Charlottesville to clinch their trip to Charlotte. Miami had to work a little harder before finally pulling away from Wake Forest in the fourth quarter for a 42-14 win to move within 1 win of joining the Mustangs there.

But the bottom line is the same.

The ACC leaders aren’t going to make it easy on the Committee if it’s intent on sticking it to the conference again this year.

That’s only one of the things we learned about the ACC in Week 12. Here are some of the other big takeaways from around the conference.

SMU’s best week ever. Or at least the past 40 years​

It’s been a big week for Mustangs.

On Friday, soon-to-be ACC Coach of the Year Rhett Lashlee was rewarded with a contract extension that will at least serve as a deterrent for programs thinking about luring him away. A day later, Lashlee’s team left no doubt about its status as an ACC frontrunner by dominating Virginia in all 3 phases of the game.
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ACC SURPRISE: GOOD NEWS for Miami, SMU, & Clemson! (youtube; podcast; College Football Addiction)

Breaking down a great day in the ACC after Saturday's matchups. Can the conference get more than one team in the College Football Playoff?

https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article295878434.html (N&O; Wiseman)

Having concluded another successful season of home football games at Wallace Wade Stadium, Duke hits the road to close the regular season with an important milestone in reach.

If the Blue Devils can beat Wake Forest, they’ll post the program’s first nine-win regular season since 2014.

Duke (8-3, 4-3 ACC) is in this position after beating Virginia Tech, 31-28, on Saturday night. That win gave Duke a 5-1 record at Wallace Wade Stadium, where the Blue Devils are 16-3 since the start of the 2022 season.

“There’s a lot of forward, positive momentum for our program,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “Just a lot of things pointing in the right direction for Duke football.”

Playing at Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5 ACC) offers a different set of challenges, though. Duke had gone from November 2022 until earlier this month without winning an ACC road game. The Blue Devils ended that hex with a 29-19 win at N.C. State on Nov. 9.

Now Duke wants to make it consecutive league road wins to allow it to finish its regular season at 9-3 for the first time since it held that exact regular-season record in 2014. The season prior, in 2013 when the Blue Devils made an ACC championship game appearance, Duke went 10-4. That is the only season with 10 or more wins in program history.
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ACC Football Review: SMU, Miami, Clemson Face Important Finales (SI; Curtis)

College football analysts across the country will tell you there is only one ACC game of significance on Thanksgiving weekend – Saturday’s Miam-Syracuse matchup in Syracuse.

That is clearly the most important game because if Miami wins, the Hurricanes will play in the ACC championship game against SMU, and if Miami loses, Clemson will play the Mustangs in the conference title game on December 7.

However, SMU and Clemson also play games on Saturday that could impact whether they get into the College Football Playoff.

Of course, the ACC title game will play in the College Football Playoff with a good chance to get a top-four seed and a first-round bye. We’re talking here about whether the loser of the conference championship game might also get into the 12-team postseason tournament, and there are a lot of ifs, ands and buts.

Let’s take a look -- and try to follow along:

No. 8 Miami (10-1, 6-1 ACC) at Syracuse (8-3, 4-3 ACC), 3:30 p.m. Eastern time​

Miami is ranked No. 8 in the AP poll this week, and the College Football Playoff rankings typically closely parallel the AP rankings.

Step one for the Hurricanes is pretty simple. If Miami beats Syracuse, the Hurricanes will play SMU in the ACC championship game. The Hurricanes would win a tiebreaker with Clemson for the second ACC championship game berth.

The Hurricanes would then move on to the College Football Playoff, probably with a first-round bye, if they beat the Mustangs on December 7.

If Miami beats Syracuse, but loses to SMU, the Hurricanes might be left out of the College Football Playoff entirely, although it would be a close call. How competitive Miami is in the conference title game might determine whether the Hurricanes are one of the 12 teams in the postseason playoff.

If Miami loses to Syracuse, the Hurricanes presumably would be out of the College Football Playoff mix. Miani losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse with its only notable win being a road victory over 7-4 Louisville would not make of an favorable impression on the CFP committee.
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https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/59...football-playoff-bracket-projections-week-13/ (nytimes.com; $; Mandel)

Well, Tuesday night’s rankings will be very interesting now that both Ole Miss and Alabama have three losses. The best guess here is 10-1 Indiana will fall from No. 5 to No. 10, one spot behind 10-1 SMU and ahead of the 9-3 Rebels and 9-3 Tide, putting the Hoosiers in line for one of the last at-large spots.

The ACC has a great shot now at two at-large berths. I have SMU losing to Miami in the conference championship game but remaining in the field. Keep an eye on 9-2 Clemson as well. Should the Tigers beat 8-3 South Carolina next week, they might pose a threat to Indiana. The Gamecocks, at 9-3, would get a strong push from SEC country, but I’m not sure how you rank them above Bama and Ole Miss — who both beat South Carolina — if they have the same record.

Finally, I may be in the minority, but I’m skeptical a 12-1 Mountain West champ Boise State would remain above 11-2 Big 12 champ Arizona State/Iowa State. In fact, don’t be surprised if the Sun Devils jump from No. 22 to within shouting distance of the Broncos — who beat a 2-9 Wyoming team 17-13 on Saturday — this week coming off their win over No. 14 BYU. I would not feel the same about BYU or Colorado.

Fun fact: If ASU does get the No. 4 seed, it will play a local quarterfinal game at the Fiesta Bowl.

Stewart Mandel's Week 13 Bracket
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ACC Power Rankings: Road to conference title game runs through Syracuse (PS; Axe)

The ACC Championship Game has one team locked in. Miami (Fla.) is looking to be the second team in and stay on a path to the College Football Playoff.

Syracuse stands right in the Hurricanes’ way.

Miami needs to beat the Orange on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome to remain on both of those paths.

It’s not exactly the way SU fans envisioned the road to the ACC title game running through Syracuse, but the Orange has a chance to play spoiler and finish its season with nine wins.

That’s what is cooking at the top of the ACC.

Throughout the league there are still plenty of teams looking to get to bowl eligibility or to just finish the season on a high note.

Here’s how I ranked the ACC this week:

1. Southern Methodist​

Record: 10-1 (7-0)

Last week’s rank: 1

Last week’s result: Win 33-7 over Virginia

This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. California, 3:30 p.m., ESPN 2

Why No. 1? SMU has locked up a spot in the ACC Championship game. Not bad for its first year in the league.

On the downside, given their schedule and the ACC’s lack of strength, blowing out a mediocre opponent is not likely to strengthen the Mustangs’ at-large case for the College Football Playoff.

2. Miami​

Record: 10-1 (6-1)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Last week’s result: Win 42-14 vs. Wake Forest

This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Syracuse, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Why No. 2? It’s the first 10-win season for Miami since 2017 and makes Mario Cristobal the seventh coach to have such a season for the Hurricanes. Now we get Cam Ward (343.1 ypg) and Kyle McCord (358.7 ypg), the top two passers in the FBS, facing off at the JMA Dome this week.

Yes please.

3. Clemson​

Record: 9-2 (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Last week’s result: Win 51-14 over The Citadel

This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. South Carolina

Why No. 3? The Tigers reached nine wins in a season for the 14th straight time. Only Alabama, which entered the season with 16 straight nine-win seasons, had a longer current streak. Now the Tigers wait to see if Miami slips against Syracuse to learn if it has a shot at the ACC title game.

4. Syracuse​

Record: 8-3 (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Last week’s result: Win over UConn 31-24

This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Miami 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Why No. 4? Syracuse is playing with house money this week against Miami as all the pressure is on the Hurricanes to clinch an ACC Championship bid and stay in the College Football Playoff conversation. With one game remaining, SU quarterback Kyle McCord has 3,946 passing yards for the season, moving past Ryan Nassib’s 3,749 and positioning himself to become the program’s first 4,000-yard passer.

5. Georgia Tech​

Record: 7-4 (5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Last week’s result: Win 30-29 over N.C. State

This week’s schedule: Friday at Georgia, 7:30 p.m., ABC

Why No. 5? Georgia Tech escaped with a 30-29 win over N.C. State on Thursday night after losing the lead with less than two minutes remaining. The Yellow Jackets barely stay ahead of the Blue Devils in the rankings based on a better resume of ACC wins.

6. Duke​

Record: 8-3 (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 6
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https://fightinggobbler.com/acc-foo...tech-continues-free-fall(fightinggobbler.com; Roche)

Week 13 is in the books for the 2024 season and we are down to one week with a lot at stake. SMU beat Virginia this past weekend to clinch a spot in the ACC title game in their first season in the conference. Their opponent will be determined this weekend. Miami will be their opponent with a win at Syracuse or Clemson if the Hurricanes trip up against the Orange.

The annual Commonwealth Cup will determine whose season is extended with a win and bowl game and whose will begin a long and cold off-season with a loss. If Virginia Tech loses, there will have to be changes, you would think. WIth that said, here is the next to last power rankings heading into the final week of the season.

ACC Football Power Rankings After Week 11​

17 Florida State Seminoles
2-9 | 11/30: vs. Florida

The Seminoles picked up a non-conference win over Charleston Southern at home and will close out a very disappointing season at home against the Gators on Saturday.

16 Stanford Cardinal
3-8 | 11/29: at San Jose State

The Cardinal wrapped ACC play in their first year in the conference with a loss to California on the road after holding a 21-7 over the Bears in the second half. Their two ACC wins this season? At Syracuse and home against Louisville. Go figure.

15 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
4-7 | 11/30: vs. Duke

The Demon Deacons put up a fight for one half against Miami on Saturday, but the loss means they'll miss a bowl game this season.

14 Virginia Cavaliers
5-6 | 11/30: at Virginia Tech

After losing at home SMU Saturday, the Cavaliers need a win at Lane Stadium on Saturday night to get to a bowl game in Tony Elliott's third season in Charlottesville.

13 Virginia Tech Hokies
5-6 | 11/30: vs. Virginia

Not much to say here at this point. Needing to beat Virginia next week just to become bowl-eligible is beyond disappointing.

12 North Carolina State Wolfpack
5-6 | 11/30: at North Carolina

The Wolfpack have their bowl hopes coming down with a trip to Chapel Hill next Saturday afternoon after losing at Georgia Tech Thursday night.

11 North Carolina Tar Heels
6-5 | 11/30: vs. NC State

There were some disappointments this past weekend, but the Tar Heels losing at Boston College the way they did is right up there. Not a great performance from Mack Brown's team.

10 California Golden Bears
6-5 | 11/30: at SMU

Trailing 21-7 in the second half to Stanford, the Golden Bears roaded back to win to become bowl-eligible with a very difficult matchup at SMU this upcoming weekend on the schedule to close out the regular season.

9 Boston College Eagles
6-5 | 11/30: vs. Pittsburgh

Bill O'Brien has the Eagles bowl-eligible in his first season in charge at Chestnut Hill after a convincing win over North Carolina on Saturday. They can improve their bowl game with a win over Pittsburgh at home this weekend.

8 Pittsburgh Panthers
7-4 | 11/30: at Boston College

If Virginia Tech fans think they have it rough, Pittsburgh fans are right there with you. The Panthers suffered their fourth straight loss at Louisville on Saturday. They will look to break their losing streak at BC before their bowl game.

7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
11/29: at Georgia

After a win over NC State, Brent Key, and his team get a trip to Athens Friday night to face a Bulldogs team that will play in the SEC title game on Dec. 7.

6 Louisville Cardinals
11/30: at Kentucky

After thumping Pitt, the Cardinals head to Lexington to close out the regular season against the Wildcats.

5 Syracuse Orange
8-3 | 11/30: vs. Miami

Fran Brown has the Orange on the verge of a nine-win season in his first season in New York and they face a massive game at home Saturday afternoon against Miami.

4 Duke Blue Devils
8-3 | 11/30: at Wake Forest

The Blue Devils held off the Hokies on Saturday night at home for their eighth win of the season and they have a golden opportunity for a nine-win season in Year 1 of the Manny Diaz era in Durham at Wake Forest on Saturday.

3 Miami Hurricanes
10-1 | 11/30: at Syracuse

Again, the Hurricanes let a team hang around, this time Wake Forest, before scoring the last 25 points for a win going away. It's going to be very interesting to see what happens at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday afternoon.
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ACC football Power Rankings entering Week 14 (usatoday.com; Lenix)

The 2024 college football regular season will come to an end next week. It’s been a weird year in the ACC as some teams started out hot and have fizzled out while others stumbled early and have gained some momentum.

There were six matchups within the ACC over the weekend. Home teams dominated by winning five of them. The lone win came from SMU as they moved to 7-0 in conference play and, more importantly, clinched a spot in the ACC Championship Game in the first season in the conference.

This leaves one spot in Charlotte up for grabs. Either Clemson or Miami will join SMU. The Tigers have finished their ACC schedule while the Hurricanes still have to play Syracuse on the road. A win for Miami, and they’re in, but a loss while have Clemson playing for a conference crown and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Six more conference matchups will take place next week to wrap things up in the ACC in 2024. With that being said, here are the power rankings entering Week 14.

17 FSU (2-9, 1-7 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 41-7 win over Charleston Southern
Analysis: The Seminoles had their best overall performance in Week 13. Now, they look to finish strong against the arch-rival Florida Gators.

16 Stanford (3-8, 2-6 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 24-21 loss to California
Analysis: The Cardinal end the season losing six of their last seven ACC games.

15 Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 42-14 loss to Miami
Analysis: The Demon Deacons will look to stop a four-game ACC losing streak against Duke next week.

14 NC State (5-6, 2-5 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 30-29 loss to Georgia Tech
Analysis: The Wolfpack looks to end a three-game conference losing streak on the road against North Carolina in Week 14.

13 California (6-5, 2-5 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 24-21 win over Stanford
Analysis: The Golden Bears look to ruin SMU’s perfect season in the ACC in Dallas next week.

12 North Carolina (6-5, 3-4 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 41-21 loss to Boston College
Analysis: The Tar Heels look to finish even in ACC play next week when they host NC State.

11 Boston College (6-5, 3-4 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 41-21 win over North Carolina
Analysis: The Eagles will try to give Pittsburgh a fifth consecutive loss when they host them in their season finale.

10 Pittsburgh (7-4, 3-4 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 37-9 loss to Louisville
Analysis: After being undefeated in conference play to start the season, the Panthers have completely fallen off the map with four consecutive ACC losses.

9 Virginia Tech (5-6, 3-4 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 31-28 loss to Duke
Analysis: The Hookies will battle Virginia next week and look to get their first ACC win since late October.

8 Virginia (5-6, 3-4 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 33-7 loss to SMU
Analysis: The Cavaliers have to hit the road to face Virginia Tech next weekend they try to avoid a three-game losing streak to end the season.

7 Syracuse (8-3, 4-3 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 31-24 win over UConn
Analysis: The Orange look to play spoiler and take Miami out of the ACC title game next week.

6 Duke (8-3, 4-3 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 31-28 win over Virginia Tech
Analysis: The Blue Devils can finish with a three-game ACC win streak with a victory on the road versus Wake Forest.

5 Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3 ACC)​

Week 13 result: 30-29 win over NC State
Analysis: The Yellow Jackets secured a winning record in the conference, and now look to knock arch-rival Georgia out of the College Football Playoff next week.

4 Louisville (7-4, 5-3 ACC)​

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AP Poll 2024 Nov 24 (RX; HM)

AP Poll 2024 Nov 24

We have a new AP poll, and there are some interesting changes for the ACC. First of all, there are now two ACC teams in the Top 10 (#8 Miami, #9 SMU) and a third team in the Top 12 (#12 Clemson). Notre Dame comes in at #5, and...

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AP Top 25
RK	Team	REC
1	Oregon	11-0
2	Ohio State	10-1
3	Texas	10-1
4	Penn State	10-1
5	Notre Dame	10-1
6	Georgia	9-2
7	Tennessee	9-2
8	Miami	10-1
9	SMU	10-1
10	Indiana	0-1
11	Boise State	10-1
12	Clemson	9-2
13	Alabama	8-3
14	Arizona St	9-2
15	Ole Miss	8-3
16	S Carolina	8-3
17	Iowa State	9-2
18	Tulane	9-2
19	BYU	9-2
20	Texas A&M	8-3
21	UNLV	9-2
22	Illinois	8-3
23	Colorado	8-3
24	Missouri	8-3
25	Army	9-1
Others receiving votes:
26	Kansas St	8-3
27	Memphis	9-2
28	Syracuse	8-3
29	Louisville	7-4
30	Wash. State	8-3
31	Duke	8-3
32	Louisiana	9-2
33	Florida	6-5
34T	LSU	7-4
34T	Georgia Tech	7-4

...there are four more ACC teams receiving votes (Pitt dropped out of that group after another loss).
This sets up some interesting matchups for Week 14:
#5 Notre Dame just needs to beat USC in Los Angeles to secure a CFP at-large bid and, likely, home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
#6 Georgia hosts #34 Georgia Tech. Everybody expects the Bulldogs to win, and rightly so, but if they lose, ooh, boy!
#8 Miami travels to New York state to face #28 Syracuse. If the Canes win, they are going to the ACC CG, but if the Orange win, they'll probably be ranked next week and Clemson replaces Miami in the ACC Championship Game.
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Saturday Early Results 2024 Nov 23 (RX; HM)

Saturday Early Results 2024 Nov 23​

Here are the results of the noon kickoff ACC games.
First, the Hurricanes move to 10-1, one win away from going back to the ACC Championship Game.

Wake Forest 14​

#8 Miami 42​

Wake Forest vs. Miami Game Highlights | 2024 ACC Football

ACCDN: The No.8 Miami Hurricanes scored 22 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to wrap up a 42-14 victory over Wake Forest. Miami's defense only allowed 50 yards in the second half and got plenty of help from the offense. Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and was responsible for 3 scores for UM, both of his touchdown passes went to receiver Jacolby George (7 Rec, 91 YDS). Elijah Arroyo amassed 79 yards on 6 catches and running back Jordan Lyle rushed for 115 yards on 7 catches. Wake's Hank Bachmeier passed for a score and running back Demond Claiborne made his presence felt with a 100-yard kickoff return for a score.
_____
Meanwhile, the Mustangs punched their ticket to the ACC CG by earning their 7th conference win.

#13 SMU 33​

Virginia 7​

SMU vs. Virginia Game Highlights | 2024 ACC Football

ACCDN: The No. 13 SMU Mustangs went on the road and had little trouble getting past Virginia, 33-7, earning a trip to the ACC Championship game in the Mustangs' first season in the league. Quarterback Kevin Jennings had yet another remarkable game, finishing the game with 323 yards on 25-33 passing with 2 passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and an interception in the win. SMU's defense was suffocating, holding the Wahoos to 173 total yards in the game, finishing with 9 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 2 takeaways for Rhett Lashlee's club.
_____
The Orange get their 8th win of the season, and a 5-1 home record to build some 2025 momentum.

UConn 24​

Syracuse 31​

UConn vs. Syracuse Game Highlights | 2024 ACC Football

ACCDN: The Orange were clicking on all cylinders in their 31-24 victory over UConn. Quarterback Kyle McCord was simply outstanding throwing the rock 47 times and finishing with 470 passing yards and was responsible for 3 scores. Oronde Gadsden II had 11 grabs for 103 yards and a score, and his fellow wideout Darell Gill Jr. registered 9 receptions for 177 yards for SU. 'Cuse had a third receiver go over 100 as Jackson Meeks had 7 receptions for 100 yards, and running back LeQuint Allen rushed for 58 yards and a score.
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Other

Conceptual image shows what Phase 1 of a 510-unit affordable housing project at the site of the former Syracuse Developmental Center at 800 S. Wilbur Ave. in Syracuse might look like. Albanese Organization and SWBR Architects

Construction to start next year on one of Syracuse’s biggest affordable housing projects in decades (PS; $; Moriarty)

Construction is scheduled to start next year on the biggest affordable housing development in Syracuse in decades.

Long Island-based Albanese Organization Inc. told city officials in a recent filing that it expects to close on financing in June for the $134 million first phase of the project on the city’s Westside.

Construction will begin sometime between July and September of next year will take three years to complete, the company said.

Albanese and a partner in the project, Syracuse-based Home HeadQuarters, are planning the build a total of 510 residential units at the site of the former Syracuse Developmental Center on South Wilbur Avenue.

Most of the new apartments will be reserved for people who make, on average, about $40,000 to $50,000 a year.

According to the plans filed with the city, Albanese will start work on two apartment buildings next year. There are a total of 261 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units in this first phase of the development.
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New Syracuse tax on hotel stays signed into law by NY Gov. Kathy Hochul (PS; Weiner)

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday signed into law a bill that allows Syracuse to charge a new lodging tax to visitors who stay in hotels or motels in the city.

The 2% room occupancy tax in Syracuse will be in addition to the 7% hotel and motel tax charged by Onondaga County.

State lawmakers passed a bill authorizing the tax earlier this year at the request of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and the Syracuse Common Council, which voted 8-0 in support of the law.

Walsh has said the tax would generate an estimated $1.5 million to $1.75 million a year in new revenue for Syracuse.

The extra tax money is part of a larger plan to help address a lingering budget gap, Walsh said. The city has dipped into reserve funds and used money from the federal American Rescue Plant Act to help balance its budget.

Syracuse won’t be able to start charging the hotel tax until it enacts local legislation authorizing the tax, likely early next year.

The new tax means visitors would pay an extra $3 per night for a hotel room priced at $150. The county tax on that room would be $10.50 per night.

Syracuse is among about a dozen municipalities that requested state authorization this year to begin charging a hotel tax.

Hochul on Friday also signed into law a bill authorizing the city of Cortland to begin charging a hotel and motel tax of up to 3% per night.

Last year, New York lawmakers authorized a 2% hotel tax for the town of DeWitt and a 5% hotel tax in the town of Skaneateles.



Local tourism officials had been critical of the new Syracuse tax. Danny Liedka, president of Visit Syracuse, told Syracuse lawmakers in May that the tax will make it tougher to attract conventions, especially as the number of hotels rooms in the city shrinks.
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Onondaga Nation plans a wild future for 1,000 acres of reclaimed land

Honeywell returned 1,000 acres of land in Tully Valley to Onondaga Nation in the one of the largest land transfers ever to an Indigenous nation. Video by Ste...

youtu.be

Onondaga Nation plans a wild future for 1,000 acres of reclaimed land (PS; $; Featherstone)

Tucked in a corner of a city park in Syracuse’s Valley neighborhood, sandwiched between two CNY thoroughfares, one ancient—Onondaga Creek—and one modern—West Seneca Turnpike—is a metal sculpture called “Honoring the Onondaga Creek.”

The sculpture depicts a person walking across the backs of a school of fish painted in bright primary colors like an illustration from a children’s book. It’s based on a story told by the late Onondaga Nation Chief Irving Powless, Sr. about the abundance of fish once found in Onondaga Creek.

Powless’s grandson, Brad Powless, first heard that story while fishing with his grandfather in the 1970s. He was among a small group of Onondaga Nation citizens who recently gathered on the bank of Onondaga Creek near Tully.

They’d come to talk about the unprecedented return in September of 1,000 acres of land to the Onondaga Nation, and along with it the headwaters of the creek that bears the name of their people.

“My grandfather was a woodsman and a fisherman, so I’m sure that he’s been here hunting and fishing,” Powless said, staring into the crystal-clear current that was somehow connected to the engineered, fenced-off, brown river winding through Syracuse 15 miles away.
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