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[QUOTE="SWC75, post: 3632752, member: 289"]
[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/syracuse/2001.html[/URL]

vs.

[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/syracuse/2018.html[/URL]

The 2018 team was two plays from being 11-1, in which case they would have won the division and been favored to win the ACC championship game. they would have had to have bene considered for the playoff, (which they still wouldn't have gotten: 
[URL="https://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings/_/poll/21/week/15/year/2018/seasontype/2"]2018 College Football Rankings for Week 15 | ESPN[/URL] )

They both ran and passed for more yards. Their rush defense was slightly better than in 2001 but their pass defense was significantly worse. Both teams had a big advantage in turnover ratio. The 2001 team was actually out-gained by 30 yards a game. But they had the greatest player on either team: Dwight Freeney, a guy who could change games all by himself. The other team would just stop running plays in his direction or trying to throw deep. their quarterback would get punch drunk by the second half. Freeney vs. Dungey would have been interesting. 2001 also had the best running back: James Mungro. But they had no one who caught 20 passes! The 2018 had four guys catch 40 passes.

Both teams had disappointing performances in late-season confrontation, (0-59 vs. Miami and 3-36 vs. Notre Dame). Both won minor bowl games decisively.  None of the 16 teams in between them were nearly as good as either team.
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