Preview: Syracuse and No. 1 Clemson Meet in Primetime ACC Showdown

SYRACUSE (1-1, 0-0 ACC) VS. #1 CLEMSON (2-0, 1-0 ACC)
Game Details: 7:30 p.m. | Saturday, Sept. 14
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | The Dome
Game Links: Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television: ABC
Radio: Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield IMG College
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes(PDF)
Clemson Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes(PDF)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse (1-1, 0-0 ACC) hosts reigning national champion and top-ranked Clemson (2-0, 1-0 ACC) in a primetime ACC Atlantic Division showdown on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Dome. Kickoff is slated for 7:30. Saturday's game will be nationally televised on ABC with Syracuse University alum Sean McDonough, Kirk Herbstreit and Maria Taylor on the call.

The game marks the Orange's second ABC "Saturday Night Football" appearance since the network began devoting its primetime slot to college football in 2006. The first time Syracuse appeared on the sport's premier weekly television franchise was on Sept. 27, 2014 when it squared off against No. 8 Notre Dame at Metlife Stadium..

The contest also headlines the University's Orange Central/Homecoming Weekend. The Orange will retire all-time sacks leader Tim Green's jersey at halftime and also recognize the 60th anniversary of the 1959 national championship team during the game.

FULL HOUSE
A capacity crowd of more than 49,057 will be on hand to watch the Orange and Tigers. It's the ninth football sellout in Dome history and first since the 1998 season opener versus Tennessee. The gathering also marks the 38th time a crowd of 49,000+ will be in the stadium to witness an Orange football game.

AGAINST THE BEST
Since the start of the Associated Press poll in 1936, the Orange has faced the AP's top-ranked team 11 times before and is 1-10 in those games. On Sept. 29, 1984, Syracuse upset No. 1 Nebraska 17-9 at the Dome for its only win against the nation's top team. The victory ended Nebraska's 23-game, regular-season winning streak.

The Tigers are the sixth AP No. 1 team to come to the Dome. In addition to previously mentioned Nebraska, the Orange hosted No. 1 Miami in 1992 and 2002, No. 1 Florida State in 2014 and No. 1 Clemson in 2015.

DETHRONING THE CHAMPS
Saturday's matchup marks the 10th time the Orange will face the reigning national champion since the inception of the Associated Press poll in 1936. Syracuse is 3-6 in those meetings, including a win over 2016 College Football Playoff winner Clemson in its last opportunity.

In 2017, the Orange topped the Tigers 27-24 at the Dome behind QB Eric Dungey's 278 yards passing and three touchdowns. Dungey also made the game's key play, stretching for a critical first down on third-and-8 during Syracuse's last possession that allowed the Orange to run out the clock.

The Orange also have wins over Penn State (1987) and Michigan (1998) the year after they were crowned national champions.

ORANGE IN HOME OPENERS
Syracuse is 91-32-4 in home openers – a record that excludes the 1979 season when the Orange played all their games on the road due to the construction of the Dome – and the 1889 season when Syracuse did not play a home game.

Since the Dome opened in 1980, Syracuse is 16-16 in home starters. The Orange boast a current six-game winning streak in home openers.

Clemson is the first Power-Five opponent Syracuse has started its home slate with since Northwestern in 2012 and the first conference opponent for the Orange in their initial home game since beginning the 2005 season at the Dome versus West Virginia.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting is the eighth all-time pairing between Syracuse and Clemson. The Tigers hold a 5-2 advantage in the series, including a 2-1 margin in games played at the Dome.

Syracuse won the first matchup – the 1996 Gator Bowl – by the score of 41-0. Future Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison hauled in seven receptions for 173 yards and QB Donovan McNabb threw for 309 yards in the win. Both figures stand as series highs versus the Tigers and as Syracuse bowl records.

The Tigers were Syracuse's first ACC opponent after the Orange joined the conference in 2013. Clemson spoiled Syracuse's debut in its new league, winning 49-14 in the Dome on Oct. 5, 2013.

The last two meetings have been one-possession games. The Orange defeated the Tigers 27-24 in 2017 at the Dome, while Clemson returned the favor 27-23 last season in Death Valley.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Clemson enters Saturday's game riding the nation's longest winning streak at 17 games. The Tigers ran the table last season, going 15-0 to win the national championship, and are 2-0 in 2019.

Dabo Swinney took over as Clemson's head coach midway through the 2008 season. He owns a 118-30 (.797) record and has guided the Tigers to two national titles in the last three years.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who made his first collegiate start against the Orange last season, has thrown 32 TD passes and has been picked off just seven times in his collegiate career. Backfield mate Travis Etienne is averaging 9.2 yards per carry this season. The junior rushed for 203 yards against Syracuse last season and put up 205 in Clemson's 2019 opener versus Georgia Tech.

The wide-receiver duo of Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins combined to catch 21 touchdown passes last season. Ross was a 1,000-yard receiver, while Higgins was just shy at 936 yards.

Defensively, Isaiah Simmons' 16 tackles tops the Clemson chart, but depth has been the mark of the unit through two games. Sixteen different players have at least four tackles, 12 have at least half a tackle for loss, eight have at least half a sack, and seven have a pass breakup heading into Week 3.

UP NEXT
Syracuse continues its three-game homestand next Saturday against Western Michigan. The Orange and Broncos kick off at noon on ACC Network.

Season and single-game tickets are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and in person at the Dome Box Office located in the Ensley Athletic Center. Season tickets start at $125.

For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).

Preview: Syracuse and No. 1 Clemson Meet in Primetime ACC Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Eric Dungey

Syracuse University Athletics