10/21/2026 10:15:00 AM | Football
The Syracuse football team hits the road to North Carolina on Saturday for its third-straight ACC Network primetime matchup. Here's five things to know ahead of the game:
1. Hatcher to the House
Wide receiver Umari Hatcher is performing at an All-American level through the first half of the season. He's gone over the century mark in three-straight games and is coming off a 13 catch, 224 yard performance against Louisville.
Hatcher leads the nation in receptions (8.33 per game) and ranks third in the country in yards (130.7 yards per game). A midseason addition to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, Hatcher has earned ACC Receiver of the Week honors in two of the last-three weeks.
This week's matchup will provide a good test against one of the better passing defenses in the ACC. North Carolina has allowed just two receivers to go for more than 80 yards in a game this season: Notre Dame's Jordan Faison (132) and Duke's Nate Sheppard (98).
2. Back-to-Back Home Games Await
Syracuse ended a 35-day stretch away from the Loud House last week by hosting Louisville. The Orange's final five remaining games after Carolina will feature three at home, beginning with back-to-back games against No. 23 SMU and Clemson.
Tickets for remaining home games are available at Cuse.com/FootballTickets! Don't miss a minute of the action and secure your seats today!
3. Quarterback Questions
Syracuse is one-of-four schools in the country to have started three different quarterbacks at this point in the season. The group has played well through the injuries to the room, as the Orange are the only school with three different players to pass for 300+ yards in a game this season.
Despite five different quarterbacks seeing action already this season, the Orange coaching staff has put the group in position to be 12th nationally in passing offense at the midway point of the year.
Steve Angeli started the first three games, before missing the last three. Amari Odom started the UConn game, but has missed each of the last two contests due to injury. Malachi Nelson earned the start against both Virginia and Louisville, but left each due to injury with Danny Lauter finishing the game. Freshman Zaid Lott also saw a snap against the Cardinals.
Head Coach Fran Brown wasn't able to name this week's starter in his Monday press conference, noting that the player who'll get the nod will depend on how the week transpires.
4. Series History
This is the ninth meeting between 'Cuse and Carolina, with the Tar Heels leading the series 5-3. Two of the last-five matchups have gone to multiple overtimes.
The teams have played four times previously as conference opponents. The two programs were in opposite divisions when Syracuse joined the ACC, not meeting until the sixth season as conference members (2018). However the two teams will now have played three times in four seasons after the new scheduling model scrapped divisions.
5. It's Miller Time
Syracuse's running back by committee approach to start the season has yielded a 100-yard rusher in four of its first six games.
The feat has been accomplished by three different players as the Orange has rode the hot hand. Shavane Anderson Jr. (New Hampshire), Tylik Hill (UConn and Virginia) and Ahmad Miller (Louisville) have now all gone over the century mark in a game.
Miller ran for 6.8 yards per carry against the Cardinals, going for a season-best 123 yards on 18 carries in the contest.
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1. Hatcher to the House
Wide receiver Umari Hatcher is performing at an All-American level through the first half of the season. He's gone over the century mark in three-straight games and is coming off a 13 catch, 224 yard performance against Louisville.
Hatcher leads the nation in receptions (8.33 per game) and ranks third in the country in yards (130.7 yards per game). A midseason addition to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, Hatcher has earned ACC Receiver of the Week honors in two of the last-three weeks.
This week's matchup will provide a good test against one of the better passing defenses in the ACC. North Carolina has allowed just two receivers to go for more than 80 yards in a game this season: Notre Dame's Jordan Faison (132) and Duke's Nate Sheppard (98).
2. Back-to-Back Home Games Await
Syracuse ended a 35-day stretch away from the Loud House last week by hosting Louisville. The Orange's final five remaining games after Carolina will feature three at home, beginning with back-to-back games against No. 23 SMU and Clemson.
Tickets for remaining home games are available at Cuse.com/FootballTickets! Don't miss a minute of the action and secure your seats today!
3. Quarterback Questions
Syracuse is one-of-four schools in the country to have started three different quarterbacks at this point in the season. The group has played well through the injuries to the room, as the Orange are the only school with three different players to pass for 300+ yards in a game this season.
Despite five different quarterbacks seeing action already this season, the Orange coaching staff has put the group in position to be 12th nationally in passing offense at the midway point of the year.
Steve Angeli started the first three games, before missing the last three. Amari Odom started the UConn game, but has missed each of the last two contests due to injury. Malachi Nelson earned the start against both Virginia and Louisville, but left each due to injury with Danny Lauter finishing the game. Freshman Zaid Lott also saw a snap against the Cardinals.
Head Coach Fran Brown wasn't able to name this week's starter in his Monday press conference, noting that the player who'll get the nod will depend on how the week transpires.
4. Series History
This is the ninth meeting between 'Cuse and Carolina, with the Tar Heels leading the series 5-3. Two of the last-five matchups have gone to multiple overtimes.
The teams have played four times previously as conference opponents. The two programs were in opposite divisions when Syracuse joined the ACC, not meeting until the sixth season as conference members (2018). However the two teams will now have played three times in four seasons after the new scheduling model scrapped divisions.
5. It's Miller Time
Syracuse's running back by committee approach to start the season has yielded a 100-yard rusher in four of its first six games.
The feat has been accomplished by three different players as the Orange has rode the hot hand. Shavane Anderson Jr. (New Hampshire), Tylik Hill (UConn and Virginia) and Ahmad Miller (Louisville) have now all gone over the century mark in a game.
Miller ran for 6.8 yards per carry against the Cardinals, going for a season-best 123 yards on 18 carries in the contest.
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