10/26/2026 3:09:00 PM | Football
After an overtime win at North Carolina last week, the Orange return home Saturday to host No. 19 SMU. Kickoff is set for noon, and the game will air on ESPN2.
Syracuse is back in town for its fourth home game of the season, and head coach Fran Brown is eager to get back to the Dome and play in front of a packed house.
"I think the community should all show up, just anybody that's around, if you're not doing anything on Saturday, that would be cool to have everybody in the Dome," Brown said. "When the Dome is packed, you're an advantage for us. It helps us a lot. It's more motivating to see the Dome that way. To have everybody at that game would be pretty cool. Most importantly, I just want to pack the Dome."
Saturday's matchup has plenty to offer beyond an ACC showdown with a ranked opponent, as Orange Nation can also look forward to a full slate of Halloween festivities. Building on the enhancements already made to 'Cuse on the Quad and the in-game entertainment this season, fans can go trick-or-treating at 'Cuse on the Quad, followed by a kids costume parade along the same route after the NYE Auto Quad Walk. Inside the Dome, Suites 4 Treats will be underway, a Halloween photo booth will be set up in the flex space, and a $30 concession special will get fans four hot dogs, four drinks and two popcorns. Fans can secure tickets to the game by visiting Cuse.com/FootballTickets!
The Mustangs bring a balanced team to Syracuse, averaging 470.3 yards per game on offense while holding opponents to 303.3, both ranking inside of the top-25 of all teams nationally. Brown said the Mustangs are loaded with talent, and he is eager to see his team test itself against them.
"I'm excited that we get the opportunity to go play some football again this weekend," Brown said. "SMU is a great football team coming here to the Dome to play us. I'm excited about that and the atmosphere that will be at the Dome. SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee has been doing a really good job with his staff, they have a lot of good players and a lot of good wide outs. They have a loaded football team on both sides of the ball."
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings is among the nation's leading passers this season, completing 72.6 percent of his passes and averaging just under 300 passing yards per game, both top-10 marks nationally. The Mustangs are 25-8 in games Jennings has started. Brown had high praise for the signal caller, calling him one of the best players in the country.
"Their quarterback, Kevin Jennings, is one of the better players in the country," Brown said. "He's a Heisman candidate type of guy, in my opinion."
On the other sideline, Syracuse will have Steve Angeli back under center one week after he led the Orange to a win in Chapel Hill. Angeli delivered in crunch time, throwing for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-14 passing across the fourth quarter and overtime. Despite the late-game heroics, Brown said it was Angeli's leadership and maturity that stood out most.
"Steve led the team, he was a leader at all times," Brown said. "I was happy with his leadership and toughness. He's still a kid, but he's mature. We're all emotional when we can't play a game that we love. I think when he had to sit out the last couple weeks, it was mixed feelings for him. For him being able to go out there and prove to himself, 'I know who I am and I know I can do this,' meant a lot. I think he's a great kid. He's a class act."
The matchup with SMU is just the third all-time meeting between the two programs and the second since 1932. It also marks the first time the Mustangs will visit the JMA Wireless Dome.
