Syracuse travels to Georgia Tech on Saturday for the road finale. Here are five things to know about the match-up.
1. A Rare Trip to the ATL
Syracuse visits Georgia Tech for just the second time since joining the conference in 2013. 'Cuse hosted the Yellow Jackets in 2020.
Georgia Tech (four) is the opponent that Syracuse has played least all-time among conference foes, and has the second-fewest matchups with since joining the conference.
The Orange faced Miami in 2017, the only team they have not played multiple times in ACC play, but the two programs have a long history dating back to BIG EAST play. SU has also only faced Virginia twice as ACC foes.
Syracuse is 1-3 vs. the Yellow Jackets all-time, winning the most recent meeting 37-20 in the JMA Dome. The team lost the lone meeting at Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2013. The teams met on neutral fields in 2001 and 2004, both Tech wins.
2. Three's Company
Syracuse had three players cross the century mark on the ground in their win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. Dan Villari led the way with a career-high 154 yards, followed by Garrett Shrader (105) and LeQuint Allen (102).
It's the first time Syracuse had three 100-yard rushers in the same game since a 1997 meeting with Miami, when Kyle McIntosh (136), Dee Brown (117) and Donvan McNabb (100) accomplished the feat.
Villari is just the second non-QB/RB to lead an ACC team in rushing this season. NC State wideout KC Concepcion led the Wolfpack on the ground in their win over Clemson earlier this year.
3. Ground Game
Syracuse is coming off its best rushing game since the 1996 Liberty Bowl. The Orange ran for 392 yards on the ground, four shy of the 1996 Liberty Bowl total.
Of Syracuse's 74 offensive plays, 65 were run plays, which is the fewest number of passing attempts for the Orange since a 2000 game against Buffalo (9).
If the Orange choose to utilize a similar attack on Saturday, they hope the Georgia Tech's defense can provide opportunity. Georgia Tech ranks last in the conference in rush defense and are surrendering 224.3 yards on the ground in conference play thus far.
4. Bowl Eligibility on the Line
Syracuse has the opportunity to make its second-straight bowl game with a win on Saturday. If the Orange do so, it'd be the first time in 10 years the program has made back-to-back bowls (2012-13) and first time in 24 years that they accomplished the feat under the same head coach (Paul Pasqualoni – 1998-99).
Following a seven-win campaign last year, 'Cuse still has an opportunity to tie it's best two-year stretch since joining the ACC. Syracuse amassed 15 wins in 2018-19 and 14 from 2017-18, both under head coach Dino Babers. Syracuse also had 15 wins in 2012-13 under coaches Doug Marrone and Scott Shafer. Syracuse's 16 wins from 2000-01 are the most in a two-year stretch this century.
5. Last Ride in the Loud House
Syracuse will play its final home game of the season next week at 2 p.m. on The CW when Wake Forest comes to town.
Syracuse's seniors will be honored prior to the contest, with the Senior Walk taking place postgame as a way for fans to thank the Orange players for their contributions to the program.