In what could be one of the most pivotal seasons in recent Syracuse football history, the Orange need to start the year dominantly at home.
A lot will be revealed about this team early in the season, specifically because of the number of recruits and transfers, including Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord. Additionally, the early slate of home games will be crucial for SU.
Last season, the Orange won three of its first four games in the Dome. Syracuse dominated Colgate and Western Michigan in its first two home games, proceeded to defeat Army, but fell to Clemson in Central New York, rounding out their first four home contests.
Looking ahead to August and September, SU plays its first four games of the season at home. Besides facing weaker opponents early, this stretch could be the x-factor in shaping up the rest of the year for the Orange.
Head coach Fran Brown will play his first game against Ohio on August 31. The Orange are 3-0 against the Bobcats in program history, most recently winning by 20 points in 2021.
After Ohio, Syracuse plays Georgia Tech on September 7. The Yellow Jackets present the toughest challenge out of the first four home games. If the hype around the Orange this season is real, this is a pivotal game that Syracuse must win. SU fell to GT last season in Atlanta and is 1-3 all-time against Georgia Tech.
A home matchup against Stanford follows in week three on September 20. The Orange have a chance to take advantage of a west coast and former Pac-12 team traveling across the country to Central New York. This will be SU’s first matchup against a new ACC squad.
Finally, the fourth home game to start the season is against Holy Cross on September 28. The Orange are 24-5 against the Crusaders all-time. Syracuse defeated Holy Cross 41-3 in 2019 after a 46-year drought from facing one another.
If the Orange can emerge from the first four games 4-0, Coach Brown’s squad will be well-positioned for the rest of the way with momentum from being at home. The contest against Georgia Tech will be the most critical early-season game for SU, given their loss to the Yellow Jackets last season.
