Syracuse is riding high after a week one 38-22 win over Ohio, but things are going to get a little more interesting this week against Georgia Tech. Just a few minutes ago, the AP Top 25 College Football Poll dropped, with the Yellowjackets slotting in at No. 23. It’s the first time since the 2015 season GT has been ranked. The bump into the top 25 comes after Georgia Tech upset Florida State 24-21 in Dublin two weeks ago, and took care of Georgia State 35-12 this past weekend at home. So, what does this mean for the Orange, and does Syracuse have a shot to beat Georgia Tech this weekend? Let’s jump into all of that and more.
Chance to win
It cannot be emphasized how crucial it is for Syracuse to take down Georgia Tech on Saturday. It’s not as if the Yellowjackets are a team out of the Orange’s league, GT finished 7-6 last season. That was just one win better than SU. This year though is a totally different story. As noted above, Georgia Tech has come out the gate hot. Part of the reason the Yellowjackets have been so effective so far is their running game. GT has amassed 415 rushing yards in two games, which ranks second in all of college football. The key for Syracuse to win on Saturday is to simply stop the run. But, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Against Ohio this past weekend, SU struggled stopping the run, surrendereding 255 rushing yards. 203 of those yards came from one player, Bobcat running back Anthony Tyus III. Ohio picked apart the Syracuse run defense, which could be a troubling sign for Saturday especially with Marlow Wax not on the field.
Looking ahead
Heading into week two, five different ACC teams are ranked in the top 25. Syracuse is slated to play three of those teams. Those three being UMiami, NC State, and Georgia Tech. On top of that, Boston College received the second most votes for a team outside the ranked squads with 49. All of this means that Syracuse has a chance to break into the top 25 themselves. The Orange haven’t been ranked since 2022, when they started the season 6-0. Since then, it’s been a struggle to get even close to the top 25. If Syracuse wants a shot at cracking the college football playoff or even just being ranked, it needs a win on Saturday against a quality Georgia Tech team.
