The stakes are high ahead of Syracuse’s matchup on Thursday with Pittsburgh, who are ranked No. 19 in the country.
Pitt is one of nine undefeated teams left in the AP poll, and many view Syracuse as the underdog. Like the Orange, the Panthers have overwhelmed its opponents on offense, as it ranks ninth in the country in total yards per game at 496.8 and 10th in points scored per game at 40.8.
After winning both of its games against ranked opponents this season, Pitt will be the third ranked team Syracuse has faced. It’s the first time the Orange have beaten two ranked opponents in a single season since 2001, and if it can beat the Panthers, it’ll be the first time since 1998 that Syracuse has defeated three ranked opponents in a single season.
To do that, the Orange will have to attack a weak Pitt secondary, allowing 244.7 passing yards per game, and rely on an offense that still ranks at the top of the country in multiple categories. Quarterback Kyle McCord has thrown for 365.2 passing yards per game, second in the country, and Syracuse is fourth in third-down conversion rate at 54.7%.
Pitt’s run defense is stronger than its secondary, so if running back LeQuint Allen Jr. can break through on the ground, the Orange won’t have to rely on McCord to do everything, making its offense tougher to stop.
Another key area will be how Syracuse’s defense fares. It was a major area of concern early on, but the defense has quietly stepped up in the absence of linebacker Marlowe Wax, who has been out with a lower-body injury since Week 1 against Ohio. In Syracuse’s last game, a gritty 24-17 win over NC State, it held its opponent to under 100 rushing yards for the second time in three games.
The Orange will have to keep that momentum against Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein, who’s already thrown 15 touchdown passes this season. However, Holstein struggled in his last game, throwing two interceptions and no touchdowns. If Syracuse can limit Pitt’s ground game, Holstein might be forced into doing it all himself, leading to more turnovers.
Despite being the underdog, the Orange have shown this season that it has the firepower to hang with ranked opponents. If it can stick to its strengths and find a way to contain the Panthers offense, Syracuse will be well on its way to a ranking in the AP poll for the first time since 2022.
