SU Football is preparing to host FCS Holy Cross

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse University football hosts Holy Cross University at the FCS level on Saturday, September 28th at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse.

The Orange come into the game following a loss to Stanford University on Friday, September 19th in front of nearly 40,000 fans at the Dome. A crucial 4th-and-9 led to Stanford winning the game 26-24 and scoring a game-winning field goal as time expired. The loss moved Syracuse to 2-1 this season, with a 1-1 record in ACC play.

The “4. and 9 yard” conversion

In that game, Syracuse erased a 20-10 deficit with 3:13 left to play in the third quarter thanks to a 13-yard touchdown connection between quarterback Kyle McCord and Jackson Meeks. The defense simply couldn't keep Stanford out of shooting range on the following possession. Syracuse first-year head coach Fran Brown addressed the decisive Game 4 and 9 in his weekly press conference on Monday.

“The kids put us in a great position to go down and win the game,” Brown said in Monday afternoon’s press conference. “On 4th and 9, I didn’t get that kid (DB Clarence Lewis) in the right position. I somehow sold them out on the 4th and 9th.”

The game against Holy Cross takes place on the Syracuse University campus during “Friends and Family Weekend,” helping sell out the JMA Wireless Dome for what is expected to be a one-sided game. According to ESPN's Football Prediction Index, Syracuse has a 95.8 percent chance of beating the Crusaders on Saturday afternoon.

Holy Cross enters the game 1-3 on the season despite having a 7th and 4th seasons in the 2023 season. The two teams last met in 2019 when the Orange defeated Holy Cross 41-3.

Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Statistics you should know upon arrival:

• Season Handover Leaders: Kyle McCord: 86-127 completion attempts, 1,074 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
• Season rushing leaders:LeQuint Allen: 38 rushing attempts for 206 yards
• Reception manager: Trebor Pena 22 receptions, 267 yards, 4 touchdowns
• Market leader in sacks: Fadil Diggs lost 2 sacks for 8 yards
• Leaders in tackles: Justin Barron with 22 total tackles

Traveling in October

This is Syracuse's last home game in 35 calendar days. The Orange's next game will be against Virginia Tech on Saturday, November 2nd at the JMA Wireless Dome to celebrate “Homecoming Weekend.”

By then, the Orange will travel more than 2,000 miles to face UNLV at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in early October.

Syracuse also faces North Carolina State and Pittsburgh on the road trip in October.