Syracuse Orange Face NC State Wolfpack in Crucial ACC Matchup

Syracuse University‘s football team, the Orange, is set to face North Carolina State University‘s Wolfpack in a significant Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matchup on Saturday, October 12, 2024. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network and is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. ET at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Syracuse, currently 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the ACC, is looking to build on a promising start under first-year head coach Fran Brown. The Orange have been impressive on offense, led by quarterback Kyle McCord, who is ranked second in the Bowl Subdivision for passing yards with 1,814 yards and 17 touchdowns. Running back LeQuint Allen has also been a standout, recently named ACC running back of the week after a strong performance against UNLV.

NC State, with a record of 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the ACC, is seeking to recover from a tough start in conference play. The Wolfpack have been hampered by inconsistent defense and the loss of starting quarterback Grayson McCall due to a concussion. Freshman quarterback CJ Bailey will make his third start, following a notable performance against Wake Forest where he threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns.

Historically, NC State has dominated the series, winning 13 of the 16 meetings, including seven of the previous eight encounters. However, Syracuse secured a victory in their last meeting in 2022. The Wolfpack have a strong home record, having lost only once in eight matchups held in Raleigh.

The game is critical for both teams, with Syracuse aiming to solidify its position in the ACC and NC State looking to avoid its first 0-3 start in conference play since 2015. Key factors will include the performance of Syracuse’s offense against NC State’s struggling defense, which ranks 119th in FBS scoring defense, and the ability of both teams to manage turnovers.