After a week off, the Syracuse Orange (3-7) are back in action on Saturday when they face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-2) in South Bend. The game kicks off at 3:30 on ESPN and here’s what we’re watching
for:
Max: Not many Orange points
This Notre Dame defense is, in short, extremely talented. It’s hard to see SU having any success on the ground against a defensive unit that allows less than 100 rush yards per game (13th-best in FBS). The Fighting Irish also excel at stopping their opponents’ passing attack, collecting 17 interceptions (third-most) in just 10 games. I hate to be so grim, but coming out of South Bend with 10 points feels like the ceiling for this depleted Orange offense.
Dom: Fight on defense
As Max noted, Syracuse’s offense has as low of a chance as possible to shock this Notre Dame defense. It’s going to be an uphill battle. At the very least, I’m looking at how the Orange’s defense will compete, even if it can only do so much. Can it stop Jeremiyah Love enough and make it interesting, or pick off CJ Carr once to at least make this interesting. The defense has had its ups and downs over the season, and a strong enough performance is something fans can at least hang their hats on.
Kevin: Orange Optimism
The Orange aren’t going to win this game, but it’s a chance to build towards 2026. As more young players see the field, there are opportunities for them to gain confidence and give fans something to look forward to during the off-season. It’s hard to see these moments when the team is being overwhelmed, but for Syracuse fans this is the approach to take right now. If the Orange can leave South Bend with some points on the board and something to feel good about, that’s an important step.
*************************************************************************************************
What will you be watching for in this one?
