2018 Opponent Series: Syracuse - Sept. 29

Over the next two weeks, we will be giving you an inside look at every opponent on Clemson's schedule. The road to a fourth straight ACC Championship and another College Football Playoff trip begins September 1 against Furman.

2018 Opponent Series

• Sept. 1 vs. Furman
• Sept. 8 @ Texas A&M (Premium)
• Sept. 15 vs. Georgia Southern
• Sept. 22 @ Georgia Tech

Outlook

When looking back at 2017 for the Syracuse Orange, outsiders may see it as a bad season, but Dino Babers’ squad lost 5 games by 8 points or less, including one to Miami after beating Clemson in an upset the week prior. Will 2018 be different as far as seeing Syracuse finish the job in close games? Redshirt senior defensive tackle Chris Slayton believes the process begins with leadership.

“That comes from myself and a lot of the older guys,” Slayton said at the ACC Kickoff in July.

“I'm becoming a better leader, and it's guys like Antwan Cordy, Chris Frederick, like the young guys are going to depend on them as well as myself. Just to be a better leader and to get those guys going, moving, finishing off strong.”

In the Syracuse media guide at the bottom, the words are printed “Orange is the new fast,” and Babers has established an up-tempo system that has worked well led by senior quarterback Eric Dungey, who threw for 2495 yards and 14 touchdowns in 9 starts last year. Syracuse also averaged 23.9 points per game and 366.2 yards per game in 2017.

The focus in 2018 for the Orange will be getting a team that will last into November.

“Unfortunately for our football team, the team that we've lined up and played with in August and September and October has not been the exact same type of team personnel-wise that we played in November, and I think it really leads to the success that we've had early and the un-success that we've had late,” Babers said.

Syracuse Orange

Head coach: Dino Babers, third year

Last season: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in ACC play; lost to Boston College 42-14 in season finale

Returning starters: 8 offense, 6 defense

Players to Watch

• Dontae Strickland (Running back, Sr.) -- Strickland looks to have a strong final campaign in Upstate New York as the Dayton, N.J. native rushed for 482 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2017.
• Devin Butler (Wide receiver, Jr.) -- Butler returns as an outside receiver who will look to build on his sophomore season where he had 33 receptions for 327 yards and 1 touchdown in 2017.
• Evan Foster (Defensive back, Jr.) -- The West Bloomfield, Mich. native had a strong 2017 campaign as he started in all 12 games in 2017 and was third on the team in tackles with 64.

2018 Schedule 

Aug. 31 (Fri.) - at Western Michigan

Sept. 8 - vs. Wagner

Sept. 15 - vs. Florida State

Sept. 22 - vs. UConn

Sept. 29 - at Clemson

Oct. 6 - at Pittsburgh

Oct. 20 - vs. North Carolina

Oct. 27 - vs. NC State

Nov. 3 - at Wake Forest

Nov. 9 (Fri.) - vs. Louisville

Nov. 17 - vs. Notre Dame (at Yankee Stadium)

Nov. 24 - at Boston College

Home games in BOLD