Syracuse hosts No. 19 SMU at the Dome
Syracuse looks to turn last week's overtime breakthrough into a second straight ACC win when it hosts No. 19 SMU at noon Saturday, Oct. 31, at the JMA Wireless Dome.
The Orange enter 3-4, while the Mustangs are 6-1. ESPN2 will televise the Halloween matchup, with radio coverage on the Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield, according to Syracuse's official schedule and game preview.
Angeli's return gives Syracuse momentum
Steve Angeli returned as Syracuse's starting quarterback against North Carolina after being inactive because of injury for three weeks. He completed 20 of 34 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover in the overtime victory.
Angeli was particularly effective late, completing 8 of 11 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He then went 3-for-3 for 26 yards and a touchdown in overtime before finding Calvin Russell III for the winning two-point conversion.
It was Angeli's fifth game with multiple touchdown passes in eight Syracuse starts. His return followed a stretch in which the Orange used five quarterbacks, including two other starters.
Miller and Russell provide offensive targets
Ahmad Miller has rushed for more than 120 yards in consecutive games. He followed a 128-yard performance against Louisville with a season-high 133 yards and two touchdowns at North Carolina.
His 6.8 yards per carry against Louisville was Syracuse's best mark this season among players with more than 10 attempts in a game. Miller has five touchdowns and is one of three Orange backs to post a 100-yard rushing game, along with Tylike Hill and Shavane Anderson Jr.
Russell had career highs of eight catches and 86 yards against North Carolina. His 4-yard touchdown reception in overtime set up the winning conversion, which he also caught. The performance earned him ACC Rookie of the Week honors.
For Syracuse, sustaining Miller's production and giving Angeli opportunities to find Russell are central offensive storylines against a ranked opponent.
Improved defense faces a ranked test
Defensive coordinator Vince Kehres' unit has allowed 337.1 yards per game through seven games, ranking 52nd nationally in Syracuse's preview. That is an improvement of 92.1 yards per game from last season, the 15th-largest reduction among FBS teams, according to the school.
SMU has won both previous meetings between the programs, including last season's first ACC matchup. Saturday is only their third meeting overall.
A Syracuse victory would be its first over SMU and would improve its conference record to 2-4. It would also make coach Fran Brown 3-0 at home against ranked opponents.
Close finishes have become familiar
Syracuse is 10-5 in one-score games under Brown, who took over in 2024. The Orange's 10 wins in those games are tied for fourth-most nationally over that span, according to the team's preview.
Brown is 5-0 in overtime. Syracuse has won seven of its past eight overtime games, including five straight, tying Illinois for the longest active FBS streak.
Last week's North Carolina win delivered Syracuse's first ACC victory of the season. The next challenge is carrying that late-game execution into a matchup with the 19th-ranked Mustangs.
Television, streaming and radio coverage
Kickoff is noon Eastern on ESPN2. Anish Shroff will handle play-by-play, Andre Ware will provide analysis and Morgan Uber will report from the sideline.
Syracuse's schedule lists ESPN's game stream, the Syracuse Sports Network audio broadcast and official live statistics. Streaming access depends on the viewer's television subscription.
Halloween activities begin before kickoff
'Cuse on the Quad opens at 9 a.m. The NYE Auto Quad Walk begins at 9:40 a.m., followed by a children's costume parade along the same route. Trick-or-treating, live music and family activities are also planned on the Quad.
Fans can find tickets through Syracuse's football ticket page and parking directions through Cuse.com/Dome.
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