Syracuse football returns to the road Saturday, Nov. 14, to face NC State at noon Eastern at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. ACC Network will televise the matchup.
The Orange face a quarterback who can threaten defenses with his arm and legs in CJ Bailey, while Syracuse brings a pass-rush tandem with 13 combined sacks, according to Syracuse Athletics’ game-week preview. It will be the team’s first road game since Oct. 24.
Fran Brown previews the trip to NC State
Head coach Fran Brown said he welcomes the opportunity to compete in NC State’s home atmosphere.
“It’s another game week and I’m excited,” Brown said in the Syracuse Athletics preview. “I can’t wait to go down and play against NC State in the great atmosphere that they have down there. It’s a good program with rich football history. I’m excited to go down there and compete with those guys.”
Brown pointed to the Wolfpack’s ability to move the ball on the ground and through the air. Bailey’s mobility adds another responsibility for the Orange defense beyond defending his passing.
“I think they have a lot of really good football players,” Brown said. “They’re going to be able to run the ball and throw the ball. They have a quarterback with a huge arm that can also run. He’s a run and pass threat.”
Adeleye and Johnson anchor Syracuse’s pass rush
Syracuse enters the week after a defensive performance in which it did not allow an offensive touchdown. The Orange also held an opponent below 200 passing yards for the fifth time this season, according to Syracuse Athletics.
Tunmise Adeleye and Keyshawn Johnson have combined for 13 sacks, tied for the fifth most among pairs of Power Four teammates. Brown credited their relentless approach and commitment to the program’s D.A.R.T. culture.
Brown said Adeleye’s production and leadership have strengthened his case to be a high NFL draft pick. He also said Johnson has an opportunity to return next season and build on his performance.
Orange seek a third straight series win
Saturday will be the 18th meeting between Syracuse and NC State. The Orange have won the past two matchups, with the most recent victory coming in 2024 during Brown’s first season as head coach.
Kyle McCord threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns in that 2024 meeting, according to Syracuse Athletics.
Three regular-season games remain for Syracuse: road trips to NC State and Boston College, followed by a home finale against Notre Dame. Brown said his message is to focus on the immediate work rather than look ahead.
“We just have to have fun,” Brown said. “We have to have fun at practice, we have to enjoy practice. We know we’re playing a tough opponent, we just have to have fun and practice hard because those guys are going to be ready to play football.”
Close finishes follow Syracuse back onto the road
Seven of Syracuse’s first nine games were decided by eight points or fewer, including two overtime games, according to Syracuse Athletics’ Nov. 11 matchup breakdown. The university said that total tied Michigan for the national lead, while the Orange’s six consecutive one-score games represented the country’s longest active streak.
Syracuse won two of its previous three road games, beating UConn in overtime Oct. 3 and North Carolina in overtime Oct. 24. Between those victories, the Orange lost by three points at Virginia on Oct. 10.
The NC State trip follows a stretch in which Syracuse played three of four games at the JMA Wireless Dome, including its past two contests. It begins the consecutive road dates that precede the home finale.
Miller leads a deep rushing rotation
Running back Ahmad Miller topped 100 rushing yards in three of his past four games, including the Clemson matchup, Syracuse Athletics reported. He and Tylik Hill have handled most of the rushing workload, although the Orange have used a broader rotation.
Three Syracuse players have recorded 100-yard rushing games this season, and five running backs carried the ball against Clemson. Miller and Hill both ranked among the nation’s top 100 players in total rushing yards in the university’s Nov. 11 report. Syracuse and Louisville were the only ACC programs with multiple running backs in that group.
Series history and a defensive milestone
NC State holds a 13-4 advantage in the series, but Syracuse is pursuing both a third consecutive victory over the Wolfpack and a second straight win at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Orange won the 2024 meeting 24-17 in Brown’s first conference road game.
Twelve players who appeared in that victory remain on Syracuse’s roster, according to the Nov. 11 report. They include Umari Hatcher, who caught a 28-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
The programs first met in 1972. NC State won all four meetings in the 1970s, and the teams played again in 1997 and 1998. They met annually from 2013 through 2022 as ACC Atlantic Division opponents before divisions were eliminated; their next meeting came in 2024.
Syracuse Athletics also supplied additional context for the defense’s performance against Clemson: Despite the loss, the Orange kept the Tigers out of the end zone. It was Syracuse’s first game without allowing a touchdown to an FBS opponent since 2021.
Kickoff, television and audio coverage
The NC State game starts at noon Eastern Saturday on ACC Network. Syracuse’s official game center lists the matchup, and the scheduled live audio stream is linked from the team’s football schedule.
Fans can find tickets for the home finale against Notre Dame through Syracuse Athletics’ ticket page.
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