Dino Babers says Syracuse players like facing Clemson
The Syracuse and Clemson matchup has sneakily produced some great football games since the Orange joined the conference in 2013. Syracuse head coach Dino Babers, at the helm of the Orange since 2015, thinks his players just love to play the Tigers.
Syracuse, of course, famously upset Clemson on a Friday night in 2017, 27-24. It’s been the only win for Syracuse against the Tigers since they became ACC Atlantic foes, but the Orange have pushed the Tigers to the edge in any number of years: 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021.
“I think our guys like playing them. It’s, you know, whatever that means,” Babers said ahead of the matchup in Death Valley. “They know all the eyes are on them.”
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Syracuse hosted Clemson last season in what was a down year for the Tigers — they finished 10-3. In a slow, defense-filled affair, Clemson outlasted Syracuse, 17-14. The whole things has been turned on its head for 2022.
Clemson is a perfect 7-0 and set to host the also undefeated Orange. The winner will have the clear inside track to an ACC title game berth out of the Atlantic division and thus likely a path to the College Football Playoff. Old hat for Clemson, but the stakes at play for Syracuse are entirely new — and unexpected.
In the two seasons prior to 2022, Syracuse went a combined 6-17. But some deft offensive staff hires by Babers this offseason and an improving defense under second year coordinator Tony White has catapulted the Orange from an ACC afterthought to a legitimate candidate for a New Years Six bowl game. They’ve already matched their win total from the last two seasons just halfway through this one.
Even still, Babers knows he’ll need more than just an improved team that wants to go to Death Valley and topple Clemson.
“Now, they’re really, really good. And you need to have some luck when you’re playing them, because they’re exceptional,” Babers said. “But, I just think that they enjoy playing them.