First Look: Syracuse
Here’s an early look at Purdue’s third opponent of the 2023 season, the Syracuse Orange.
Time: Saturday, September 16, 7:30 p.m. E.T.
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium
Surface: Bermuda Grass
Capacity: 61,441
2023 schedules/records: Purdue 1-1; Syracuse 2-0
Series notes: Purdue and Syracuse will meet for the third time on Saturday, this time in the return trip of a home-and-home series that began last September in upstate New York. The two first met in 2004, when Purdue opened the season with a rare Sunday afternoon game. On that sunny afternoon, the Boilermakers drilled the Orange 51-0 behind a big day from Kyle Orton. Last season, a late touchdown pass lifted Syracuse to a dramatic win over Purdue in a flag-filled game in the JMA Wireless Dome. This marks the second-straight ACC opponent for Purdue after the Boilermakers 24-17 win at Virginia Tech last weekend.
TV: NBC
Early line: Purdue -1, O/U 56
STORYLINES TO WATCH
Revenge game
Who could forget the way Purdue lost at Syracuse last season? The Boilermakers looked dead in the water when Aidan O’Connell threw a “pick-six” in the fourth quarter to put Syracuse up by 10. The Boilermakers roared back, however, as Payne Durham gave Purdue a 29-25 lead with 0:51 on the clock. Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties gifted the Orange prime field position, however, and Garrett Shrader found Oronde Gadsden II in the corner to seal the deal and give the Boilermakers one of their more painful losses in recent memory.
While the Purdue roster and coaching staff looks vastly different than it did in the Dome last September, the ones who return will undoubtedly want to avenge the heartbreaking loss. Emotions ran high in that game, and Purdue will hope to channel those in a positive direction on Saturday.
2-1 vs. 1-2
The difference between starting 2-1 and 1-2 is quite stark. The Boilermakers could certainly use a pair of wins in the non-conference to provide the best chance of bowl eligibility with a difficult Big Ten schedule looming. With a road trip to Iowa on the docket and squaring off with both Ohio State and Michigan, Purdue needs to stack wins where it can.
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Purdue took a big step forward when it earned a win over Virginia Tech to even its record. Now, it hopes to land a sweep of ACC opponents on Saturday night.
Under the lights
The lights will come on for the first time this year at Ross-Ade Stadium, but it will also mark the first time Purdue plays a home game on NBC under the Big Ten’s new media rights agreement. The new deal gives NBC a weekly primetime game, and the Boilermakers will play in that slot several times. Purdue could play four times on NBC this fall (Syracuse, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan).
Pro Football Focus on the Orange
- Returning QB Garrett Shrader has dominated weaker competition through two weeks, earning stellar grades
- Surprisingly, the run blocking grades don’t look so hot despite blowing out both Colgate and Western Michigan
- Pass blocking, on the other hand, is off to a strong start
- Really good grades in coverage for the starting corners and safeties for Syracuse so far
- Just eight missed tackles for Syracuse through two games
