Orange Ready for Florida State

GAME OVERVIEW
  • The Syracuse-Florida State game is the centerpiece of Orange Central Weekend, which serves as the University's Homecoming.
  • The game will be televised on ESPN. Bob Wischusen (pxp), Matt Millen (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sidelines) have the call.
  • No. 1/1 Florida State brings the nation's longest winning streak (21 games). The Orange is trying to snap a three-game skid after starting the year 2-0.

PROMOTIONS CENTRAL
 • It's homecoming weekend at Syracuse! Be sure to check out the Orange Central webpage for all the activities surrounding the event.
 • It's also Salvation Army Day, with all fans encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for dropoff at carts outside of the Carrier Dome entrances.

ORANGE VERSUS AP NO. 1
  • Since the start of the Associated Press poll in 1936, the Orange has faced the AP's top-ranked team nine times before and is 1-8 in those games.
  • On Sept. 29, 1984 Syracuse upset No. 1 Nebraska, 17-9, at the Carrier Dome for its only win against the nation's top team. The victory ended Nebraska's 23-game, regular-season winning streak. SU Assistant AD for Player Development Bob Brotzkistarted on the offensive line.
  • Saturday's contest marks the second time the Orange will play Florida State when they have been No. 1. In 1991, Syracuse traveled to Tallahassee and lost to the top-ranked Seminoles, 46-14.
  • Florida State is the fourth AP No. 1 to come to the Carrier Dome. In addition to previously mentioned Nebraska, the Orange hosted #1 Miami (Fla.) in the Loud House in 1992 and 2002.

WINSTON FIRST REIGNING HEISMAN WINNER TO FACE ORANGE
  • When FSU signal caller Jameis Winston comes to the Dome it will mark the first time the Orange has gone up against the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
  • It should be noted that only 24 underclassmen have won the award since it started being presented in 1935, so it's not often that a team has the opportunity to face the previous season's winner. However, it did almost happen to the Orange once before. Michigan's Charles Woodson won the award as a junior in 1997, but turned pro after the season so he was not the Wolverines' roster in 1998 when Syracuse defeated Michigan at the Big House.

A WIN AGAINST FLORIDA STATE WOULD …
  • Be SU's 708th all-time victory, the 16th-most among FBS schools and second-most of any ACC program.
  • Snap FSU's six-game series winning streak and be SU's first victory over the Seminoles since 1966.
  • End Florida State's ACC-record, 21-game winning streak which is currently the longest in the nation.
  • Mark the second time SU has beaten a team ranked No. 1 in the AP poll (Nebraska, 1984).
  • Represent the third time Syracuse has topped the defending national champion (1987 vs. Penn State and 1998 vs. Michigan). 

THE FLORIDA STATE SERIES
  • Saturday's game marks the fifth time SU has hosted Florida State and the third trip to the Carrier Dome for the Seminoles.
  • FSU has won the last six meetings and owns a 6-1 lead in the overall series.
  • The Orange won the first pairing between the two teams, 37-21, at Archbold Stadium in 1966. Hall-of-Famers Floyd Little and Larry Csonka combined for four of SU's five touchdowns, with Little scoring three times and Csonka once. Little carried 20 times for a game-high 193 yards. Csonka added 65 yards on 17 attempts.

LAST TIME VS. FLORIDA STATE
  • Florida State built a 59-0 lead before a Ryan Norton field goal midway through the fourth quarter produced the 59-3 final score on Nov. 16, 2013.
  • Devante McFarlane led the Orange with 81 yards rushing.  
  • FSU quarterback Jameis Winston was 19-for-21 passing for 277 yards and two touchdowns.
  • All eight of the Seminoles' offensive scoring drives lasted less than three minutes. In addition, Chris Casher ran back an SU fumble 31 yards for a touchdown to cap FSU's scoring.

SYRACUSE-FLORIDA STATE CONNECTIONS
  •Syracuse features 14 players from the state of Florida – Adly Enoicy (Delray Beach),Brisly Estime (Delray Beach), Antwan Cordy (Homestead), Cordell Hudson (Largo), PJ Batten (Miami), Durell Eskridge (Miami), Oliver Vigille (Miami), Marqez Hodge (Miami),Steve Ishmael (Miami), Sean Avant (Miramar), Ritchy Desir (North Miami Beach), Juwan Dowels (Sunrise), Tyler Provo (West Palm Beach) and Julian Whigham (West Palm Beach).
  • FSU has one player from New York on its roster – Kareem Are (Floral Park).
  • 'Cuse receivers Adly Enoicy, Brisly Estime and FSU DT Keith Bryant all attended Atlantic Community High School.
  • SU receiver Sean Avant and FSU WR Rashad Gholston played scholastically at Miramar High.
  • A host of players on both teams attended Miami Central High School, including Orange S Durell Eskridge, LB Oliver Vigille, LB Marqez Hodge and Florida State RB Dalvin Cook and DT Fredrick Jones.
  • FSU tight end Nick O'Leary and Orange CB Julian Whigham played together at Dwyer High School.
  • George McDonald, SU's wide receivers coach, was the receivers coach at Minnesota under Florida State tight ends coach Tim Brewster who was the Golden Gophers' head coach at the time.
  • SU D-line coach Tim Daoust was a member of FSU linebackers coach Bill Miller's staff when Miller coordinated the Western Michigan defense in 2007. Daoust mentored WMU's defensive backs.