Big night out of Hoag and a nice little advantage having a former QB at HB for the HB toss. I like it.. Was going to comment earlier on the roster.. It reminds me a little of when I went to TTU with Coach Scott, cause I feel like you have the talent to win right away.. Maybe not a Natty but at least make some noise in the ACC and maybe pull a 10 win season and At-Large bid to the playoffs.
From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
Big night out of Hoag and a nice little advantage having a former QB at HB for the HB toss. I like it.. Was going to comment earlier on the roster.. It reminds me a little of when I went to TTU with Coach Scott, cause I feel like you have the talent to win right away.. Maybe not a Natty but at least make some noise in the ACC and maybe pull a 10 win season and At-Large bid to the playoffs. -
Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
Big night out of Hoag and a nice little advantage having a former QB at HB for the HB toss. I like it.. Was going to comment earlier on the roster.. It reminds me a little of when I went to TTU with Coach Scott, cause I feel like you have the talent to win right away.. Maybe not a Natty but at least make some noise in the ACC and maybe pull a 10 win season and At-Large bid to the playoffs.
And definitely a team that was ready to win, just needed the right direction. Its an 87OVR (89O/87D) so the talent is there. Still figuring out what each WR does best and I won't lie, between playing the Ball State games and this one I am definitely missing my boy Nyck.
Side bit of irony, the first two games of the season for Ball State have been absolute classics. The Notre Dame game we held them to field goals almost all afternoon and Titus Awe lead a 12 play drive to find Onwualu for the go ahead only to give up the long touchdown seconds later, which was my fault. I went for the user pick and whiffed smh.
2nd game I'll mention in the game write up as well, but Ball State outlasted Stanford in a Natty rematch 31-25 despite 5 turnovers by AweComment
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
Bayou Beatdown
Freshman Jason Veasy making it look easy as three separate Orange defenders log multiple sacks in Lafayette.
Syracuse Orange at Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Sep 16, 2028 1 2 3 4 F SYR (2-0) 14 24 21 14 73 ULL (1-1) 0 0 0 3 3 Top Performers PASS: SYR Jakhari Williams - 12/18, 242 Yds, 4 TD, INT RUSH: SYR JC Hoag - 14 Att, 138 Yds, TD REC: SYR Spencer Vernon - 3 Rec, 118 Yds, TD Team Stats Comparison SYR ULL First Downs 29 11 3rd Down Efficiency 4/6 3/11 4th Down Efficiency 1/1 0/0 Total Yards 608 326 Passing Yards 287 228 Rushing Yards 39 - 264 22 - (-57) Penalties-Penalty Yards 2 - 20 3 - 30 Turnovers 2 7 Time of Possession 24:44 19:16 Scoring Summary FIRST QUARTER SCORING SYR ULL 2:42 (SYR) Mateo Chickillo, 7 Yd Pass From Jakhari Williams 7 0 2:28 (SYR) CJ Ziemann, Returned Interception 24 Yds 14 0 SECOND QUARTER SCORING SYR ULL 8:43 (SYR) Spencer Vernon, 9 Yd Pass From Jakhari Williams 21 0 3:13 (SYR) Ja'Meer Thomas, 3 Yd Pass From Jakhari Williams 28 0 3:08 (SYR) CJ Ziemann, Returned Fumble 1 Yd 35 0 0:00 (SYR) Desmond Brewer, 22 Yd FG 38 0 THIRD QUARTER SCORING SYR ULL 9:05 (SYR) Jaylan Hornsby, 36 Yd Pass From Jakhari Williams 45 0 8:23 (SYR) JC Hoag, 6 Yd Run 52 0 6:49 (SYR) Spencer Vernon, 8 Yd Run 59 0 FOURTH QUARTER SCORING SYR ULL 10:56 (SYR) Jumaane Cox, 3 Yd Run 66 0 7:28 (SYR) Jumaane Cox, 7 Yd Run 73 0 1:09 (ULL) Larry Ingram, 49 Yd FG 73 3 Syracuse Orange PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Jakhari Williams 12/18 242 4 1 Jumaane Cox 2/2 45 0 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Spencer Vernon 16 104 6.5 1 JC Hoag 14 138 9.8 1 Jumaane Cox 4 10 2.5 2 Trevor Gilliam 3 18 6.0 0 Jakhari Williams 2 -6 -3.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Ja'Meer Thomas 5 66 13.2 1 Spencer Vernon 3 118 39.3 1 Jaylan Hornsby 3 54 18.0 1 Phil Hutton 2 42 21.0 0 Mateo Chickillo 1 7 7.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Travis Brown-Miller 12 0 Carlos Concepcion 8 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD LB Sean Schlauderaff 8 2 (4TFL) 0 (FF, FR) 0 CB Bradley Land 7 0 1 0 SS Leo Tauscher 5 1 (1TFL) 0 0 DE Jason Veasy 4 2.5 (4TFL) 0 0 DE Jahide Lesaine Jr 3 0.5 (1TFL) 0 0 DT Alex Clinton 3 1.5 (2TFL) 0 (FF) 0 SS CJ Ziemann 3 1 (1TFL) 2 (FR) 2 CB Dalvin Holley 2 0.5 (1TFL) 0 0 LB Juan Bishop 1 1 (1TFL) 0 0 HB Spencer Vernon 4 0 0 (FF) 0 FS Tucker Colman 4 0 0 (FF, FR) 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG Desmond Brewer 1/1 10/10 11 23 PUNTING TOT YDS AVG -20 Michael Chickillo 1 38 38.0 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Carlos Simms 1 20 20.0 0 Elton Romberg 1 17 17.0 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Elton Romberg 3 20 5.0 0 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Josh Ellefson 18/34 228 0 3 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Josh Ellefson 12 -90 -7.3 0 Darien Eze 7 20 2.8 0 David Eziomume 3 13 4.3 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Kasey Pride 5 36 7.2 0 Roy Butts 5 102 20.4 0 Zyion Jarrett 4 45 11.2 0 Marquise Keys 2 9 4.5 0 Darien Eze 1 12 12.0 0 Tyrique McGee 1 17 17.0 0 Chris Money 1 7 7.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Weston Davis 0 2 Cooper Fordham 4 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD SS Tim Oshinowo 12 0 (2TFL) 0 0 MLB Kevin Ezeike 9 0 (1TFL) 0 (FF) 0 DT Cameron Virgil 7 0.5 (3TFL) 0 (FR) 0 CB David Bales 4 0 1 0 DE Shaun Yarborough 1 0.5 (1TFL) 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG Larry Ingram 1/1 0/0 3 49 PUNTING TOT YDS AVG -20 Paul Angerer 6 212 35.3 2 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Joshua Keglar 12 155 12.9 0
LEFT - All American safety CJ Ziemann was all over the field on Saturday with a sack, 2 interceptions, a fumble recovery, and two defensive touchdowns (fumble and INT).
LEFT CENTER - Alex Clinton with the strip sack that Ziemann would recover in the endzone.
RIGHT CENTER - HB Spencer Vernon didn't throw a touchdown this game, but collected 100 yards each rushing and receiving, but somehow didn't score on this 85 yard screen pass after being ran down from behind.
RIGHT - Vernon plays special teams too, forcing the fumble in the 3rd quarter. Coach Savage thanks Vernon by giving him the ball three straight runs to punch in an 8 yard TD.
Lafayette, LA. - The Syracuse Orange (3-0) made a loud statement on Saturday night, dismantling Louisiana-Lafayette (1-2) in a 73-3 blowout on the road. From the opening whistle, Nash Savage’s squad overwhelmed their opponent, showcasing an explosive offense and a relentless defense that left no doubt about their dominance.
Despite a rare three-and-out on their opening drive, the Orange quickly found their rhythm. Quarterback Jakhari Williams connected with Mateo Chickillo for a 7-yard touchdown to put Syracuse on the board. The defense wasted no time making its mark, as All-American safety CJ Ziemann jumped a route and returned an interception 24 yards to the house, giving the Orange a commanding 14-0 lead.
Williams continued to carve up the Ragin’ Cajuns’ defense, tossing two more touchdowns – a 9-yarder to Spencer Vernon and a 3-yard strike to Ja’Meer Thomas. The defense remained relentless, forcing two turnovers, including another Ziemann highlight as he scooped up a fumble at the goal line for a one-yard score. Kicker Desmond Brewer capped the half with a 22-yard field goal, sending Syracuse into the locker room with a staggering 38-0 lead.
Williams opened the second half with yet another touchdown pass, this time a 36-yard bomb to Jaylan Hornsby, before exiting the game after completing 12 of 18 passes for 242 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. JC Hoag followed up with a punishing 6-yard touchdown run, and Vernon, showing off his playmaking ability once again, scored on an 8-yard scamper.
Meanwhile, Louisiana’s offense had no answer for the relentless Orange pass rush. Syracuse sacked backup quarterback Josh Ellefson 10 times throughout the game, including 2.5 sacks from star freshman Jason Veasy, marking his third consecutive game with at least one sack. Defensive tackle Alex Clinton (1.5 sacks) and linebacker Sean Schlauderaff (2 sacks, forced fumble, fumble recovery) also wreaked havoc.
With the game well in hand, backup quarterback Jumaane Cox took over and tacked on two short touchdown runs, extending the lead to 73-0. Louisiana-Lafayette finally avoided the shutout with a 49-yard field goal from Larry Ingram in the closing minutes, but the damage had long been done.
In addition to his offensive contributions (104 rushing yards, 118 receiving yards, and a touchdown), Vernon made a game-changing play on special teams, forcing a fumble on a punt return. True to his word, Coach Savage rewarded him on the following possession by dialing up a touchdown play.
“It’s hard to get offensive guys to want to play hard on special teams, so we have a motto: ‘If you get me the rock, I’ll get you the rock,’” Savage said postgame. “Spencer forced the fumble, so we rewarded him with the opportunity to get in the end zone.”
Ziemann’s monster night (two interceptions, a sack, and two defensive touchdowns) punctuated an utterly dominant performance for the Orange defense. Louisiana’s Ellefson, starting in place of the injured Daniel Beal, struggled mightily under pressure, failing to move the ball against Syracuse’s suffocating front.
Syracuse will enjoy an early off week before turning its attention to#24 Duke, looking to maintain their momentum as they open ACC play.. If this performance is any indication, the Orange are a force to be reckoned with in 2028.
Meanwhile, up north in Coach Savage’s old stomping grounds of Muncie, the Ball State Cardinals proved their resilience in a thrilling 31-25 victory over Stanford—a rematch of last year’s National Championship. Despite sophomore QB Titus Awe’s five turnovers, the Cardinals’ defense stood tall, and a late fourth-quarter touchdown sealed the hard-fought win, the first of Kliff Kingsbury's career in Muncie.
Week Three ACC Results
31 West Virginia (1-2) @ Rice (1-2) 26
7 FCS @ #4 Clemson (3-0) 49
16 Virginia Tech (2-1) @ #6 Maryland (3-0) 24
9 Mid Tenn (2-1) @ Georgia Tech (3-0) 17
7 FCS @ #18 Miami (!-2) 48
38 #13 North Carolina (2-1) @ #22 Pittsburgh (2-1) 21
10 FCS @ Wake Forest (2-1) 28
31 #24 Duke (3-0) @ Temple (0-3) 23
16 #14 South Carolina (2-1) @ Auburn (1-1) 24
28 Virginia (1-2) @ Indiana (2-1) 27
42 Vanderbilt (2-1) @ NC State (1-2) 45
Notable Week Three Results
21 #25 Ole Miss (1-1) @ BYU (2-1) 29
14 Florida State (1-2) @ #1 Georgia (3-0) 38
21 #2 Oklahoma (3-0) @ #17 Tennessee (2-1) 20
30 #20 Utah (2-0) @ Wisconsin (2-1) 13
25 Stanford (1-2) @ #21 Ball State (1-1) 31
41 #11 Rutgers (2-0) @ #10 Kansas State (2-1) 25
21 #23 Houston (2-1) @ UNLV (2-0) 27
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
Really like how everything went down with Coach Savage and Ball State's futures. LOVE the move to Syracuse - I've run with them a few times in older game dynasties and always liked building them up to be an elite program, and it's a solid step-up for Coach Savage and his trajectory. Also like Kliff coming in to lead Ball State - they certainly were appealing for a good head coach, and despite his NFL OC success, Ball State is a good place for him to rehab his CFB resume and keep the program on steady ground.Comment
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
Really like how everything went down with Coach Savage and Ball State's futures. LOVE the move to Syracuse - I've run with them a few times in older game dynasties and always liked building them up to be an elite program, and it's a solid step-up for Coach Savage and his trajectory. Also like Kliff coming in to lead Ball State - they certainly were appealing for a good head coach, and despite his NFL OC success, Ball State is a good place for him to rehab his CFB resume and keep the program on steady ground.
I think it is a win-win move for both Ball State and Kliff. They get a high profile coach to keep the momentum going and Kliff gets a chance to reestablish himself with a turn key program after the success Savage had. Any job offers Kliff gets from Ball State will be considered and taken if it is the right opportunity for him, then we'll work on finding the next coach to keep Ball State rolllingComment
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
Coach Savage Q&W With The Daily Orange
Bryan Pittman: Welcome to The Daily Orange podcast, your go-to source for all things Syracuse Orange football. I’m Bryan Pittman, and today, I’m joined by Syracuse head coach Nash Savage. Coach, thanks for taking the time during a brief break in the season.
Nash Savage: Absolutely, Bryan. Glad to be here.
BP: At your introductory press conference, you briefly touched on the unusual circumstances surrounding your hiring. Can you expand on that?
NS: Of course. Syracuse reached out after Fran Brown’s departure following the Mid-American Championship game. I flew to Syracuse during Ball State’s bye week before the College Football Playoff first round, and after meeting with the administration, it was clear we both wanted to make this happen. However, I was adamant that nothing be announced until Ball State’s season was over. I didn’t want any distractions for my team as we pursued a national title.
BP: How challenging was it to build your staff without publicly announcing your agreement with Syracuse?
NS: Honestly, not as tough as you might think. Tommy was someone I had previously discussed bringing to Muncie as a passing game coordinator after he left Cleveland, but he decided to return to Notre Dame as a special advisor. When I reached out, I was confident he’d be interested in a larger role unless Notre Dame made him an offer. He told me he was all in. As for Earnest, I had the administration reach out to gauge his interest without revealing my name. Once I was officially hired, he told me he suspected it was me or Jon Sumrall at Tulane, but he was betting on me.
BP: When Fran Brown was let go, and with other coaching jobs opening up, was Syracuse originally on your radar?
NS: Honestly? No, and I hope the Orange faithful don’t hold that against me. There were a few jobs that caught my eye, but Syracuse wasn’t initially one of them. When John Wildhack reached out, I did my homework on the program, the culture, and the facilities. Once I visited, toured the JMA Dome, and got a feel for the vision here, I knew this was the right fit.
BP: You don't have to name the schools, but were there other offers on the table?
NS: Washington and BYU reached out again, but I made it clear I wasn’t looking to relocate to the West Coast. Stanford reached out after Stoops took the Penn State job, which was ironic since we faced each other in the national championship. Michigan also expressed interest, but I declined both opportunities.
BP: Michigan is a premier program. Why turn down an interview there?
NS: To be frank, it was part of their second round of interviews. If I wasn’t on their initial shortlist, I didn’t see the fit. They ended up hiring Brent Brennan, and I think he’s a fantastic coach. It worked out for both sides.
BP: At the start of spring practice, you made waves by declaring that “every job is open.” How did the veteran players respond?
NS: I spoke with them beforehand and made it clear—my only loyalty is to performance. I didn’t recruit these guys, so they had to prove themselves. It wasn’t a slight; it was a challenge. Jakhari Williams embraced it and encouraged his teammates to do the same.
BP: What was his reaction when you called on him to finish the Week 1 game against UMass?
NS: He was ready. He had already looked sharp in the first quarter, and when I sat next to him before the fourth, he gave me a look like, “About time, Coach.” When I told him to warm up, he just nodded.
BP: How do you manage a situation where Jumaane Cox, who has starting potential, is in a backup role?
NS: I told him that not winning the job wasn’t a knock on his talent. He pressed a little against UMass, and it showed with two uncharacteristic interceptions. He’s got the ability, and if he’s our guy next year, I’ll be completely confident in him. Right now, he’s focusing on mastering the offense and being ready when his moment comes.
BP: You recently faced Louisiana and your former offensive coordinator, Brian Lindgren. What was that experience like?
NS: First off, Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium is incredible. I had never coached a game in Louisiana, so that was a fun experience. Facing Brian was like a live chess match—we both knew each other’s tendencies. Hopefully, I continue growing my coaching tree so I can have more of these matchups in the future.
BP: You and Lindgren had a moment on the field postgame. What did he say after Syracuse dominated?
NS: He joked that it was great to see me but that he hopes we never play in Louisiana again. Losing with your starting QB that early in the season is tough, but I know he’ll get that program where it needs to be.
BP: Did the trip help with recruiting, or are you focusing on Central New York prospects?
NS: Keeping local talent home is a priority—nothing builds a fanbase like watching hometown kids succeed. But we’re also aggressively recruiting Florida and Alabama. Coach Hill has been instrumental in that effort.
BP: How do you convince Florida recruits to leave the warm weather for snowy Syracuse?
NS: Simple: I remind them that Miami keeps getting top talent and underachieving in the postseason. My message is clear—Syracuse is on the rise. They can follow the hype to “The U,” a name that hasn’t meant much outside of Miami for a while, or they can come here and make a statement. When we walk into Hard Rock Stadium and dominate, they’ll want to be on our sideline, not theirs.
BP: That’s a bold statement. Did you give a similar message before your dominant win over Penn State?
NS: Absolutely. They beat Penn State last year in what many considered a down season. I told our guys we had the talent to make it two in a row, and they proved me right.
BP: Looking at last year’s 7-6 finish, do you think this team underachieved?
NS: It’s hard to say since I wasn’t here, but I’ll tell you this—this roster is loaded with talent. From our receivers to our secondary and even our converted quarterback in the backfield, there are playmakers everywhere. I could go on all day, but I’ll keep it short—Jason Veasy is the real deal, and the ACC has been put on notice.
BP: Before we talk about the upcoming ACC schedule, how closely have you followed your former team, Ball State?
NS: I stay in touch with Kliff throughout the week and check in with the administration. They had a tough loss to Notre Dame in Week 1, but I don’t think that’s a reflection on Kliff or the team. They bounced back strong in a rematch despite some turnovers from Titus Awe. Their upcoming game against Ohio State will be a real test, but I’m confident Kliff will have them on track for a fourth straight MAC Championship appearance.
BP: Conference play kicks off next week against 24th-ranked Duke. What’s your mindset heading into ACC competition?
NS: The same as every week—win. If you don’t believe you’re the favorite, you’ve already lost. We expect to go out there and handle business.
BP: One last question, Coach. You visit Doak Campbell Stadium in Week 5 to face former ACC member Florida State. With their move to the SEC, do you see this as a rivalry game in the making?
NS: We see it as another opportunity to expand our presence in the South and showcase what this program is becoming. Historically, this has been a one-sided matchup. This game gives us a chance to change that narrative and prove Syracuse is ready to contend beyond the ACC.
BP: Coach, thanks for your time. Best of luck in conference play.
NS: Appreciate it, Bryan. Looking forward to the season ahead.Comment
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
2028 Week Five Preview
Matchup Preview *|* September 30, 2028 @ #25 Syracuse Orange
(3-0, 1-0 Away)#21 Duke Blue Devils
(4-0, 2-0 Home)
Duke Blue Devils 82/82/82 Depth Chart - 2028 Regular Offense STARTER 2ND 3RD 4TH WR SR(RS) Chase Tyler (86) SR Cory Slye (83) SR(RS) Billy Griggs (78) TE SO(RS) Lester Hull (81) SR Antoine Singer (79) FR Jacques Baggs (67) LT SR(RS) Jack Small (89) JR(RS) David Bartu (78) LG JR Dennis Armour (88) JR(RS) Thomas Baity (83) C JR(RS) Jaren Burfict (89) SR(RS) Kelvin Gumbs (84) RG SR(RS) Bradley Smith (85) JR Joshua Cantrell (82) RT SO(RS) Jayden Faulk (82) FR(RS) Nick Acho (68) WR JR Tyree Faggins (89) SO(RS) Owen Godfrey (85) SO Clayton Angel (81) QB SO(RS) Erix Perrilloux (81) FR Chauncey Goodley (71) FB SR Connor Maddox (72) HB JR(RS) Dwayne Tompkins (83) FR(RS) Nolan Darnold (68) FR Kerrick Cummings (60) Base 4-3 Defense STARTER 2ND 3RD 4TH LDE SR(RS) Tyshon Reed (89) SO(RS) Edward Colman (76) LDT SO(RS) Ben Marrow (84) SO Joey Gostkowski (69) RDT FR Dave Keenan (74) SO Colton Sabri (67) RDE SR(RS) Kobe Smith (88) FR(RS) Keke Nwokorie (69) WLB JR(RS) Gideon Savage (84) FR(RS) Kevin Feliz (73) MLB JR(RS) Jabari Hand (83) SO Gabriel Adock (70) SLB SR(RS) Orlando Horner (80) FR Jarrid Biggs (68) CB SR(RS) Kyren Condoll (84) SR(RS) Vontae Floyd (80) FR(RS) Kane Nester (70) SS JR Alfonso Franks (76) FR(RS) Danny Gage (70) FS SO(RS) Emanuel Arcuri (85) JR(RS) Jimmy Boyce (80) CB SR(RS) Khari Reid (84) FR(RS) Jake Cooke (80) FR(RS) Kane Nester (70)
Duke Blue Devils Stats - 2028 Passing C/ATT YDS AVG YDS/G LONG TD INT RAT Erik Perrilloux 85/123 (69%) 980 8.0 245.0 79 13 1 169.2 Rushing ATT YDS AVG LONG 20+ TD YDS/G FUM Dwayne Tompkins 49 256 5.2 38 4 2 64.0 0 Receiving REC YDS AVG TD LONG DROPS YDS/G YAC Owen Godfrey 20 284 14.2 5 62 0 71.0 138 Tackles Sacks Interceptions Defense SOLO AST TOT SACK TLOSS PD INT TD MLB Jabari Hand 19 7 26 1 3 2 1 0 DE Tyshon Reed 5 3 8 1 3 0 0 0 DT Dave Keenan 6 1 7 4 1 0 0 0 CB Vontae Floyd 12 3 15 0 0 1 1 0
Week Five ACC Schedule
FCS @ North Carolina (2-2)
East Carolina (3-1) @ Wake Forest (2-1)
FCS @ Virginia (1-3)
Georgia Tech (3-0) @ West Virginia (2-2)
#18 Maryland (3-1) @ Liberty (1-2)
Virginia Tech (2-1) @ #4 Clemson (4-0)
NC State (2-2) @ Troy (1-2)
#8 South Carolina (3-1) @ Kentucky (2-1)
#14 Miami (1-2) @ #17 Pittsburgh (3-1)
Notable Week Five Matchups
#20 Texas (2-2) @ #12 Tennessee (2-1)
#15 Utah (3-0) @ #5 Oregon (3-0)
#11 UAB (4-0) @ #13 Rutgers (2-1)
Tulsa (3-0) @ #24 Tulane (#3-1)
#19 Ball State (2-1) @ Eastern Michigan (1-2)
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
Syracuse Overcomes Halftime Deficit With 38-0 Finish
Dalvin Holley turned the momentum quickly, intercepting the 1st pass of the 2nd half as Syracuse rallied in the 2nd half.
Syracuse Orange at Duke Blue Devils Sep 30, 2028 1 2 3 4 F #25 SYR (3-0) 14 7 21 17 59 #21 DUKE (4-0) 0 28 0 0 28 Top Performers PASS: DU Erik Perrilloux - 18/29, 266 Yds, 3 TD, 3 INT RUSH: SU JC Hoag - 20 Att, 119 Yds, 3 TD REC: DU Chase Tyler - 7 Rec, 104 Yds, 2 TD Team Stats Comparison SYR DUKE First Downs 30 11 3rd Down Efficiency 7/10 3/10 4th Down Efficiency 0/0 0/0 Total Yards 676 439 Passing Yards 275 266 Rushing Yards 39 - 224 18 - 20 Penalties-Penalty Yards 2 - 20 1 - 10 Turnovers 2 3 Time of Possession 25:17 18:43 Scoring Summary FIRST QUARTER SCORING SYR DUKE 6:12 (SYR) Mateo Chickillo, 8 Yd Pass From Jakhari Williams 7 0 0:03 (SYR) JC Hoag, 1 Yd Run 14 0 SECOND QUARTER SCORING SYR DUKE 10:24 (DUKE) Tyree Faggins, 71 Yd Pass From Erik Perrilloux 14 7 7:46 (DUKE) Chase Tyler, 41 Yd Pass From Erik Perrilloux 14 14 5:07 (SYR) Spencer Vernon, 46 Yd Run 21 14 1:12 (DUKE) Chase Tyler, 11 Yd Pass From Erik Perrilloux 21 21 0:36 (DUKE) Kyren Condoll, Returned Interception 67 Yds 21 28 THIRD QUARTER SCORING SYR DUKE 8:39 (SYR) JC Hoag, 1 Yd Run 28 28 6:39 (SYR) Elton Romberg, Returned Punt 60 Yds 35 28 2:11 (SYR) Carlos Simms, 37 Yd Pass From Jakhari Williams 42 28 FOURTH QUARTER SCORING SYR DUKE 10:58 (SYR) JC Hoag, 1 Yd Run 49 28 6:17 (SYR) Tevin Westerman, 2 Yd Run 56 28 1:34 (SYR) Desmond Brewer, 44 Yd FG 59 28 Syracuse Orange PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Jakhari Williams 17/26 275 2 2 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD JC Hoag 20 119 5.9 3 Jakhari Williams 9 19 2.1 0 Spencer Vernon 9 84 9.3 1 Tevin Westerman 1 2 2.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Phil Hutton 4 80 20.0 0 Spencer Vernon 3 46 15.3 0 Felix Redwine 2 30 15.0 0 Jaylan Hornsby 2 22 11.0 0 Mateo Chickillo 2 33 16.5 1 Ja'Meer Thomas 2 29 14.5 0 Carlos Simms 1 37 37.0 1 JC Hoag 1 -2 -2.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Kane Harris 0 1 Carlos Concepcion 7 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD MLB Jayden Brown 7 1 (2TFL) 0 0 CB Bradley Land 5 0 (1TFL) 2 0 LB Sean Schlauderaff 3 1.5 (3TFL) 0 0 CB Dalvin Holley 3 0 1 0 DT Alex Clinton 1 1 (1TFL) 0 0 DE Jahide Lesaine Jr 1 0.5 (1TFL) 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG Desmond Brewer 1/1 8/8 11 45 PUNTING TOT YDS AVG -20 Michael Chickillo 1 36 36.0 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Elton Romberg 2 35 17.5 0 Carlos Simms 2 35 17.5 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Elton Romberg 6 107 17.8 1 Duke Blue Devils PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Erik Perrilloux 18/29 266 3 3 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Dwayne Tompkins 11 37 3.3 0 Erik Perrilloux 5 -19 -3.8 0 Owen Godfrey 2 2 1.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Chase Tyler 7 104 14.8 2 Owen Godfrey 3 25 8.3 0 Tyree Faggins 3 87 29.0 1 Lester Hull 2 22 11.0 0 Clayton Angel 1 12 12.0 0 Cory Slye 1 8 8.0 0 Dwayne Tompkins 1 8 8.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK Bradley Smith 4 2 Jaren Burfict 6 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD LB Gideon Savage 10 0 0 0 SS Alfonso Franks 9 1 (1TFL) 0 0 DE Tyshon Reed 6 1.5 (3TFL) 0 0 CB Kyren Condoll 6 0 (1TFL) 1 1 DE Kobe Smith 5 1.5 (2TFL) 0 0 CB Khari Reed 4 0 1 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LG Cosme Salas 0/0 4/4 4 NA PUNTING TOT YDS AVG -20 Joey Addai 6 202 33.6 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Cory Slye 10 148 14.8 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD Tyree Faggins 1 5 5.0 0
LEFT - Kyren Condoll ending the 1st half in style for the Dukies with a pick six, the 2nd INT of the half for Jakhari Williams.
CENTER - Spencer Vernon continues to be a big play machine with another 130 all purpose yards.
RIGHT - Chase Tyler with the fancy footwork to snag his 2nd TD of the explosive 2nd quarter for Duke.
Durham, NC. - After a wild first half, Syracuse put together a dominant second-half performance to secure a convincing 59-28 road victory over #25 Duke. The Orange improved to 4-0, while the Blue Devils suffered their first loss of the season.
Syracuse jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter behind a balanced attack. Jakhari Williams connected with Mateo Chickillo for an 8-yard touchdown before JC Hoag punched in a 1-yard score to cap an efficient opening period.
However, the second quarter saw momentum shift dramatically. Duke quarterback Erik Perrilloux caught fire, throwing three touchdown passes, including a 71-yard strike to Tyree Faggins and two to Chase Tyler. A costly pick-six thrown by Williams just before halftime allowed Kyren Condoll to return an interception 67 yards, giving Duke a stunning 28-21 lead.
Syracuse managed to keep pace thanks to a highlight 46-yard touchdown run from Spencer Vernon, but the Blue Devils entered halftime with the momentum.
The Orange defense set the tone early in the third quarter, intercepting Perrilloux on his first attempt of the half. That turnover ignited a Syracuse scoring spree. JC Hoag notched his second 1-yard touchdown run, followed by a dazzling 60-yard punt return touchdown by Elton Romberg. Jakhari Williams rebounded from his first-half struggles with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Simms, giving Syracuse a commanding 42-28 lead heading into the fourth.
Syracuse never let up, tacking on 17 more points in the final frame. Hoag powered in his third rushing touchdown, Tevin Westerman added a 2-yard score, and Desmond Brewer sealed the victory with a 44-yard field goal. The Orange defense completely shut down Duke in the second half, forcing three interceptions and holding the Blue Devils to just 82 total yards after halftime.
Head coach Nash Savage notched his first ACC victory in emphatic fashion and wasted no time making an impact on the recruiting trail. Following the win, Syracuse secured commitments from two key offensive line prospects: 4-star guard Sam Yates (#85 OVR) and 4-star tackle Tim Cleveland (#319 OVR).
Syracuse remains on the road next week as they travel to Tallahassee to face former ACC powerhouse Florida State. Meanwhile, in the Midwest, Savage’s former program, Ball State, continued its hot streak with a statement 35-27 win over Ohio State before rolling over Eastern Michigan 45-24.
The Orange are rolling—and the ACC has been put on notice.
Week Five ACC Results
0 FCS @ North Carolina (3-2) 38
32 East Carolina (4-1) @ Wake Forest (2-2) 28
3 FCS @ Virginia (2-3) 35
10 Georgia Tech (3-1) @ West Virginia (3-2) 33
26 #12 Maryland (4-1) @ Liberty (1-3) 20
29 Virginia Tech (2-2) @ #4 Clemson (5-0) 43
10 NC State (2-3) @ Troy (2-2) 20
24 #18 South Carolina (3-2) @ Kentucky (3-1) 38
35 #9 Miami (2-2) @ Pittsburgh (3-2) 24
Notable Week Five Results
24 Texas (2-3) @ #8 Tennessee (3-1) 25
10 #19 Utah (3-1) @ #5 Oregon (4-0) 45
28 Nebraska (3-2) @ #25 SMU (2-2) 17
28 Nevada (3-2) @ #20 USC (4-1) 10
17 #24 TCU (3-1) @ #11 Kansas State (3-2) 16
20 #7 UAB (5-0) @ #13 Rutgers (2-2) 19
28 #23 Tulsa (4-0) @ Tulane (3-2) 24
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
2028 Week Six Preview
Matchup Preview *|* October 7, 2028 @ #17 Syracuse Orange
(4-0, 2-0 Away)Florida State Seminoles
(2-3, 1-2 Home)Injury Report WR BJ Gibson (85)
Broken Hand (3 Weeks)C Juan Cabral (79)
Dislocated Ankle (6 Weeks)
Florida State Seminoles 84/84/84 Depth Chart - 2028 Regular Offense STARTER 2ND 3RD 4TH WR SR(RS) Lawayne McCoy (85) SO(RS) Clay Trahan (80) FR Greg Hay (66) TE JR David Guy (84) JR Bobby Cornell (81) SO Jonathan Skaggs (72) LT SR(RS) Jonathan Daniels (87) JR(RS) Tyree Golladay (76) LG JR(RS) Perry Hay (86) JR(RS) Antuwan Nunn (8) C FR(RS) Rashad Queen (74) FR Antonio Wahl (61) RG JR(RS) Tyler Uzomah (83) SO Aiden Wilhelm (80) RT SO(RS) Austin Leon (84) JR(RS) Dante Leber (75) WR SR(RS) Camdon Frier (89) SO Charlie McGarity (83) SO(RS) Stephen Cooks (79) QB SR(RS) Trever Jackson (80) JR(RS) Clay McKenna (76) FB SR Deontae Scruggs (73) HB SR(RS) Kam Davis (86) JR(RS) Randy Schaluderaff (79) SO(RS) Owen Ritter (79) Base 3-4 Defense STARTER 2ND 3RD 4TH LDE SR(RS) Amaree Williams (88) JR(RS) Sam To'oto'o (77) NT SO Tye DeGeare (71) FR(RS) Frank Fine (70) RDE JR(RS) Keilan Riggs (84) FR Greg Pili (70) LOLB SO(RS) Doug Briscoe (78) SR Konrad Simonson (78) LILB SO(RS) Tavares Dach (83) JR(RS) Keliko Lehr (74) RILB SR(RS) Timir Hickman Collins (85) FR Alex Cordani (68) ROLB SO(RS) Jeremy Matthews (78) FR(RS) Kona Topa (76) CB SO(RS) Oscar Garnes (81) FR(RS) Trent Whimper (80) FR(RS) Darrell Wragge (73) SS JR(RS) Jorvante Jerman (78) SO(RS) Lyle Cadet (64) FS JR(RS) Bradley Yeboah (78) SO Demarco Shields (76) CB SO(RS) Zach Kaczur (80) SO(RS) Terrance Kane (78) FR(RS) Darrell Wragge (73)
Florida State Seminoles Stats - 2028 Passing C/ATT YDS AVG YDS/G LONG TD INT RAT Trever Jackson 97/151 (64%) 1,328 8.8 265.6 82 11 6 154.2 Rushing ATT YDS AVG LONG 20+ TD YDS/G FUM Kam Davis 66 315 4.9 33 4 5 63.0 0 Receiving REC YDS AVG TD LONG DROPS YDS/G YAC Camdon Frier 25 556 22.2 5 82 4 111.2 251 Tackles Sacks Interceptions Defense SOLO AST TOT SACK TLOSS PD INT TD MLB Timir Hickman-Collins 34 11 45 1 1 4 1 0 DE Amaree Williams 14 2 16 6 4 0 0 0 DE Keilan Riggs 13 6 19 1.5 1 0 0 0 CB Oscar Gaines 15 5 20 0 0 0 1 0
Week Six ACC Schedule
#12 Maryland (4-1) @ Georgia Tech (3-1)
#9 Miami (2-2) @ Wake Forest (2-2)
#4 Clemson (5-0) @ Virginia (2-3)
Duke (4-1) @ West Virginia (3-2)
Virginia Tech (2-2) @ Pittsburgh (3-2)
Notable Week Six Matchups
#8 Tennessee (3-1) @ #10 Louisville (4-1)
#3 LSU (4-0) @ #1 Georgia (4-0)
Texas Tech (3-1) @ #6 Missouri (4-0)
Western Michigan (2-2) @ #14 Ball State (3-1)
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
This is in-depth reporting and I love it. A big game against FSU and man DFuke was cookin' in the second quarter no? Great work with Syracuse so far. Go Cuse!! Orange Crate, Faegan's and Marshall Street are jumpin' at the thought of a victory over Duke. Great stuff here!Comment
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
They played a great 2nd Quarter.. I find it interesting when that happens. Last year when I played West Virginia they scored 3 times in the 1st Quarter then struggled for the next 2 Quarters with nothing.Comment
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
What a dominant second half against Duke - really like how the team responded after that 14-point swing to end the quarter.Comment
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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)
This is in-depth reporting and I love it. A big game against FSU and man DFuke was cookin' in the second quarter no? Great work with Syracuse so far. Go Cuse!! Orange Crate, Faegan's and Marshall Street are jumpin' at the thought of a victory over Duke. Great stuff here!
The 14 point swing was brutal, but getting the quick pick out of the break sparked the whole team. Part of it was me pressing too, once we give up a lead I feel like I've got to score on every position and take too many risks. They paid off with Ball State cause I had Nyck to bail me out, but while all of the WRs are good I've yet to find my "guy", but its starting to look like Vernon is it. He keeps making hug plays when we need it mostComment
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