A quick take on Syracuse’s humiliating 30-0 loss to Louisville on Friday night on a nationally televised game on ESPN:
WHAT HAPPENED: Syracuse was shut out in its sixth straight loss of the season, as the offense continued its year-long sputter. Already ranked 128th in the FBS in offense heading into the game, the Orange was only able to muster 137 total yards, and just 45 yards through the air. Syracuse was just 1-10 on third down (by comparison, Louisville was 2-2 on fourth down), while turning the ball over three times. Jacobian Morgan was 5-12 for 40 yards and an interception before leaving with an injury, and the Cardinals scored 17 points in the decisive second quarter to essentially put the game out of reach by halftime (20-0).
ANALYSIS: No, Dino Babers isn’t on the hot seat. He’s only two seasons removed from SU’s first 10-win season since 2001. He’s also the first coach in the past four head coaches to lead SU to a top 25 ranking. Plus, Syracuse gave him a contract extension following the 2018 season, so for better or worse, Babers is not going anywhere anytime soon. And again, the Orange is playing without several of its top players (Tommy DeVito, Andre Cisco, Trill Williams, Chris Bleich, just to name a few). If you combine that with missed practices due to a pandemic and new coordinators on both sides of the ball, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Orange has struggled. That doesn’t make a likely 1-10 season any easier to watch.
HERO: With 6:31 left in the first quarter, defensive back Garrett Williams made a leaping one-handed interception that will surely make its rounds on the highlight reels. Sean Tucker (93 rushing yards) was the only bright spot on an otherwise miserable offensive night.
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ZERO: There are so many options to choose from, from the three turnovers (fumbles on special teams and an interception), penalties (8 flags for 68 yards) and overall first downs (7), but this stat was perhaps the most telling: Louisville possessed the ball for 41:27. Syracuse had the ball for 18:14. Ouch.
WHAT’S NEXT: Syracuse returns home for its final game of 2020 at the Carrier Dome against NC State on Saturday, Nov. 28.
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