Syracuse football: the numbers behind the Orange’s historic upset win over #6 Miami

The notable facts and figures showcasing the significance of Syracuse’s big-time win over The U.

Syracuse Orange nation continues to embrace a historic day for the football program after overcoming a 21-point deficit to stun the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes in the regular season finale.

The win means a lot more than Syracuse ending head coach Fran Brown’s first year on a very strong note, or the consequences it had for the 2024 ACC Championship or will have for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

To hep contextualize everything from Saturday’s major win, here are just a few of the most important facts to digest from Syracuse’s 42-38 victory and what it means in the program’s history:

1998

Syracuse had lost its last six games to the Hurricanes, five of which came when both teams were in the Big East. 1998 marks the last time Syracuse beat The U as a ranked opponent. The Orange that year ended No. 25 in the final AP poll, finished 8-4 and earned a trip to the Orange Bowl versus Florida. This is also just the second time the Orange got a win over the Hurricanes as an AP top-25 team, the first where Miami began the game in the top-10.

Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

42 points

1998 also marks the last time Syracuse has gotten at least 40 points against The U. In the ‘98 game, Syracuse won 66-13. This was the third-most points Syracuse has ever scored against Miami in their 22 all-time matchups dating back to 1960.

2017

This win is the first time Syracuse has defeated an AP top-six opponent since the iconic upset win at home over the then-No. 2 Clemson Tigers. Ironically, Syracuse the very next game played a Hurricanes team who was No. 8 in the nation, falling 27-19 at Hard Rock Stadium.

AP top-six win as a rookie head coach

Fran Brown joins Paul Pasqualoni as the only two Syracuse football coaches since 1949 (year one of Ben Schwartzwalder) to beat an opponent ranked No. 6 or higher in the AP poll. Pasqualoni guided the Orange to a big win over the No. 5 Florida Gators; Brown beating No. 6 Miami is the second-highest ranked opponent a rookie head coach for the program has beaten.

Dino Babers (No. 17 Virginia Tech) and Doug Marrone (No. 25 Rutgers Scarlet Knights) are the only other coaches in Syracuse history with at least one AP top-25 win in their first year.

Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Ending on a high note

Following up on the info above, based on looking at all of Syracuse’s first-year head coaches, Brown is the first to end year one with a win over an AP top-six opponent. Marrone is the only other Syracuse coach since Schwartzwalder to get an AP-top 25 win in the final game of the regular season.

Nine wins

With the victory over Miami, Syracuse has reached nine wins for just the second time since joining the ACC (the other being 2018). The 2001 Orange are the only single-season team this century to reach nine regular season wins.

Largest comeback in program history

In its entire history, this was the largest deficit (21 points) Syracuse has ever rallied from to get a win. That coming against No. 6 Miami of all teams is even more insane.

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In short, it was a game where plenty of history was made for the Orange. Enjoy the moment while you can.