NC State will hit the road for the final time during the 2020 season as they head to Syracuse for a 12 pm kickoff Saturday from the Carrier Dome. The Wolfpack are coming off a three-game home stand where they finished 2-1, only dropping a three-point contest to top 10 ranked Miami and most recently topping previously undefeated Liberty in dramatic fashion.
NC State improved to 6-3 overall and stands at 5-3 in the ACC – already improving on last year’s win total. The Wolfpack are led by a strong ground attack featuring Zonovan “Bam” Knight (113 car, 631 yds, 7 TD) along with Ricky Person Jr (109 car, 515 yds, 3TD). The Wolfpack defense is anchored by lineman Alim McNeil, who has risen high on the NFL draft boards this season along with linebacker Peyton Wilson who ranks near the top in tackles in the ACC.
Syracuse enters the contest at 1-8 overall and 1-7 in the ACC – dropping their last six games – most recently on the wrong end of a 30-0 shutout against Louisville. In spite of the disappointing record, the Orange lead the nation in takeaways with 20
Game Notes:
- The game will mark the eighth time the Pack and the Orange have met as Atlantic Coast Conference foes and the 14th meeting overall in the series.
- NC State posts an 11-2 record against Syracuse, with the only losses coming in Raleigh, 10-24, in 2013 and a 2018 shootout in Syracuse, 41-51.
- Since the Orange began playing in the building in 1980, the Orange have closed the building on a high note more often than not. ‘Cuse is 24-16 in home finales in the 40- year history of the stadium.
- Syracuse TE Aaron Hackett is tied for the Syracuse record in career touchdown receptions by a tight end, one shy of becoming the program’s all-time record holder.
- Freshman running back Sean Tucker enters Saturday’s game ranked sixth in Orange history in rushing yards by a freshman (507 yards).
- NC State has faced five ranked teams in 2020 (Virginia Tech, Pitt, UNC, Miami & Liberty). The Pack has won two of those contests. Five ranked opponents are the most in a season for the Pack since 1997 – when Mike O’Cain’s team also faced five ranked opponents.
- Junior Levi Jones has three blocked kicks for the season (2 punts, 1 FG). He is tied for 2nd inWolfpack history with those 3 blocked kicks and is the first Wolfpack player since 2010 to block two punts in a season. He is now tied for first nationally in blocked kicks.