After three non-conference games to start the season, the Virginia football team will take on its first ACC opponent of the 2022 campaign, the Syracuse Orange. Coming off a 1-10 record in 2020, the Orange started the 2021 season 5-4 before dropping their last three games to finish 5-7.

Dino Babers, who is entering his seventh season at the helm, is on maybe the hottest seat in the ACC. Other than a 10-3 season in 2018, Cuse has yet to see more than five wins in a season during his tenure, amassing a 29-43 record. Another storyline for this matchup will be Robert Anae and Jason Beck coaching against their former team, as Anae took the offensive coordinator job at Syracuse after Bronco Mendenhall’s departure, while Beck is the QB coach.

Let’s look at the next game on the 2022 schedule.

Syracuse Orange

• Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 – 7:30 p.m.
• JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY (FieldTurf)
• 2021 Overall Record: 5-7 (2-6 ACC)
• Coach: Dino Babers, 7th season
• Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2015 – UVA won 44-38 (3OT)
• Key Returning Players: Sean Tucker (RB), Mikel Jones (LB), Darian “Duce” Chestnut (DB), Garrett Williams (DB), Stefon Thompson (LB)

What To Expect On Game Day

What’s To Like: Syracuse returns multiple players from 2021. The Orange return about 80% of last season’s production and 17 starters. On one hand, this could be looked at as a negative, especially when a team goes under .500. However, it shows there is stability with the team and experience, which is something that the Cavaliers are lacking at various positions.  

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