Syracuse quarterback: It’s ‘our year’ to beat Clemson football team

The Syracuse football team had Clemson on the ropes in Death Valley last fall, leading the Tigers 21-10 entering the fourth quarter of an AP Top 15.

This time around, Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader thinks they’ll finish the job.

Speaking at the ACC Kickoff preseason media event Tuesday, Shrader, Syracuse’s fifth-year starting quarterback, said Clemson is “obviously one of the best teams in the country” and gets the best from all of its opponents. That includes the Orange, who lost to Clemson 27-21 last season after blowing an 11-point fourth quarter lead.

“This year, I think it’s our year to take them down,” Shrader said, per TigerNet. “Hopefully. We’ve got to be ready to play and take it one week at a time. I’m excited.”

Clemson’s 2022 win over Syracuse (which was 6-1 and ranked No. 14 nationally at that point) moved the Tigers to 9-2 all time against the Orange, with all but one of those games coming since the Orange moved from the Big East to the ACC in 2013.

The Tigers have won five straight since Syracuse’s memorable upset win over then-No. 2 Clemson in 2017 and nine of 11 since 2013, but it’s been close. Syracuse, a former ACC Atlantic Division foe, has stayed within a touchdown of Clemson in two of their last four and four of their last six meetings (including the 2017 win).

Syracuse, coached by Dino Babers, has also covered the spread against Clemson in five of the last six meetings despite being a double-digit underdog in each contest. (Clemson was favored by 14 points last season and won by six.)

Clemson will travel to Syracuse for a Saturday Sept. 30 game at the JMA Wireless Dome (formerly the Carrier Dome). It’ll be the Tigers’ fifth game of the 2023 season.