SYRACUSE, New York (AP) – The Syracuse Orange are looking to get off to a quick start in their season opener against the Ohio Bobcats under new coach Fran Brown.

Brown takes over after Dino Babers was fired last year and has assembled a roster that includes quarterback Kyle McCord, who came over from Ohio State.

• Ohio at Syracuse, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
• BetMGM college football odds: Syracuse at 17 1/2.
• Series record: Syracuse leads 3-0.

What is it about?

The Fran Brown era is dawning in Syracuse and the Orange have four home games ahead of them to help the new head coach start the 2024 season.

Anything less than a 3-1 start and a dominant performance against Ohio would be disappointing. A Week 2 matchup against ACC opponent Georgia Tech, which beat Florida State last weekend, will be worth watching.

The Bobcats had their second consecutive 10-win season in 2023, but fourth-year coach Tim Albin has a daunting task ahead of him this season. The Bobcats have only six starters back.

Important duel

Ohio State Running Game vs. Orange County Defense: The Bobcats look to run down the clock and keep Syracuse’s potentially high-powered offense off the field.

That’s easier said than done. Three-year starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke and top rusher Sieh Bangura transferred and the Bobcats had to replace their seven top receivers.

Players in focus

Ohio: Dual-threat quarterback Parker Navarro has seen limited playing time. Now in his third year after transferring from UCF, he appeared in six games last season. Navarro completed 18 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 178 yards on 25 attempts.

Syracuse: All eyes will be on Kyle McCord, a former five-star recruit who threw for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions for Ohio State in 2023.

The Orange’s rebuilt offensive line, which averages 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, will have to protect McCord, who is more of a pocket passer than Syracuse fans may be used to. All-ACC preseason tight end Oronde Gadsden II returns from a season-ending Lisfranc injury.

Facts & Figures

• In their last meeting three years ago, the Orange defeated the Bobcats 29-9.
• The Bobcats’ returning wide receivers scored just three touchdowns in 2023.
• Ohio had the fourth-best total defense in the country and one of the top 15 pass defenses in 2023.
• The Bobcats recorded 36 sacks.
• The 2023 Orange managed 400 yards or more six times and achieved a score of 6-0 in those games.
• Nine teams had more penalties than the Orange in 2023.
• Syracuse was only able to successfully complete 10 of 16 field goal attempts.
• After the home game on September 28th against Holy Cross, Syracuse will not play at home again until November 2nd, against Virginia Tech.

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