The Syracuse Orange football team (4-5) has three games left to play in its regular season. They need two wins to become bowl eligible for the second time in three years. They'll get a chance to earn one of those wins on Saturday (noon ET) when they take on NC State in Raleigh, N.C.

In its most recent matchup, Syracuse was almost able to pull off a home upset against the Clemson Tigers, but the Orange lost 18-13. While the game was close, it was not without controversy. The lone touchdown scored by the Tigers came on a fumble by Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli that was returned for a touchdown.

However, SU head coach Fran Brown revealed something very interesting about the play on Thursday.

Speaking on his weekly radio show, Brown said he got a call from the ACC offices:

"It turned out be a mistake and a sorry. I got two of those this year. Cal (California) punt return that was a touchdown, and then that one there. But it is what it is.”

As Brown noted, in an earlier loss (21-18) against California, Syracuse had a punt return touchdown from Demetres Samuel Jr. taken off the board because of a flag.

The admission of a mistake has zero impact on the future of Syracuse's season. The ACC's ownership of a wrong call does show responsibility in admitting a wrong call, but the impact of that play had a massive affect on the game. The Orange can make a strong case that if that call was made correctly, the game's end result could have been different. In fact, the Orange could have won that game if that touchdown was taken off the board. 

If the Orange are only able to win just one of their last three games, they will fall one win short of being bowl-eligible. However, after the ACC's admission of failure in the game against Clemson, the league should handle Syracuse's future differently.

In the game against Clemson, the Orange did not allow an offensive touchdown. The last time Syracuse lost a game without allowing an offensive touchdown was more than 25 years ago. 

An apology or admission of mistake gives Syracuse nothing in return. 

However, the ACC and NCAA does have the power to fix the issue. The ACC has 17 bowl tie ins this upcoming bowl game season. The conference has 17 teams, but not all 17 teams will reach the six-win total. 

Syracuse should be given a bowl berth even if it falls one win short of the six-win number.

As stated above, Syracuse is playing NC State on Saturday at noon ET Here's all you "Need To Know" about that matchup.

After the Orange take on the Wolfpack. they will play Boston College the following Saturday at noon.

Syracuse will close out the season with a home game against Notre Dame. That game is Nov. 28 but there is no game time yet.