The Orange will open up the new season on Saturday against New Hampshire.
Syracuse football has had a long history of having success in the first home game to start off a season. The Orange hold a 96-34-4 record all time mark in the program's history.
Since 1980, the first season in which the Carrier Dome (now known as the JMA Wireless Dome) opened, Syracuse is 27-19 in home debuts. More recently, the Orange have won 10 of the last 12 games home openers.
This Saturday, Syracuse hopes to add another win to that list as they host New Hampshire. Kickoff between the Wildcats and Orange is set for noon ET.
Before the Wildcats and Orange get their match up under way. Let's look back at five memorable home openers in Syracuse football history
No. 5 - 2014 Syracuse vs Villanova
The Orange narrowly escaped an upset against FCS Villanova in double-overtime. The Wildcats had multiple miscues on special teams, including missed extra points. Syracuse needed a trick play from punter Riley Dixon to keep the momentum in their favor during the matchup. At 27-26 in double overtime, the Wildcats decided to go for the win and came up short.
No. 4 2012 Syracuse vs Northwestern
In Doug Marrone's final season as the school's head coach before leaving to coach the NFL's Buffalo Bills, his group almost pulled off an historic comeback. After trailing by 22 points, the Orange offense rallied to take the lead with less than one minute to go before Northwestern scored a touchdown to give the Wildcats the lead. Northwestern's defense hung on for the one-point (42-41) win.
Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib threw for 470 yards and four touchdowns in a losing effort.
The 83 points still stands as the most combined points for any home opener in school history.
No. 3: 2011 Syracuse vs Wake Forest
The 2012 home opener against Northwestern was memorable, but the previous season's was even better. In one of the most under appreciated games in Dome history, the Orange rallied to beat future ACC member Wake Forest 36-29.
Down by 15 points in the fourth quarter, the Orange rallied to force overtime. Then, in overtime, Van Chew caught a touchdown pass from Nassib to complete the come from behind victory.
No. 2: 1980 Syracuse vs Miami (Ohio)
"The Dome" officially opened to Syracuse fans after years of construction. Then known as the Carrier Dome, the venue would later host Syracuse football along with basketball and lacrosse action. In the first ever football game in "The Dome", Syracuse defeated Miami (Ohio) 36-24.
No. 1: 1998 Syracuse vs Tennessee
As an eight-year-old kid, I was in Section 303, Row ZZ watching this one with my dad. A sold out crowd in the Carrier Dome with Donovan McNabb leading the way at quarterback set the stage for an excellent experience.
However, the game is most well known for a controversial pass interference call late in the fourth quarter. The penalty resulted in Tennessee kicking a game-winning field to defeat the Orange 34-33. Syracuse would still go on to win the Big East that season. Tennessee, led by Tee Martin, went on to win the national championship.
