Syracuse Football Makes Unique History in Difficult Loss to Clemson

The Syracuse Orange football team lost to Clemson on Saturday afternoon 18-13 inside the JMA Wireless Dome to fall to 4-5 on the season. The Orange are also just 2-5 inside Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play.

The Orange need wins in two of their final three games in order get bowl-eligible, and they cannot finish above .500 in league play.

Our own Brady Farkas offered his takeaways from the home defeat on Saturday, but one of his key points revolved around the general success of the SU defense. While Syracuse gave up 18 points, the defense did not allow any touchdowns, instead giving up only four field goals.

The only touchdown that Clemson scored scored came on a defensive play in the second half, but that was not without controversy. Orange quarterback Steve Angeli dropped back to pass and was hit by a Clemson defender. Angeli's arm seemed to be going forward with a pass which would have ruled the play dead and an incomplete pass. However, on the field, the officials let the play continue and Clemson took advantage with the scoring play. Multiple replays by the ACC did not have enough visual evidence to overturn the call. 

In total, the Orange defense held Clemson to under 400 yards of total offense and under 20 first downs. Syracuse also recovered a fumble and had an interception. And of course, they forced Clemson into field goal attempts rather than touchdowns.

The lone offensive touchdown of the game was scored by Syracuse in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Steve Angeli found local product and tight end Daunte Bacheyie with 3:12 remaining in the game for the lone offensive score.

The 2026 version of this contest was very similar to the 2014 matchup between the two schools. Syracuse was hoping to secure an upset over the Tigers, but fell short in a 16-6 loss. In that game, like Saturday's, only one offensive touchdown was scored and it came in the fourth quarter by Clemson. 

Rarely does a team lose a football game without allowing an offensive touchdown. The last time Syracuse football lost a game when it did not allow an offensive touchdown was Sept. 9, 2000 when Syracuse lost to Cincinnati, 12-10. Syracuse was still in the Big East then.

Syracuse will travel to Raleigh, N.C. to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Kickoff on Saturday is set for noon ET.