Syracuse Football To Play Villanova In 2014, Says Villanova Coach

A lot of folks have been wondering if the Syracuse Orange football team would start playing Big East schools on their non-conference schedule when they leave for the ACC. Apparently the answer to that question is...kinda/sorta.

According to Brian Ewart at VUHoops.com, Villanova football head coach Andy Talley says the Wildcats and Orange will keep that rivalry going...but on the football field.

According to head coach Andy Talley, the ‘Cats will take on the Syracuse Orange in 2014 and the Connecticut Huskies in 2015. When asked if the Big East’s in-and-out movement will affect the scheduling of those games, he couldn’t say whether things could change — noting that Auburn had backed out of a game with Villanova in 2006 — but that his program had no intention of altering those arrangements.

Technically-speaking, that would put three "Big East schools" on Syracuse's future non-conference schedule. The Orange begin a series with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2014 and begin a series with the incoming Big East member Navy Midshipmen in 2015.

Syracuse and Villanova have met three times on the gridiron with the Orange holding a 2-1 lead. Nova won the first meeting in 1953 while SU won the return match in 1954 and a 1975 tilt.