Final score: Boston College 58, Syracuse 27

Coming into this one, we figured it was going to be a battle between the struggling Syracuse Orange and the similarly winded Boston College Eagles. Instead, we got what looked like a shootout, and then turned into a blowout. Boston College ended up waxing Syracuse, 58-27.

You knew the run defense would struggle right form the jump as SU’s front struggled to lay much of a finger on A.J. Dillon. Instead of adjusting, that wound up being a harbinger of worse results to come. On Saturday, the Orange wound up allowing the most rushing yards in school history, surpassing the previous high of 457 by West Virginia back in 2006.

Tommy DeVito looked good in this one when he had time to throw, and a little less so when he didn’t. The redshirt sophomore still locked onto first options, and took a sack or two he probably didn’t need to. Yet, Orange wideouts also dropped two touchdown passes, and he still wound up completing 25-of-36 for 289 yards and three scores — with two of those TDs to Trishton Jackson, including an impressive 85-yarder when the game was already decided. DeVito also ran for 86 yards to lead the way for Syracuse (rarely a good sign).

Jarveon Howard rushed for 37 yards and Moe Neal had 26. Making his first appearance at SU, Jawhar Jordan looked pretty good on three carries for 29 yards. Jackson was the leading wideout, catching eight balls for 148 yards and the aforementioned two scores. Sean Riley had five receptions for 53 yards, and Aaron Hackett had two grabs for 33 yards and a touchdown. Jarveon Howard and Taj Harris each caught three passes.

Lakiem Williams led the Orange with 14 tackles, while Andre Cisco had nine. Williams, Brandon Berry and Kendall Coleman had SU’s three tackles for loss. And though Syracuse did manage to force to fumbles early to stay in it (at one point up 20-17), that’s really the lone highlight for what was a ghastly effort from the group on the afternoon. Beyond just allowing a ton of rushing yards, they also let BC’s walk-on quarterback — who isn’t that great of a passer — complete 8-of-10 throws for 195 yards and three TDs. The front four was gashed the entire game despite knowing the Eagles were going to run the ball a lot going in.

So Syracuse falls to 3-6 on the season, and it would take a miracle to go bowling. As you already know, this year’s a complete dumpster fire, and there are now a TON of questions going forward. But we’ll get to those over the final three contests and what’s sure to be a very long and arduous offseason.