Syracuse vs. Clemson battle atop ACC was at least a little unexpected

When the Syracuse Orange first arrived in the ACC, no fan base seemed more agitated than the Clemson Tigers. At the time, Clemson was trying to rise up from a couple decades of up-and-down football. Syracuse was coming off an 8-5 campaign and its best team in nearly a decade.

What happened next turned into a bit of an internet rivalry — and one that’s only grown following the Orange’s upset over Clemson back in 2017. We still may not have Tiger fans’ respect, but we’re not necessarily pining for it either. They also like Dino Babers, which (to some) makes us a less hate-able foe than before. And last year’s near-miss for Syracuse, even with Trevor Lawrence missing the second half, at least showed this could be an on-field matchup worth watching for the foreseeable future as the two now battle for Atlantic Division and conference supremacy.

All of that said, it was the Post and Courier that used the word “kryptonite” this week when describing the Orange’s relationship to Clemson. Regardless of how realistic that may be in the big scheme, the last two years have at least shown Syracuse has figured something out with the Tigers. That doesn’t mean it always goes well (see last year’s late collapse) for SU. But there’s at least a threat there that wasn’t there before, and that no other ACC team seems to be able to equal over the last two seasons.

Beating Clemson isn’t the measure of whether or not Syracuse is on stable ground as a program long-term. But doing so would certainly cement the Orange’s status as “back” and then some. They’ve already done it once at the Dome. We’ll see if they can follow through again in mid-September.

That, plus the rest of your daily Syracuse links below:

Clemson’s kryptonite? Syracuse has emerged as Tigers’ biggest ACC threat (Post and Courier)

Now Syracuse, one season removed from a 10-3 campaign, stands as perhaps the Tigers’ biggest threat to a fifth straight conference title, and the Orange will have the chance to upset Clemson once again at home Sept. 14. “Dino has done an unbelievable job,” Swinney said. “It’s a great place. It starts with him. I mean, he’s put a good staff together. They have a good philosophy in place.”

Giants waive former Syracuse QB Eric Dungey, sign TE Isaiah Searight (ProFootballTalk)

Head coach Pat Shurmur even had mentioned Saints dual-threat QB Taysom Hill to Dungey when recruiting him as what he envisioned for a possible fit with the Giants. But Dungey sustained an undisclosed injury, donned a white jersey for normal position players, and missed a large part of the spring.

Who is Jordan Crawford, the only Boeheim’s Army player with no Syracuse ties? (Syracuse.com)

“I’ve been following TBT for a few years. I followed this team, saw it was a well-organized team, too. That’s why I accepted it,” Crawford said. “Other teams did ask. The fact that he was so close to me and he asked me and I wanted to stay in shape during the summer -- it just worked out perfect timing.”

The way early women’s lacrosse top 25 rankings for the 2020 season (NCAA)

2. Syracuse, 2019 record: 16-5 (5-2 ACC): One of the most exciting matchups of the spring comes when Syracuse squares off against ACC rival North Carolina, because the strengths of these squads are nearly identical. Most notably, the Orange weren’t decimated by graduates and have the chance to field 10 of the same starters.

Top 40 players of 2019: Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa lead loaded class for Clemson, Bama (Sporting News)

Syracuse basketball adds two walk-on players, including Kelly Seubert’s son Chris LaValle (Syracuse.com)

Szmyt Headlines 2019 Lou Groza Award Watch List (Cuse.com)

Hofrichter Named to Ray Guy Award Watch List (Cuse.com)

Five scenarios for the future of college conference realignment (The Athletic)