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Coming off its first loss of the season to Clemson, Syracuse kicks off a three-game road trip with No. 14 North Carolina on Saturday.

The Tar Heels are undefeated behind dual-threat quarterback Drake Maye, who has remained at the top of NFL draft boards. Maye threw for 38 touchdowns and 4,321 yards last season to establish himself as one of the top college quarterbacks in the nation.

After SU’s first Atlantic Coast Conference matchup went awry, it is looking to improve against a team that’s managed to stay perfect through five weeks. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of SU’s battle with UNC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina:

All-time series

Tied 3-3.

Last time they played

When the Orange walked into Kenan Memorial Stadium for the 2020 season-opener, it was the start of their worst season during Dino Babers’ head coaching era. It marked the beginning of a 1-10 season.

The Orange lost 31-6 to a Sam Howell-led team that entered at No. 18 in the nation. Howell threw for 295 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Meanwhile, then-quarterback Tommy DeVito was pulled in favor of Rex Culpepper after going 13-of-31 and taking seven sacks.

Future NFL running backs Michael Carter and Javonte Williams combined for 135 yards on the ground and three touchdowns for UNC. The Tar Heels held SU to 1.9 yards per carry.

The Tar Heels report

North Carolina is coming off its bye week, meaning UNC has had two whole weeks to prepare for Syracuse. The Tar Heels have won every game this season by at least six points, including three games by at least 14.

Maye is the focal point of this entire UNC squad. This season, 63.95% of North Carolina’s yards have been through the air despite passing the ball less than half the time (46.84%). That makes the Tar Heels one of the most efficient passing attacks in the nation.

Head Coach Mack Brown has helmed some of the best offenses in the history of college football, including the Vince Young-led Texas squad that beat USC in the infamous 2006 Rose Bowl. In his second stint as UNC’s head coach, he revitalized the program, specifically the passing attack — Maye has been a beneficiary of his wisdom.

The UNC front isn’t quite as dominant as Clemson’s, but its coverage will present a similar challenge as the Tigers. The Tar Heels are the No. 18 defense in the nation in passing efficiency against, according to the NCAA, because their corners are physical and the scheme is complex. Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik has 27 years of collegiate coaching experience and it shows on UNC’s 4-0 record.

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How Syracuse beats UNC

The only way for the Orange to stamp out North Carolina is to confuse Maye. Defensive coordinator Rocky Long is famous for his in-game adjustments and he’s showcased that routinely through four games. He’s created multiple new plays on the fly which have yielded consistent success.

Against Clemson, no such adjustment was evident. Quarterback Cade Klubnik continued to put on a clinic against SU in the second half, completing passes to every area of the field to finish with 263 yards and two touchdowns. Of the two, Maye is thought to be the more talented passer by the majority of scouts and the stats back it up. In order to confound him, Long will need to concoct something better than he did last weekend.

The UNC defense hasn’t stood out through four games, ranking eighth in the ACC in total defense grade, per Pro Football Focus. If the Orange are going to win, they’ll have to produce some points along with containing the passing attack. Last week, Syracuse crumbled under Clemson’s sheer force up front,on both sides of the ball. SU can’t let that happen again on Saturday.

Stat to know: .579

UNC’s 3rd-down conversion rate (.579) ranks second in the country. This is a testament to Maye’s collected pocket presence and clutch performance. He exercises extreme patience and trust in his receivers, standing in the pocket to deliver strikes, even under heavy pressure. And in short-yardage situations, Omarion Hampton has been a reliable bulldozer at 6-foot, 220 lbs. All that culminates in an elite 3rd-down offense.

Player to watch: QB Drake Maye

Maye’s completion percentage (.727) ranks 15th in the nation and second in the ACC. PFF grades him as the ninth-best passer in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Maye’s 5-4 touchdown-interception ratio is incredibly misleading. He’s smart and accurate with the football. The SU scheme needs to confuse him in order to get ahead because he’s physically one of the best arm talents in the country.

Published on October 4, 2023 at 11:55 pm

Contact Wyatt: wbmiller@syr.edu