Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 22, 2025 33 GAME PREVIEW: SYRACUSE As for 2025, however, all that's left to do is play out the string — and try to play spoiler at 3:30 p.m. ET Nov. 22 in South Bend, where the Orange will try to knock off Notre Dame. But for a variety of reasons, that's going to be difficult. BAD TO WORSE Syracuse actually kept it close for most of the first half in its most recent loss, a 38-10 clobbering at the hands of Miami. But as has happened several times throughout the current six-game losing streak, the dam broke just before the two-minute warning and the Orange spiraled from there. With 2:18 to go in the first half and the game tied 0-0, Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck tossed it on a reverse to a name Notre Dame fans will remem- ber well: true freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney. Toney turned around and fired it right back to Beck, who had an escort to the end zone for a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing Syracuse posses- sion, Collins faced third-and-8 and felt the pocket collapsing. He panicked and threw the ball over the middle of the field, directly at Miami nickel back Keionte Scott. Scott broke one tackle and raced for the pylon, and at that point, the game was no longer in doubt. But to make matters worse, Orange running back Yasin Willis fumbled with seven seconds to go at the Miami 14-yard line, costing Syracuse the opportunity to put points on the board to end the half. The Orange falling apart in the sec- ond quarter was no fluke. That frame has been an absolute nightmare for Syracuse, who has been outscored 79-6 during the losing streak. The formula is clear: Don't make crit- ical mistakes, and eventually, Syracuse will. "I think there was a few calls from the coaching staff that shouldn't have been called," Brown said of his team's col- Facts & Figures SYRACUSE AT NOTRE DAME Date: Nov. 22, 2025 Site (Capacity): Notre Dame Stadium (77,622) Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET Television: NBC Radio: This game can be heard on Notre Dame IMG affiliates. Series Facts: Notre Dame leads 8-3. The Irish won the most recent meeting, 41-24 Oct. 29, 2022, in Syracuse, N.Y. Head coaches: Syracuse — Fran Brown (13-10, 2nd season); Notre Dame — Marcus Freeman (41-12, 4th season). Noting Syracuse: The Orange lost star tight end Oronde Gadsen II and Kyle McCord to the NFL Draft and several top players, including wide receiver Trebor Peña and defensive tackle Maraad Watson, to the transfer portal … Texas transfer Johntay Cook leads the Orange in receiving with 41 receptions for 518 yards … Syracuse is one of the worst turnover margin teams in the country, tied for 130th at minus-10 … Collins' yards per attempt is 5.8, down from Angeli's 8.4, with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 6 to 10. 2025 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET)/Result Aug. 31 at Miami L, 27-24 Sept. 13 Texas A&M L, 41-40 Sept. 20 Purdue W, 56-30 Sept. 27 at Arkansas W, 56-13 Oct. 4 Boise State W, 28-7 Oct. 11 NC State W, 36-7 Oct. 18 Southern Cal W, 34-24 Nov. 1 at Boston College W, 25-10 Nov. 8 Navy W, 49-10 Nov. 15 at Pittsburgh W, 37-15 Nov. 22 Syracuse (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Stanford TBA 2025 SYRACUSE SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET)/Results Aug. 30 vs. Tennessee* L, 45-26 Sept. 6 Connecticut W, 27-20 (OT) Sept. 12 Colgate W, 66-24 Sept. 20 at Clemson W, 34-21 Sept. 27 Duke L, 38-3 Oct. 4 at SMU L, 31-18 Oct. 18 Pittsburgh L, 30-13 Oct. 25 at Georgia Tech L, 41-16 Oct. 31 North Carolina L, 27-10 Nov. 8 at Miami L, 38-10 Nov. 22 at Notre Dame (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 29 Boston College TBA * at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta Demetres Samuel Jr. — a 17-year-old true freshman — has compiled 42 tackles, 8 passes defended and 1 interception at cornerback, while also seeing some action on offense and returning punts PHOTO COURTESY SYRACUSE ATHLETICS