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Syracuse’s first road trip of the season will result in its toughest matchup to date. It travels to face UNLV Friday night in the teams’ first-ever meeting.

The thought of SU being an underdog in any of its nonconference games would’ve been hard to imagine before the season. But, with the Orange’s recent stumble to Stanford and the Rebels earning a spot in the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time in program history, UNLV is comfortably the favorite on paper.

The Rebels have been under the spotlight this season. Not only are they off to an undefeated start, but controversy has swirled around former quarterback Matthew Sluka, who left the program last week and used a redshirt year due to a Name, Image and Likeness dispute with the university.

Senior backup quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams became UNLV’s starter in the wake of Sluka’s exit, and the Rebels didn’t miss a beat. Williams totaled four touchdowns to help defeat Fresno State last week. Williams has much to live up to Friday, though, with SU signal-caller Kyle McCord leading an offense that averages 33.75 points per game.

Here’s what to know before Syracuse (3-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) travels to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to battle No. 25 UNLV (4-0, 1-0 Mountain West Conference):

All-time series

This is the first-ever matchup between the two programs.

The Rebels report

UNLV is experiencing its best season in program history. It’s nationally ranked for the first time, it’s the Mountain West favorite and it’s receiving College Football Playoff attention. It even appears the drama with Sluka won’t do much to deter the Rebels, with Williams coming off of a 182-yard passing, 119-yard rushing outing versus Fresno State.

The Rebels are much deeper than just their quarterback room, though. They average the sixth-most rushing yards per game in the country with 283. Five players have eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark already. UNLV boasts a stout offensive line and a litany of rushing depth, creating what’s been a stellar ground attack.

Meanwhile, senior wide receiver Ricky White III has ignited a reliable Rebels’ passing game. He entered 2024 off a record-breaking junior season and, thus far, has continued to dominate. White leads UNLV with 20 catches, 253 receiving yards and five touchdowns through four contests. He helps balance the Rebels’ offense, which has nine passing touchdowns and 10 rushing scores.

UNLV’s defensive unit has held strong as well, allowing just under 14 points per game. Senior linebacker Jackson Woodard stands out among the group with 31 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks — all team-highs.

Cole Ross | Digital Design Director

How Syracuse beats UNLV

It’s hard to put the weight of each game on McCord’s shoulders, but that’s what Syracuse has to do once again Friday night. SU’s defense has shown its weakness is defending the run — allowing 139 yards per contest — while its offense has a glaring hole in its own run game. Quarterbacking a pass-happy attack against a juggernaut UNLV offense, McCord needs to deliver a big performance on the road.

For that to happen, Oronde Gadsden II has to find a rhythm. Gadsden combined for 13 receptions, 201 yards and three touchdowns against Ohio and Georgia Tech. But in his last two games, he’s tallied just three catches for 16 yards. Gadsden’s been blanketed running routes in the seams recently. If the Orange can expand his route tree toward the sidelines, they could free him up more often for McCord to regain his connection with him.

Especially with Zeed Haynes out for the third straight game due to a family matter, Gadsden must be the guy to bolster Syracuse’s air attack. It’s unrealistic to suggest SU can contain UNLV’s potent rushing offense, so a shootout victory is its clearest path to escaping Las Vegas on top.

Stat to know: 103

UNLV has outscored opponents by 103 points across its first two home games this season. The Rebels bludgeoned Utah Tech 72-14 on Sept. 7 at Allegiant Stadium, and three weeks later, they crushed Fresno State 59-14 in Williams’ debut start.

On the other hand, Syracuse kept things relatively close amid its four-game homestand to begin the year. Its highlight win over then-No. 23 Georgia Tech is now fairly overshadowed by its loss to Stanford and its middling performance in defeating Holy Cross. The Orange now have to walk into what’s been a difficult environment for visitors after their flaws were exposed over the past two weeks.

Player to watch: Ricky White III, wide receiver, No. 11

White — who burst on the scene as a freshman in 2020 with Michigan State by producing a 196-yard receiving game against Michigan — has blossomed into a superstar since transferring to UNLV.

After a solid 2022 season, the speedy receiver became the first Rebels’ wideout to make an AP All-America Team since 1981. Last year, White torched secondaries for 1,483 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 88 receptions, earning AP Third-Team honors. He was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, and was the leading returning receiver heading into 2024.

The Orange struggled to fend off Stanford receiver Elic Ayomanor. And White, who’s 83.0 Pro Football Focus player grade ranks second among MWC wide receivers, is arguably better. Friday should prove to be another massive challenge for Syracuse’s secondary.

Published on October 3, 2024 at 12:00 am

Contact Cooper at: ccandrew@syr.edu | @cooper_andrews