The toughest stretch of the Syracuse football schedule could not have ended fast enough. The Orange (4-3, 0-3 ACC) ended their three-game stretch against the brand names of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday with their worst result, getting outclassed by #4 Florida State on the road, 41-3.

The Seminoles (6-0, 4-0 ACC) simply never gave SU a chance, allowing them a single first down on their first three drives while engineering a pair of scores for a 10-0 lead just after popping the top on the second quarter. Syracuse struck back with their longest drive of the opening half, netting a Brady Denaburg 37-yard field goal to draw within seven.

FSU replied with another touchdown drive to go up by two scores, then the Orange defense stood up. Following a Garrett Shrader fumble that gave the ‘Noles possession at the SU 5, the defense stiffened, forcing the first of two consecutive fourth down failures by the hosts. Those two stops helped keep Syracuse within 17-3 at halftime.

The second half was no better for the Orange. Florida State put up a touchdown less than six minutes after halftime to make it a three-score game and SU replied with their longest drive of the day. After the second 37-yard field goal attempt of the day by Denaburg missed, the Seminoles dominated the rest of the way.

FSU punted on the ensuing drive, then tacked on the final 17 points of the game in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Syracuse crossed midfield twice with the drives ending via a punt and an interception by Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who replaced Shrader for the final quarter. Following the game, Dino Babers noted that Shrader had come down with food poisoning last night.

Shrader struggled throughout the contest, completing just 9-of-21 passes for 99 yards. LeQuint Allen was the top offensive threat for the Orange, carrying the ball 19 times for 110 yards.

Wearing a large cast on one arm hardly showed Justin Barron, who turned in a strong performance. Barron led the Orange with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and also broke up a pair of passes. Derek McDonald finished with ten stops while Alijah Clark and Kevin Jobity Jr. each forced a fumble, but both were recovered by FSU.

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