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Everett Golson playing mistake-free football is a major reason why Notre Dame is off to an unbeaten start.
Syracuse's bid to stay perfect heading into this matchup ended thanks to turnovers and other miscues.
These teams meet for the first time in six seasons Saturday night, and the eighth-ranked Fighting Irish and Orange will both be looking to win for the first time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Golson has thrown for 780 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions while also scoring four times on the ground for Notre Dame after sitting out last season due to an academic suspension. The Fighting Irish (3-0) are tops in the nation in turnover margin and red-zone offense.
"Everett's a great football player," Syracuse coach Scott Shafer said. "We knew that he had a year off last year and now all of a sudden, he's back.
"He accounts for over 62 percent of their offense when you look at both pass and run so he's the guy. He's the guy that we have to do a great job defending (against)."
Golson totaled 12 passing touchdowns and six on the ground in 2012 with a 58.8 completion percentage that he has raised to 64.6 this year.
"He's preparing so much better than he ever has, and I think it's allowing his athletic ability to shine in the game, but, again, having said that, I think there is really a lot more out there for him to accomplish," coach Brian Kelly said.
Syracuse (2-1) missed a prime opportunity for its first 3-0 start since 1991, falling 34-20 last Saturday at home to Maryland. The Orange outgained the Terrapins 589-369, including 370-89 on the ground, but were undone by an 88-yard interception return for a score and a blocked punt that ultimately led to another Maryland touchdown.
"I felt like we were going up and down the field offensively, I felt like we really couldn't be stopped unless we stop ourselves, which is exactly what happened," Shafer said.
Terrel Hunt gained a career-best 156 yards with two touchdowns as he became the first Syracuse quarterback to run for 100 yards since Donovan McNabb ran for 100 against Miami in 1997. Prince-Tyson Gulley added 138 yards on 14 carries.
Hunt ranks fifth in the nation among quarterbacks with 91.0 yards per game on the ground. He will be up against a Notre Dame defense that is 24th in yards allowed at 315.3 yards per game.
"We're certainly aware of them, and really looking at what they did last week, nearly 600 yards in total offense, and certainly if you just looked at the statistics, you would wonder how they didn't win that football game," Kelly said.
Notre Dame is playing for the second time at MetLife after losing 35-17 to Navy in 2010. This is the second of three games at NFL stadiums for the Irish, who beat Purdue 30-14 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in their last game Sept. 13, and face the Midshipmen on Nov. 1 at the Washington Redskins' FedEx Field.
This is the third time Syracuse is playing at MetLife, losing 42-29 to then-No. 2 Southern California two years ago and 23-17 to Penn State in its 2013 opener. These teams will meet here again in 2016.
"We've got a great game coming up in the Meadowlands against obviously a great, top-10 Notre Dame," Shafer said. "This is why you coach the game and this is why these kids play the game."
The Orange will be without receiver Ashton Broyld, who suffered a lower leg injury last Saturday. Broyld has a team-high 11 catches for 125 yards.
Notre Dame receiver Amir Carlisle, second on the team with 11 catches for 117 yards, is out with a knee injury. Kelly indicated that Torii Hunter Jr. - the son of the star baseball player - will make his college debut.
Senior safety Austin Collinsworth is set to make his season debut after being sidelined with an MCL sprain.
One concern for the Irish was Golson being sacked four times by the Boilermakers. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley's spot seems secure, but Kelly said lineup changes are likely for the rest of his offensive line.
''We're still in the mix of trying to find the right five guys,'' he said.
Syracuse won the last meeting 24-23 in 2008 to tie the all-time series at three wins apiece.
