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Syracuse Football: 5 Players who need big games for Syracuse to beat Notre Dame

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:56 p.m. ET

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The Syracuse football team is going to need a lot of things to happen to pull off the upset on Saturday. They’ll especially need some big time games from some of their important players.

Nov 28, 2015; (48) celebrates making the winning field goal against the Boston College Eagles as time expires at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Syracuse Football returns to Metlife Stadium for the fourth time since 2012 and the last time in the foreseeable future. While the Orange are (0-3) so far at the new stadium with the closest contest coming in 2014 with a 23-17 loss to the Penn State Nittnay Lions, and have also dropped their last two against Notre Dame since Greg Robinson led the team to a 24-23 win in South Bend in his final season.

While the Fighting Irish are off to a slow start with a 1-3 record and have recently let go of their defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, but don’t assume this is an easy game as the Orange will still be heavy underdogs (+10.5) on Saturday and if they hope for a chance to prevail they will need these 5 players to step up in a big way.

Sep 9, 2016;(2) passes the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome. Louisville defeated Syracuse 62-28. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

5. Eric Dungey

This might be an obvious one but Syracuse will need to put up points in a big way if they hope to pull over .500 on the season and the gun slinging Dungey is the most important man on the offense for the Orange. Dungey is 6th in the nation with 1367 yards and has connected on 5 for scores this season. With a young Fighting Irish secondary that has been sliced up by the oppositions’ passing game yielding 253.0 passing yards a game. Dungey must continue to move the chains for SU and not settle for field goals to win the game

Sep 12, 2015; 8) celebrates following a touchdown catch against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

4. Steve Ishmael

When it comes to the receiver that will be most important you’d think that it would be Amba Etta-Tawo who is leading the nation in receiving yards at 706 or even Syracuse’s second leading receiver Ervin Phillips. Not this week, this week the SU offense will need a guy, that everyone thought to be their number one, to step up in Steve Ishmael.

Ishmael has at times gone unnoticed in this new Dino Babers’ offense but still sits at a respectable 17 catches for a 171 yards and no touchdowns, which are still far off the pace either Phillips or Etta-Tawo are setting. With now four games of tape on the Orange, expect Notre Dame to take away bubble screens from Phillips. And the deep balls from Etta-Tawo, who is the nation’s leading receiver. You need to have that security blanket that Ishmael has shown he can be to move the ball.

Sep 24, 2016; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut quarterback Bryant Shirreffs (4) is upended by Syracuse defensive back Daivon Ellison (19) and linebacker Zaire Franklin (4) during the first half at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

3. Zaire Franklin

While the junior captain who is the Swiss army knife of the young and thin Syracuse defense is next on this list. Franklin leads all players with 32 total tackles and 17 coming in the solo variety. Last week against UConn Franklin had a one-on-one tackle to save a touchdown and a pass deflection that led to a Cordell Hudson pick-6. Franklin is asked to carry a big load on a defense that has been torched at times this season but will need to get at least a few big stops to beat the Irish.

Sep 9, 2016; ; . Louisville defeated Syracuse 62-28. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

2. Corey Winfield

While We mentioned how the Notre Dame defense has been susceptible to the pass early. But the Syracuse defense has been worse allowing 257.5 yards a game so far. Plus with injuries to key members of the secondary in Antwan Cordy and Juwan Dowels. Especially on the deep ball, multiple times this season after a disappointing sophomore campaign last year. While Winfield will most likely be matched up with Equanimeous St. Brown the Fighting Irish’s leading receiver and must at least slow him down to limit the scoring opportunities for Notre Dame.

Oct 24, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange place kicker Cole Murphy (48) converts an extra point with punter Riley Dixon (92) holding during the first quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at the Carrier Dome. Pittsburgh won 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

1. Cole Murphy

While for the final key player it is the place kicker for the Orange. Cole Murphy from his time in Syracuse has shown a strong leg but some inconsistencies for the special team’s unit.

While Murphy has been solid so far, converting all 13 extra points and connecting on 7 of 10 of his field goal try’s this year. Murphy will be outdoors once again and will need to make the most of his opportunities. While there will be times that Dungey and the offense won’t be able to put six on the board and will have to rely on Murphy to turn stalled drives into points.

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