This will be the first ever meeting between Syracuse and Western Michigan on Friday night. This will be the first game of a home and home, with WMU heading to Syracuse in 2019.
Syracuse has won 4 straight season openers dating to 2014, and they are 82-42-4 in season openers all-time. The current win streak has included all home games for the Orange, and all 4 wins came against FCS opponents.
Syracuse's last season opening defeat came away from the Carrier Dome, a 2013 loss to Penn State on a neutral field. Syracuse has not played a true road opener since 2010, a win over Akron. Syracuse is 6-4 in their last 10 season openers, but have won 6 of their last 8.
This is the 7th time since 2000 that Syracuse will have played in the month of August, and the Orange have performed poorly in that stretch, going just 1-5.
Syracuse has won their last 4 season openers against MAC opponents, and are 4-2 in season openers against the MAC all-time, with losses to Bowling Green in 1973 and 1976.
Syracuse is 11-21 all-time in true road openers, and 12-24 in total road openers.
Western Michigan has opened against a Power 5 school every season since 2005, and this is the second time in 4 years the Broncos will have hosted a P5 team in their opener. They last hosted Michigan State in 2015.
Despite a rough start, WMU won 4 of their final 6 games last season to finish 6-6.
The Broncos are just 1-6 all-time against ACC schools, beating Virginia in their lone win against the conference in 2006.
Jon Wassink returns at QB after a knee injury ended a promising season early in 2017. Tim Lester will be calling his own plays this season.
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