Boston College vs. Syracuse Football: A Storied Rivalry
The gridiron battles between Boston College and Syracuse University boast a rich history, filled with memorable moments and a rivalry that has spanned decades. From their first encounter in 1924 to recent matchups, the Eagles and the Orange have forged a compelling narrative marked by streaks of dominance, conference shifts, and the occasional upset.
Early Years and Sporadic Meetings
The saga began on October 18, 1924, with Syracuse claiming a 10-0 victory in Syracuse, NY. However, the series didn't immediately blossom into an annual affair. The teams wouldn't meet again for another two decades. In 1944, Boston College emerged victorious in Fenway Park, Boston, with a 19-12 score. Twelve years later, in 1958, Syracuse once again asserted its dominance with a 24-14 win, signaling the start of a more regular series.
The Era of Consistent Competition (1961-2004)
A consistent rivalry began in 1961 and lasted until 2004, with the exception of two years ('68, '70). Syracuse and Boston College played each other in football every season. During this period, Syracuse faced only Pitt and West Virginia more often than Boston College. This era solidified the rivalry, creating a sense of anticipation and competition between the two programs. In that 1961 game, Ernie Davis scored two touchdowns, amassed 203 yards and surpassed Jim Brown in total career yardage en route to the Heisman Trophy.
Dominance and Close Contests
The Orange dominated the series until 1969, when BC won the first of three-straight games, the only time they’d do that in the series. That gave way to what was The Even Steven Era of the rivalry. Between 1973 and 1986, neither team won more than two games in a row and the series was tied 7-7. That includes the years Doug Marrone played for the Orange, in which they went 2-1. Then in 1987, Syracuse entered it’s second Golden Era and re-commenced dominating, winning six in a row and ten of the next twelve. Amongst the Eagles’ two wins was a hard-fought 1993 victory thanks to a tipped interception with a minute to play. Both teams had joined the Big East Conference but the Orangemen were playing at a higher level for the most part. The Eagles got back between ‘99 and ‘02, winning three of the four games, including the ‘99 affair on a late field goal. Then the Orange got back in the won column with a 39-14 win in 2003.
Conference Realignment and a Renewed Rivalry
To start the 2005 season, Boston College left the Big East to become the 12th member of the ACC. This move cast doubt on the future of the rivalry. However, recognizing the importance of the matchup, the Eagles and Orange signed a deal to play a non-conference game through 2021, ensuring that the tradition would continue.
Read also: The Storied Rivalry
Memorable Games and Defining Moments
Several games stand out in the history of the Boston College-Syracuse rivalry.
2004: The Upset in Chestnut Hill
In 2004, Boston College was in first place in the Big East and needed a win against then 5-6 Syracuse in the regular season finale to clinch their first BCS bowl berth. With Syracuse's two RB's out with injuries, DB Diamond Ferri filled in as RB. Ferri rushed for 141 yards and 2 TDs. Ferri also had a 44-yard interception return for a TD. Syracuse went on to pull off the shocking blowout upset, winning 43-17. This game was also the first career start by Boston College QB Matt Ryan; he was filling in for the injured Paul Peterson. This stunning upset not only denied Boston College a BCS bowl berth but also marked a significant moment in the rivalry's history.
2013: Syracuse's Bowl Eligibility
In 2013, Syracuse was playing in their first year as a member of the ACC. Syracuse was 5-6 heading into the final game of the season against Boston College, needing to win to become bowl-eligible. The Orange prevailed, adding another chapter to the rivalry's narrative.
2018: Ranked Hopes
The season was a historic year for both Boston College and Syracuse with the former earning a ranking in the AP poll for the first time since 2008, and the latter the first AP ranking since 2001. About three quarters way through the season, it looked like this could be the year that the Boston College-Syracuse matchup featured two ranked teams. BC was ranked as high as #17 in week 10 but a loss to #2 ranked Clemson dropped them 3 spots in the rankings, and then an upset defeat at the hands of a reeling Florida State team the following week pushed them out of the top 25 entirely. Likewise, in week 11, Syracuse was pummeled 36-3 by #3 Notre Dame and lost their starting quarterback, dropping them down from a peak at #12 to #20.
The Overall Series
To date, Boston College and Syracuse have played each other 50 times. Aside from Holy Cross, no team has played Boston College more than Syracuse. Syracuse leads the overall series with a record of 32-20.
Read also: Gridiron Showdown: Missouri vs. Boston College
A Rivalry Beyond the Field
The Boston College-Syracuse rivalry extends beyond the football field, fostering a sense of competition and camaraderie among fans and alumni. As one individual noted, "It is a rivalry within my home…My wife is rooting for Syracuse, I can promise you that. But a lot of her friends are Boston College graduates and a lot of her friends are ex-Boston College football players, who are obviously my friends, with their families." This personal connection highlights the deep-rooted nature of the rivalry.
Game Results
Here's a comprehensive list of game results between Boston College and Syracuse:
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 18, 1924 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 10-0 |
| 2 | October 28, 1944 | Boston, MA | Boston College | 19-12 |
| 3 | September 27, 1958 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 24-14 |
| 4 | November 25, 1961 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Syracuse | 28-13 |
| 5 | October 13, 1962 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 12-0 |
| 6 | September 21, 1963 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 32-21 |
| 7 | September 19, 1964 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 21-14 |
| 8 | November 20, 1965 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 21-13 |
| 9 | October 15, 1966 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Syracuse | 30-0 |
| 10 | November 18, 1967 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Syracuse | 32-20 |
| 11 | November 29, 1969 | Syracuse, NY | Boston College | 35-10 |
| 12 | November 6, 1971 | Syracuse, NY | Boston College | 10-3 |
| 13 | November 4, 1972 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 37-0 |
| 14 | November 17, 1973 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 24-13 |
| 15 | November 16, 1974 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 45-0 |
| 16 | October 25, 1975 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 22-14 |
| 17 | November 13, 1976 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 28-14 |
| 18 | November 12, 1977 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 20-3 |
| 19 | November 18, 1978 | Chesnut Hill, MA | Syracuse | 37-23 |
| 20 | November 17, 1979 | Ithaca, NY | Boston College | 27-10 |
| 21 | November 15, 1980 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 27-16 |
| 22 | November 14, 1981 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 27-17 |
| 23 | November 13, 1982 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 20-13 |
| 24 | November 12, 1983 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 21-10 |
| 25 | November 17, 1984 | Foxboro, MA | #13 Boston College | 24-16 |
| 26 | November 16, 1985 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 41-21 |
| 27 | November 15, 1986 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 27-9 |
| 28 | November 14, 1987 | Syracuse, NY | #6 Syracuse | 45-17 |
| 29 | November 12, 1988 | Chestnut Hill, MA | #15 Syracuse | 45-20 |
| 30 | November 4, 1989 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 23-11 |
| 31 | November 3, 1990 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Syracuse | 35-6 |
| 32 | November 16, 1991 | Syracuse, NY | #17 Syracuse | 38-16 |
| 33 | November 14, 1992 | Chestnut Hill, MA | #10 Syracuse | 27-10 |
| 34 | October 2, 1993 | Syracuse, NY | Boston College | 33-29 |
| 35 | November 12, 1994 | Chestnut Hill, MA | #25 Boston College | 31-0 |
| 36 | November 18, 1995 | Syracuse, NY | #23 Syracuse | 58-29 |
| 37 | October 26, 1996 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Syracuse | 45-17 |
| 38 | November 8, 1997 | Syracuse, NY | #22 Syracuse | 20-13 |
| 39 | October 17, 1998 | Chestnut Hill, MA | #23 Syracuse | 42-25 |
| 40 | October 30, 1999 | Syracuse, NY | Boston College | 24-23 |
| 41 | October 14, 2000 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 20-13 |
| 42 | November 24, 2001 | Syracuse, NY | #22 Syracuse | 39-28 |
| 43 | November 16, 2002 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 41-20 |
| 44 | October 18, 2003 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 39-14 |
| 45 | November 27, 2004 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Syracuse | 43-17 |
| 46 | November 27, 2010 | Syracuse, NY | Boston College | 16-7 |
| 47 | November 30, 2013 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 34-31 |
| 48 | November 29, 2014 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston College | 28-7 |
| 49 | November 28, 2015 | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse | 20-17 |
| 50 | October 22, 2016 | Chestnut Hill, MA | Syracuse | 28-20 |
| 51 | November 25, 2017 | Syracuse, NY | Boston College | 42-14 |
| 52 | November 24, 2018 | Chestnut Hill, MA | #20 Syracuse | 42-21 |
Read also: ACC Showdown: Virginia Tech Battles Boston College
tags: #boston #college #vs #syracuse #football #history
