Top five Syracuse football seasons of the 21st century

4. 2010

Where 2017 was year two of Dino Babers, 2010 was the second season for head coach Doug Marrone, and it was special.

Led by future NFL draft pick, Ryan Nassib, Syraucse had one of the top signal callers in – yes – the Big East.

Nassib was surrounded by playmakers, namely running back Delone Carter, who would end up being drafted in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts. The receiving crew included a core of Antwon Bailey, Van Chew, Nick Provo, and Alec Lemon – all of whom grabbed 30-plus receptions each.

But the real firepower came from a defensive unit that was highlighted by current NFL superstar Chandler Jones, along with a slew of other NFL talents in Doug Hogue, Shamarko Thomas, and Marquis Spruill.

Both sides of the ball clicked, with the defense only allowing 28 points or more in four of their thirteen games, while the offense hit the 28 mark five separate times.

The marquee win was a grind it out battle at No. 20 West Virginia, which improved the Orange’s record to 5-2. It also marked the first Syracuse football bowl appearance in six years, and in defeating Kansas State in the Pinstripe bowl, gave them their first bowl win in nine seasons.

Syracuse came oh so close to representing the Big East in the Fiesta Bowl. A late season loss to UConn, followed by another one to BC, squashed the Orange’s chances of winning a share of the Big East title – where tiebreakers would have automatically placed them in the Fiesta.

Nonetheless, it was still a season to be proud of for Syracuse.