Syracuse Football: Penalties committed per game by SU is worst in country

Syracuse football, at 6-1 and ranked No. 16 in both major top-25 polls, is having a special, special season.

I’m proud of my boys in Orange, even after the ‘Cuse blew a chance to defeat No. 5 Clemson on the road this past Saturday afternoon, a result that likely would have catapulted Syracuse football into the top 10.

I acknowledge that Syracuse football got hosed on at least one non-call by the officiating crew in the team’s 27-21 setback to the Tigers (8-0). Let’s put that to the side for a second, though.

The vast amount of penalties that the Orange committed versus Clemson, and that the ‘Cuse is committing on average throughout the present term, is alarming and frustrating.

Syracuse football has to clean things up in the penalties department.

Last Saturday in Death Valley, per ESPN statistics, the Orange committed 10 penalties for 88 yards. A lot of those penalties came in the second half, when the ‘Cuse got outscored 17-0 by the Tigers, resulting in a six-point loss for Syracuse football.

Additionally, some of those penalties came at really inopportune times relatively late in this Atlantic Coast Conference clash, as Clemson was mounting a comeback and the Orange offense was searching to drum up any points to hold the Tigers off.

I found myself yelling at my TV on several occasions in the second half when Syracuse football would get flagged for penalties, because I figured those penalties could come back to haunt the ‘Cuse.

In any event, the Orange’s defeat at the hands of Clemson is over and done with, with Syracuse football now set to host Notre Dame (4-3) this coming Saturday afternoon.

I went on the NCAA’s Web site, and it turns out that of the 131 FBS teams playing this season, the ‘Cuse and Cincinnati (which made the most recent College Football Playoff) are in a tie for dead last as it pertains to the number of penalties committed per game.

That’s not good at all. Both Syracuse football and the Bearcats commit 9.57 penalties per contest, which is right around the number that the Orange committed against Clemson.

Following its non-conference affair with the Fighting Irish this Saturday, the ‘Cuse will play at Pittsburgh, versus Florida State, at Wake Forest and at Boston College.

In my humble opinion, Syracuse football has a prime opportunity to get to double-digit wins in the 2022 regular season, with the Orange then expected to play in a bowl game.

However, if the ‘Cuse wants to grab even eight or nine wins (or maybe even seven?), Syracuse football players have to drastically reduce the number of penalties that they are committing, on average, to date in the current stanza.