Syracuse Orange News: College GameDay, analyst praises football, 4-star Tyler Jackson

Here's your Friday take on various Syracuse Orange news.

On Friday night, Syracuse football (3-1) looks to pick up a massive road win when the Orange travels to Las Vegas to battle No. 25 UNLV (4-0) in a prime-time showdown. The 'Cuse has eight games remaining in the 2024 regular season, and five of those affairs are on the road.

The Orange's final three contests at the JMA Wireless Dome are against Virginia Tech, UConn and then top-10 Miami in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 30. I am always in favor of taking things one game at a time, however, an article from Declan Walsh of 247Sports this week did get me thinking.

Walsh noted that Syracuse football is one of only a handful of power-conference schools that has yet to have ESPN's widely popular College GameDay on campus. This topic is often highly discussed among 'Cuse fans, and understandably so.

Now, if the Orange continues to pile up victories in the 2024 campaign, maybe the 'Cuse could get considered for College GameDay. The main issue, from my perspective, is that Virginia Tech and Connecticut aren't all that good, and College GameDay will be on site this Saturday for California's home meeting with Miami.

This is totally a hypothetical, but let's say the regular-season finale between the Hurricanes and Syracuse football involves an undefeated Miami group and an Orange squad that has one loss. That might be appealing for College GameDay, but I just took a look at the November 30 schedule, and there are numerous match-ups that involve ranked teams.

It might be another season (or more) before College GameDay comes to Central New York for football, but if that's true, and the 'Cuse also enters its game with Miami with only one loss, I'm cool with that.

More Syracuse Orange news to review.

National analyst praises Syracuse football
In a piece this week, Rivals.com national recruiting director Adam Gorney doled out grades to every Atlantic Coast Conference program for their efforts on the field and in the recruiting arena. I'm pleased to share that Gorney gave the Orange an A-.

He noted that the 'Cuse has been good on the field, sporting a 3-1 record under first-year head coach Fran Brown, a relatively new coaching staff, and an overhauled roster. Yes, the Orange last month suffered a rough loss to Stanford at the Dome, but Syracuse football also defeated Georgia Tech on the Hill when the Yellow Jackets were ranked in the top 25.

From a recruiting perspective, Syracuse football coaches have put together a large 2025 class that hovers these days around No. 35 nationwide, per several recruiting services. And the Orange notched a massive recruiting win when, in late September, four-star athlete/defensive back and top-125 national prospect Demetres Samuel Jr. of Heritage High School in Palm Bay, Fla., flipped his verbal pledge back to Syracuse football from Southeastern Conference member Florida.

Gorney wrote: "With a No. 34 recruiting class nationally, Syracuse’s new staff is doing a very solid job so far."

Syracuse basketball target eyeing visits
Per a recent post on X from top national analyst/scout Jamie Shaw of On3, 2025 four-star point guard and top-60 national prospect Tyler Jackson from Baltimore is looking at possible official visits in October to TCU and Oklahoma State out of the Big 12 Conference, as well as the SEC's Mississippi State.

Jackson, who is a senior in the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite, was offered a scholarship by the Orange in late April of 2023. In late January of this year, he took an official visit to Syracuse basketball. Jackson is close friends with Kiyan Anthony, the 2025 four-star shooting guard who has the 'Cuse in his final three.

Syracuse women's lacrosse players are honored
Per a release from SU Athletics, five players in the Orange's freshman class were named this week to the Inside Lacrosse Magazine's Power 100 incoming freshman rankings.

Molly Guzik is No. 11, Alexia Reber is No. 14, Mileena Cotter is No. 29, Caroline Trinkaus is No. 39, and Annie Parker is a member of the watch list. Congrats to these five 'Cuse players!