Syracuse football’s Dino Babers era starts Sept. 2 against Colgate

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — New Syracuse University football head coach Dino Babers makes his debut on Sept. 2 when his Orange kick off the season at home against longtime area rival Colgate at 7 p.m.

Syracuse announced the date for this year’s season opener late Wednesday afternoon, completing the 2016 football schedule, most of which was released Tuesday by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Syracuse has won the last 15 contests against Colgate — a member of the Patriot League and FCS, football’s second level — dating back to 1951, including all four games at the Carrier Dome.

The Orange and the Raiders last met in 2010, when Syracuse won 42-7.

Colgate finished 13th in the final 2015 FCS coaches poll with a 9-5 record under coach Dan Hunt. The Raiders won the Patriot League title and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS.

This will be the third straight year in which the Orange kicks off the season with a Friday night home game against an FCS opponent. Syracuse defeated Villanova 27-26 in two overtimes in 2014, and blanked Rhode Island 47-0 in last year’s first game.

The complete 2016 football schedule for the Orange follows:

2016 Syracuse Football Schedule

Fri, Sept 2 vs. Colgate – Carrier Dome

Fri, Sept 9 vs. Louisville – Carrier Dome

Sat, Sept 17 vs. South Florida – Carrier Dome

Sat, Sept 24 at Connecticut – East Hartford, Conn.

Sat, Oct 1 vs. Notre Dame at East Rutherford, NJ

Sat, Oct 8 at Wake Forest – Winston­Salem, NC

Sat, Oct 15 vs. Virginia Tech – Carrier Dome

Sat, Oct 22 at Boston College – Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Sat, Nov 5 at Clemson – Clemson, SC

Sat, Nov 12 vs. NC State – Carrier Dome

Sat, Nov 19 vs. Florida State – Carrier Dome

Sat, Nov 26 at Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, Pa.

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