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1987 Syracuse

11–⁠0–⁠1, coached by Dick MacPherson, finished No. 4 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Syracuse in 1987, game by game: won vs. Maryland 25–11; won at Rutgers 20–3; won vs. Miami (OH) 24–10; won at Virginia Tech 35–21; won at Missouri 24–13; won vs. No. 10 Penn State 48–21; won vs. Colgate 52–6; won at Pittsburgh 24–10; won at Navy 34–10; won vs. Boston College 45–17; won vs. West Virginia 32–31; tied vs. No. 6 Auburn 16–16+46Won 25–11 vs. Maryland+14MarylandWon 20–3 at Rutgers+17RutgersWon 24–10 vs. Miami (OH)+14Miami (OH)Won 35–21 at Virginia Tech+14Virginia TechWon 24–13 at Missouri+11MissouriWon 48–21 vs. No. 10 Penn State+27No. 10 Penn StateWon 52–6 vs. Colgate+46ColgateWon 24–10 at Pittsburgh+14PittsburghWon 34–10 at Navy+24NavyWon 45–17 vs. Boston College+28Boston CollegeWon 32–31 vs. West Virginia+1West VirginiaTied 16–16 vs. No. 6 Auburn0No. 6 Auburn
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 5vsMarylandW 25–⁠1151%
Sep 12atRutgersW 20–⁠351%
Sep 19vsMiami (OH)W 24–⁠1064%
Sep 26atVirginia TechW 35–⁠2151%
Oct 3atMissouriW 24–⁠1366%
Oct 17vs10Penn StateW 48–⁠2145%
Oct 24vsColgateW 52–⁠692%
Oct 31atPittsburghW 24–⁠1055%
Nov 7atNavyW 34–⁠1088%
Nov 14vsBoston CollegeW 45–⁠1779%
Nov 21vsWest VirginiaW 32–⁠3176%
Jan 1Bowls & playoffvs6AuburnSugar BowlT 16–⁠1646%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Tied Auburn 16–⁠16 in the Sugar Bowl; No. 4 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 3rd-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 135 on file).

AP poll, week by week

  1. Wk 6: 17
  2. Wk 7: 13
  3. Wk 8: 9
  4. Wk 9: 8
  5. Wk 10: 8
  6. Wk 11: 6
  7. Wk 12: 6
  8. Wk 13: 4
  9. Wk 14: 4
  10. Wk 15: 4
  11. Final: 4

Players on this team

Before 2004 our records hold honors and the draft; these are the players whose college years here, from their Wikipedia articles or their honors, include 1987.

Heisman voteDon McPherson, second

Led the nationDon McPherson: passer rating (164.3); Tommy Kane: receiving touchdowns (14 TD)

Maxwell AwardDon McPherson, QB; also the Davey O’Brien and Unitas Golden Arm

2 consensus All-AmericansDon McPherson, QB; Ted Gregory, DL

Eddie Robinson Coach of the YearDick MacPherson, coach; also the Walter Camp Coach, Bear Bryant Award and Bobby Dodd Award

Record
11–⁠0–⁠1
Conference
5–⁠0 first in the Major eastern college football independents (Wikipedia)
AP final
No. 4 peak No. 4
Points
379–⁠169
Coach
Dick MacPherson
Elo
1725 +206 this season
SP+ rating
22.2 No. 10 of 101; offense No. 14, defense No. 12
SRS
18.1 No. 10 of 104 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Offensive coordinator
George DeLeone
Captains
Paul Frase, Ted Gregory and Don McPherson

Drafted in 1988

The 1988 draft
Rd 1Ted Gregory DTDenver Broncos
Rd 3Tommy Kane WRSeattle Seahawks
Rd 6Paul Frase DTNew York Jets
Rd 6Don McPherson QBPhiladelphia Eagles
Rd 7Pat Kelly TEDenver Broncos