SYRACUSE -- The Syracuse Orange racked up more than 500 yards of total offense Saturday en route to an astonishing 45-26 upset victory over the No. 11-ranked Louisville Cardinals in a Big East Conference football game at the Carrier Dome.
Running back Prince-Tyson Gulley rushed 15 times for 100 yards with two touchdowns, while backfield-mate Jerome Smith carried the ball 18 times for 146 yards including a 35-yard touchdown, which helped give SU a 38-13 lead with 9:47 to go in the third quarter, and seemingly put the nail in the Cardinals' coffin.
"I am proud of the seniors in this group," Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone said after the Senior Day victory. "To go out with a win, and obviously some of those seniors played extremely well for us -- Ryan Nassib and Alec Lemon had great days."
Nassib, a senior and third-year starter, was 15-for-23 for 246 passing yards and three touchdowns. Nassib commonly found his favorite target, senior wide receiver Lemon, who caught a team-high nine passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
The game ended the first quarter tied at 10, but Syracuse took control scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter to earn a 31-13 halftime lead.
The Orange did not let up in the second half, forcing the Cardinals to punt on the first possession of the second half, then scored nine plays later on Smith's long run.
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who came into the contest as the leading candidate for the Big East Player of the Year award, finished 36-for-49 for 426 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
The Cardinals were forced to rely on the arm of Bridgewater as the Orange defense allowed just 46 rushing yards.
The victory helped the Orange snap a three-game losing streak to the Cardinals, who previously lost at SU, 28-21, in 2008. It also handed Louisville its first loss of the season and ended the Cardinals' hopes of contending for a National Championship.
Next week, Syracuse travels to play the Missouri Tigers in a non-conference showdown with a chance to become bowl eligible for just the second time in seven seasons. Louisville has a bye week.
-- Check back to SB Nation New York for more on Syracuse football's win. Make sure to follow @JaredSmithCNY for post-game reaction and analysis.