Game Central

HAMILTON -- Head coach Dan Hunt in just two seasons has returned Colgate Football to national prominence. But he hasn't taken the easy route to get there, and it's a blueprint he carried over from the legendary Dick Biddle.

Friday night's game at Syracuse marks the fourth straight season that Colgate has opened against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. And this year is the first against a power-five conference after previous matchups against Air Force in 2013 (lost 37-13), Ball State in 2014 (lost 30-10) and Navy a year ago (lost 48-10).

Kickoff from the Carrier Dome is 7 p.m. Raider fans can listen via WKXZ-FM or catch the livestream via WatchESPN.

Hunt is 14-12 overall as head coach, including a pair of NCAA playoff victories last season, and already stands 9-3 against Patriot League competition. This is Hunt's 21st season as a member of the Colgate coaching staff, the first 18 of which he served as an assistant under Biddle. The Raiders won seven Patriot League crowns in the Biddle-Hunt Era and advanced all the way to the 2003 NCAA title game.

Raiders Lead the Series, 31-30-5
Colgate and Syracuse are meeting in football for the 67th time and first since 2010. The Raiders hold a 31-30-5 series advantage. The margin was 31-15-5 after Colgate's 19-14 win in 1950, but the Orange have won the last 15 meetings. The teams initially met in 1891, and three of the first six contests were played in Hamilton. Colgate went 4-1-1 in that opening six-game stretch, including a 2-0-1 home record.

Beginning with 1902, all 60 encounters have been played in Syracuse with the Orange compiling a 29-27-4 edge. The series was played annually from 1912-61, minus two breaks during the war years of 1918 and 1943.

Colgate is the preseason pick of the Patriot League coaches and sports information directors to repeat as conference champion. The Raiders were 6-0 in the Patriot League last year and 9-5 overall en route to two playoff victories and a berth in the NCAA FCS quarterfinals. Fordham, Holy Cross, Lehigh, Bucknell, Lafayette and Georgetown round out the 2016 predicted order of finish.

Colgate enters the season ranked among the nation's top 25 in four preseason polls: Lindy's 12th, STATS FCS 21st, Athlon 23rd and Hero Sports 23rd. The Raiders finished 13th in last year's final FCS Coaches Poll and 17th in the STATS FCS Poll.

The Raiders return nine starters on offense and eight on defense. 

Diener, Afriyie Pace Stout Defense
Linebacker Kyle Diener was the choice of the conference coaches and SIDs as Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and defensive lineman Pat Afriyie earned the same honor from College Sports Madness. Both Raider defenders were included on the Hero Sports Preseason All-America Second Team, and Afriyie also picked up the same honor from College Sports Madness.

Afriyie in two seasons has 14 sacks -- nearly halfway to the Colgate record of 28½ set by Kelly Robinson from 1979-81. Afriyie and fellow D-line returnees Brett Field and Alex Campbell combined for 25 of Colgate's Patriot League-leading 36 sacks last season.

On offense, quarterback Jake Melville compiled 3,625 yards of total offense for the second-highest figure in program history, and Colgate led nation in fewest passes had intercepted with two. Tailback James Holland led the Raiders and finished seventh nationally with 16 touchdowns and 96 points.