Syracuse–UConn rivalry

The Syracuse–UConn rivalry was a sports rivalry between the Syracuse Orange of Syracuse University and the UConn Huskies of the University of Connecticut. The rivalry started in men's basketball while both schools were members of the Big East conference, and slowly grew across other sports.

College Comparison

	Syracuse	UConn
Founded	1870	1881
Type	Private	Public
Conference	ACC	Big East
Students	21,772	32,669
School colors
Nickname	Orange	Huskies

Syracuse–UConn rivalry

Syracuse Orange UConn Huskies

110km
68miles

Syracuse

UConn

   

Locations of Syracuse and UConn

Men's basketball

Syracuse–UConn men's basketball rivalry

Syracuse Orange UConn Huskies
Sport	Basketball
First meeting	January 27, 1956
Latest meeting	November 15, 2018
Statistics
Meetings total	95
All-time series	Syracuse leads 56–39
Largest victory	Syracuse 101–61 (November 30, 1977)
Longest unbeaten streak	Syracuse 7, (1956–1962)
Current win streak	UConn 1 (2018–present)

History

The first game played between the two schools took place on January 27, 1956, in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse won 102–82.^[1]

The rivalry peaked while both teams were members of the Big East Conference from 1979 to 2013. The rivalry featured two Hall of Fame coaches, Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun.

2009 Big East Tournament

One of the highlights was the historic Big East Tournament quarterfinal game in 2009. The game took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City where Syracuse won 127-117 in a game that went to six overtimes, ending at 1:22 AM.

Post Big East

In November 2015, after the teams met in the Bahamas, both Kevin Ollie and Jim Boeheim expressed interest in renewing the rivalry. Boeheim said, "It was like an NCAA game early in the year, It's a tremendous atmosphere. A tremendous game. It really was. I think there's a reasonable likelihood that we will play Connecticut again someday soon." Ollie said, "It's something that we're definitely looking at, It would be a great thing. It's a great rivalry."^[2]

UConn and Syracuse met at the Jimmy V Classic on December 5, 2017 with Syracuse winning 72–63.^[3] A year later the teams would meet in the Empire Classic, with UConn winning 83–76. Currently there are no games scheduled between the two schools.

Results

Connecticut victories

Syracuse victories

No. Date Location Winner Score 1 January 27, 1956 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 102–82 2 January 7, 1957 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 79–78 3 March 12, 1957 New York, NY Syracuse 82–76 4 March 8, 1958 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 75–70 5 February 18, 1959 Storrs, CT Syracuse 72–64 6 February 2, 1960 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 65–64 7 March 5, 1962 Storrs, CT Syracuse 72–67 8 March 7, 1963 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 92–74 9 March 6, 1964 Storrs, CT Syracuse 58–49 10 December 18, 1965 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 87–62 11 February 6, 1967 Storrs, CT Syracuse 90–79 12 January 27, 1968 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 89–84 13 January 8, 1969 Storrs, CT Connecticut 103–84 14 February 11, 1970 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 101–80 15 December 20, 1970 Storrs, CT Syracuse 97–76 16 February 19, 1972 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 98–69 17 December 23, 1972 Storrs, CT Syracuse 104–73 18 January 10, 1974 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 61–60 19 November 30, 1977 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 101–61 20 January 13, 1979 New Haven, CT Syracuse 74–60 21 March 10, 1979 Providence, RI Syracuse 89–81 22 January 26, 1980 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 99–89 23 February 29, 1980 Providence, RI Syracuse 92–61 24 January 5, 1981 New Haven, CT Connecticut 78–59 25 February 14, 1981 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 65–63 26 January 6, 1982 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 72–69 27 February 13, 1982 Hartford, CT Syracuse 78–71 28 February 2, 1983 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 89–69 29 February 5, 1983 Hartford, CT Connecticut 55–54 30 January 18, 1984 Hartford, CT Syracuse 95–68 31 February 18, 1984 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 87–853OT 32 March 8, 1984 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 73–58 33 January 19, 1985 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 70–68 34 February 20, 1985 Hartford, CT Connecticut 71–69 35 January 25, 1986 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 80–67 36 March 1, 1986 Hartford, CT Syracuse 75–58 37 January 3, 1987 New Haven, CT Syracuse 88–71 38 February 7, 1987 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 59–53 39 January 16, 1988 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 51–50 40 February 20, 1988 Hartford, CT Syracuse 73–71 41 January 16, 1989 Hartford, CT Connecticut 68–62 42 February 28, 1989 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 88–72 43 January 15, 1990 Hartford, CT Connecticut 70–59 44 February 10, 1990 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 90–86 45 March 11, 1990 New York, NY Connecticut 78–75 46 January 16, 1991 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 81–79OT 47 January 28, 1991 Hartford, CT Syracuse 68–66 48 February 3, 1992 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 84–83 No. Date Location Winner Score 49 March 4, 1992 Hartford, CT Connecticut 85–78 50 February 2, 1993 Hartford, CT Syracuse 60–57 51 February 15, 1993 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 80–76 52 January 10, 1994 Hartford, CT Connecticut 75–67 53 February 1, 1994 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 108–95 54 January 23, 1995 Storrs, CT Connecticut 86–75 55 February 12, 1995 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 77–70 56 January 21, 1996 Hartford, CT Connecticut 79–70 57 March 8, 1996 New York, NY Connecticut 85–67 58 January 26, 1997 Hartford, CT Syracuse 65–53 59 February 17, 1997 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 71–66OT 60 January 24, 1998 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 63–54 61 March 7, 1998 New York, NY Connecticut 69–64 62 February 1, 1999 Hartford, CT Syracuse 59–42 63 February 28, 1999 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 70–58 64 March 5, 1999 New York, NY Connecticut 71–50 65 January 24, 2000 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 88–74 66 March 4, 2000 Hartford, CT Connecticut 69–54 67 February 19, 2001 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 65–60 68 March 7, 2001 New York, NY Syracuse 86–75 69 February 10, 2003 Hartford, CT Connecticut 75–61 70 March 14, 2003 New York, NY Connecticut 80–67 71 February 2, 2004 Hartford, CT Connecticut 84–56 72 March 7, 2004 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 67–56 73 February 7, 2005 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 74–66 74 March 5, 2005 Storrs, CT Connecticut 88–70 75 March 11, 2005 New York, NY Syracuse 67–63 76 January 16, 2006 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 88–80 77 February 8, 2006 Hartford, CT Connecticut 73–50 78 March 9, 2006 New York, NY Syracuse 86–84OT 79 February 5, 2007 Storrs, CT Connecticut 67–60 80 February 17, 2007 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 73–63 81 March 7, 2007 New York, NY Syracuse 78–65 82 February 6, 2008 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 63–61 83 February 11, 2009 Storrs, CT Connecticut 63–49 84 March 12, 2009 New York, NY Syracuse 127–1176OT 85 February 10, 2010 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 72–67 86 February 2, 2011 Hartford, CT Syracuse 66–58 87 March 11, 2011 New York, NY Connecticut 76–71OT 88 February 11, 2012 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 85–67 89 February 25, 2012 Storrs, CT Syracuse 71–69 90 March 8, 2012 New York, NY Syracuse 58–55 91 February 13, 2013 Hartford, CT Connecticut 66–58 92 November 26, 2015 Nassau, Bahamas Syracuse 79–76 93 December 5, 2016 New York, NY Connecticut 52–50 94 December 5, 2017 New York, NY Syracuse 72–63 95 November 15, 2018 New York, NY Connecticut 83–76 Series: Syracuse leads 56–39

^[4]

Football

Syracuse–UConn football rivalry

Syracuse Orange UConn Huskies
Sport	Football
First meeting	October 30, 2004 Syracuse 42, UConn 30
Latest meeting	November 23, 2024 Syracuse 31, UConn, 24
Next meeting	September 6, 2025
Statistics
Meetings total	13
All-time series	UConn leads 6–5
Largest victory	Syracuse 48–14 (2022)
Longest unbeaten streak	UConn, 5 (2007–2011) Syracuse, 5 (2012–present)
Current unbeaten streak	Syracuse, 5 (2012–present)

2004

In 2004 UConn joined the Big East conference as a football member starting an annual meeting with Syracuse. In the schools first meeting at the Carrier Dome in 2004, UConn quarterback Dan Orlovsky completed a school- and Big East-record 39 passes for a school-record 445 yards, in a 42–30 loss.^[5]

Syracuse would later vacate wins from 2004, and 2006 for academic misconduct.^[6]

Post Big east

The 2012 matchup was the schools final meeting as Big East conference members, with Syracuse accepting an invite to the Atlantic Coast Conference and UConn joining the American Athletic Conference. The schools met again in 2016, and 2018 as non conference opponents. Recently the schools announced a four game series starting in 2022.^[7] In January 2023 it was announced that Syracuse has added UConn to its non conference schedule with a location to be determined at a later date.^[8]

Coaching connection

Former UConn head coach Randy Edsall and former offensive coordinator Frank Giufre both played football at Syracuse. Paul Pasqualoni served as head coach at Syracuse from 1991–2004 compiling a 104–59–1 record with the Orange. Pasqualoni became the head coach at UConn in 2011, only lasting two seasons with the huskies with a record of 10–18.^[9] While at UConn Pasqualoni hired his former offensive coordinator at Syracuse George DeLeone to work in the same role from 2011–2012.

Results

Connecticut victories

Syracuse victories

No. Date Location Winner Score 1 October 30, 2004 Syracuse, NY Syracuse† 42–30 2 October 7, 2005 East Hartford, CT Connecticut 26–7 3 November 18, 2006 Syracuse, NY Syracuse† 20–14 4 November 17, 2007 East Hartford, CT Connecticut 30–7 5 November 15, 2008 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 39–14 6 November 28, 2009 East Hartford, CT Connecticut 56–31 7 November 20, 2010 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 23–6 8 November 5, 2011 East Hartford, CT Connecticut 28–21 No. Date Location Winner Score 9 October 19, 2012 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 40–10 10 September 24, 2016 East Hartford, CT Syracuse 31–24 11 September 22, 2018 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 51–21 12 September 10, 2022 East Hartford, CT Syracuse 48–14 13 November 23, 2024 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 31–24 14 September 6, 2025 Syracuse, NY Series: Connecticut leads 6–5[10] † Vacated by Syracuse

^[11]

Women's basketball

Syracuse–UConn women's basketball rivalry

Syracuse Orange UConn Huskies
Sport	Basketball
First meeting	December 29, 1980
Latest meeting	UConn 72–64 (2024)
Next meeting	TBA
Statistics
Meetings total	53
All-time series	UConn leads 41–12
Largest victory	UConn 105–43 (February 23, 1999)
Current unbeaten streak	UConn, 27 (1997-present)

In 2016 the UConn and Syracuse women faced off in the NCAA national championship game. UConn won the game 82–51, finishing the season with a record of 38–0 while capturing their fourth straight national championship.^[12] The teams would meet again in the Bridgeport regional of the 2017 NCAA tournament with UConn winning 94–64.^[13]

Results

Connecticut victories

Syracuse victories

No. Date Location Winner Score 1 December 29, 1980 Philadelphia, PA Syracuse 73–68 2 February 13, 1982 Storrs, CT Syracuse 86–78 3 February 2, 1983 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 90–64 4 February 25, 1984 Storrs, CT Syracuse 61–56 5 January 12, 1985 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 82–61 6 February 13, 1985 Storrs, CT Syracuse 74–59 7 January 4, 1986 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 68–60 8 February 1, 1986 Storrs, CT Syracuse 78–72 9 January 17, 1987 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 67–52 10 February 18, 1987 Storrs, CT Connecticut 52–49 11 January 20, 1988 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 68–54 12 February 20, 1988 Hartford, CT Connecticut 74–60 13 January 21, 1989 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 77–60 14 January 8, 1990 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 58–42 15 February 7, 1990 Storrs, CT Connecticut 68–56 16 January 16, 1991 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 65–63 17 February 17, 1991 Storrs, CT Connecticut 85–49 18 January 15, 1992 Storrs, CT Connecticut 68–51 19 February 15, 1992 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 83–68 20 January 2, 1993 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 78–50 21 February 7, 1993 Storrs, CT Connecticut 85–54 22 January 3, 1994 Storrs, CT Connecticut 64–45 23 February 24, 1994 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 79–50 24 January 25, 1995 Storrs, CT Connecticut 89–58 25 February 25, 1995 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 89–62 26 January 2, 1996 Syracuse, NY Syracuse 62–59 27 January 7, 1997 Storrs, CT Connecticut 93–67 No. Date Location Winner Score 28 February 26, 1997 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 86–52 29 February 1, 1998 Storrs, CT Connecticut 100–62 30 February 3, 1999 Storrs, CT Connecticut 96–50 31 February 23, 1999 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 105–43 32 February 18, 2000 Storrs, CT Connecticut 100–74 33 January 9, 2001 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 76–63 34 January 27, 2001 Hartford, CT Connecticut 84–60 35 February 13, 2002 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 85–55 36 February 12, 2003 Hartford, CT Connecticut 75–51 37 February 11, 2004 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 82–38 38 February 19, 2005 Hartford, CT Connecticut 85–49 39 March 6, 2005 Hartford, CT Connecticut 82–56 40 February 22, 2006 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 65–36 41 January 13, 2007 Storrs, CT Connecticut 76–45 42 January 15, 2008 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 65–59 43 January 17, 2009 Hartford, CT Connecticut 107–53 44 February 24, 2010 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 87–66 45 March 7, 2010 Hartford, CT Connecticut 77–41 46 February 28, 2011 Storrs, CT Connecticut 82–47 47 January 25, 2012 Syracuse, NY Connecticut 95–54 48 January 19, 2013 Hartford, CT Connecticut 87–62 49 March 11, 2013 Hartford, CT Connecticut 64–51 50 April 5, 2016 Indianapolis, IN Connecticut 81–52 51 March 20, 2017 Bridgeport, CT Connecticut 94–64 52 March 23, 2021 San Antonio, TX Connecticut 83–47 53 March 25, 2024 Storrs, CT Connecticut 72–64 Series: Connecticut leads 41–12

^[14]