1-2. Scott Satterfield and Dino Babers (Louisville at Syracuse)
Quite possibly the first contest where each side needs a win.
Both coaches have had success at their respective schools. Satterfield’s first year at Louisville was great at 8-4. Babers brought Syracuse to its first 10-win season since 2001 and highest ranking in the AP Poll since 1999. Since those two seasons, Satterfield has a record of 10-14 while Babers has gone 11-24.
Both men have a reason for optimism in 2022. Louisville’s Malik Cunningham is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country. He was nearly a 3,000-passing yards and 1,000-rushing yards player last year and could easily surpass that this year. for Syracuse, Sean Tucker’s 1,496 rushing yards were the strength of the team. Tucker is only a third-year player and like Cunningham, will only get better.
Whichever coach comes away victorious will also have a leg up on the competition, becoming the first ACC team to record a conference win.