The Syracuse football team will open the 2007 season under Friday night lights.

On Thursday, the Orange announced next year’s schedule, which is highlighted by a primetime, Friday season opener vs. Washington.

The Orange will open the season in front of a national audience on ESPN when the Huskies travel cross-country to meet SU on Friday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. The game will cap off the first week of classes for the Fall 2007 semester.

For the first time since 2003, Syracuse will play seven home games. The six other home opponents are Illinois (Sept. 15), West Virginia (Oct. 6), Rutgers (Oct. 13), Buffalo (Nov. 20), South Florida (Nov. 10) and Cincinnati (Nov. 24).

Syracuse travels to Iowa on Sept. 8 and makes other road trips to Louisville (Sept. 22), Miami (Ohio) (Sept. 29), Pittsburgh (Nov. 3) and Connecticut (Nov. 17).

‘That is the way we will always schedule,’ Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson said in a press release. ‘We are Syracuse. We are a national school with a national reputation playing teams from all over the country.’

Exact times and broadcast schedules for all games besides the opener are to be announced.

Published on February 1, 2007 at 12:00 pm