Syracuse (4-5, 2-3 ACC) took its two game winning streak to Death Valley with a chance to go over the .500 mark for the first time since Week 1, but instead suffered a 54-0 blowout loss at the hands of No. 2 Clemson (9-0, 6-0 ACC). The last time the Orange was shutout was back in 2013.

“To play in front of a crowd like this at every home game, that’s a dream,” Dino Babers said following the first shutout in his five-year head-coaching career. “That’s where we want to get at SU.”

But the biggest story coming out of this game is the health of Quarterback Eric Dungey. Orange Nation collectively held its breath when he went down in the second quarter after taking a hit that knocked him to the ground. Prior to falling, his head appeared to jerk backwards.

Last season, Dungey was limited to just eight games due to suffering multiple concussions. He’s taken some hits this year inciting immediate fear he could miss extended time, but has seemingly bounced back and returned to the game. This time Syracuse had to turn to Austin Wilson and Zack Mahoney to finish the game, who went a combined 18-of-31 for 124 yards and two interceptions with the former getting most of the playing time, surprisingly.

“They’re going to be competing for a national championship,” he said following the game. “It was an honor to play against them.”

This was undeniably an embarrassing loss for the Orange. But the reality is that this team isn’t good enough to withstand losing its starting quarterback on the road against the second best team in the country while losing the turnover battle (they lost this 3-0).

With or without Dungey, who finished 6-of-9 for 48 yards and one interception, Syracuse wasn’t going to win this game. Beating a team like Clemson is a tough task that would require immaculate execution with the Tigers playing well below their capabilities.

If you put all the players of both teams in a room and conducted an NFL draft, what would be the ratio of those selected from each side? The talent disparity is as clear as day in favor of Clemson.

For Syracuse, the attention immediately turns to N.C. State, who will visit the Dome next Saturday. There’s still a chance for the Orange to reach bowl eligibility. Two more wins would definitely do the trick, but with Florida State and Pittsburgh still on the slate, that seems unlikely. But a 5-7 record could be all it takes depending on how everything shakes out.

Dino Babers has preached to his team about not allowing losses to bleed into the ensuing game. That message will have to resonate this week because this is perhaps the biggest one remaining on the schedule.