SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) Syracuse's Dino Babers is in uncharted territory as he prepares for his seventh season as a head coach. So far, he likes what he sees.

"This is the first time I've ever had a Year 3 anywhere," said Babers, whose first two head coaching jobs were two-year stints at Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green. "I think everybody's headed in the right direction. I think there's more of our type of guys (here) than before and I think it's going to pay off for us in the long run."

Year 3 holds the promise to be different. Syracuse has finished 4-8 three straight times with Eric Dungey at quarterback, partly because he's missed the final three games of each season with injuries. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Dungey is back for his final year, and it's make-or-break because he has aspirations to keep playing after college.