Remember that Boston College squad that went 2-10 last year, standing out as what was clearly one of the Power 4’s ugliest ducklings? If you don’t, do you at least remember its ACC brother that was so bad he lost to BC by over 20 points? That’s right, we’re talking about the Syracuse Orange today, and what better way to set the tone than digging up what they’ll surely spend the upcoming season trying to forget?
Now listen, I don’t force that trauma on you solely for the sake of punching down. Rather, I use it to introduce the reason behind Syracuse being a worthy subject matter to begin with, as while its finish in 2025 was no good, its start foreshadowed otherwise.
Where you see an Orange squad that had tumbled all the way down to 3-9, I see one that started 3-1 before feeling the wrath of a brutal quarterback injury, with that third and final win coming out of Death Valley by a double-digit margin (which is big for Syracuse regardless of the season Clemson’s having).
Such a violent turn of events after such a costly departure begs the question—how much better would the Orange have done had things gone according to plan, and could we witness that brighter outcome unfold this year?
In addressing the first half of that, I’d say that Syracuse could have maybe gone bowling (and that’s a strong “maybe”), but anything beyond that leans unlikely, as not only did troubles beyond the QB situation bleed into view the more Syracuse played, but its schedule went on to serve a healthy helping of tough games. Speaking of which, that’s what brings the second half of our inquiry into play: 2026 Syracuse has a rocky road of its own to endure.
This fall, the Orange face nine opponents coming off of winning displays (10 if you include New Hampshire, I guess). Of those nine, three actually defeated them head-to-head. Beyond that, the only two opponents that are coming off of negative runs—North Carolina and Boston College—also beat the Orange in 2025, and get to host them this time around. Sheesh.
To say the Syracuse Orange will compete in a superior form than the one we got from them last season feels like an unnecessary stating of the obvious, but with scheduling woes like theirs, I believe it’s wiser to hold out on their peak being that of a tricky underdog before one of a serious “depth piece” in the ACC.
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