Syracuse football’s 2026 schedule is starting to take shape, and it comes with a notable shift: a nine-game ACC slate, part of the conference’s broader move toward a more competitive and consistent scheduling format. While the full calendar - with dates and times - won’t drop until January, the matchups themselves offer a good look at what Dino Babers’ squad will be up against in this transition year.
Let’s break it down.
ACC Opponents: A New Era Begins
The Orange will host Cal, Clemson, Louisville, and SMU at the JMA Wireless Dome. That’s a diverse mix of styles and programs.
Clemson remains the ACC’s measuring stick, even in a season where the Tigers didn’t dominate like years past. Louisville is coming off a strong campaign and brings a physical edge that will test Syracuse’s trenches.
SMU, fresh off their first year in the ACC, adds a dynamic, up-tempo threat. And Cal - another newcomer - brings West Coast flavor to the Dome, a matchup that feels fresh and intriguing.
On the road, Syracuse will travel to Boston College, North Carolina, NC State, Pitt, and Virginia. That’s a tough draw.
UNC and NC State both have high-powered offenses that can put pressure on a defense early and often, while Pitt always seems to find a way to turn games into gritty, low-scoring slugfests. Virginia is in a bit of a rebuild, but Charlottesville is never an easy place to play.
And Boston College? That’s a rivalry game, no matter the records.
Notably absent from the schedule are Duke, Georgia Tech, and Miami - all of whom finished 6-2 in conference play in 2025. That’s a bit of a break for the Orange, though no ACC schedule is ever truly light.
Why Nine Games?
This 2026 season marks the beginning of the ACC’s move toward a nine-game conference schedule, with 12 of the 17 teams making the switch immediately. The remaining five will stick with eight games for now, mostly due to existing non-conference contracts that still need to be honored. The full rollout - including the 10 required Power Four matchups per season - will be in place by 2027.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips framed the change as a step toward competitive equity and scheduling consistency, aligning the ACC with the rest of the Power Four. And he’s right - as the college football landscape continues to shift, especially with expanded playoffs and realignment, having a stronger, more uniform schedule across the board matters.
Non-Conference Slate: One Too Many?
Syracuse already had four non-conference games lined up for 2026: Notre Dame, Toledo, UConn, and New Hampshire. Notre Dame - a perennial top-25 team and the Orange’s most high-profile non-conference opponent - will count as the 10th required Power Four matchup.
But here’s the catch: with a 12-game schedule and nine ACC games, Syracuse can only play three non-conference games. That means one of those four matchups will need to be postponed or canceled.
The most likely candidate? That’s still up in the air.
The UConn series is scheduled to run through 2028, and the New Hampshire game is a one-off against an FCS opponent. The Toledo game, part of a home-and-home series announced back in April, has Syracuse hosting in 2026 and visiting in 2029 - so there’s some flexibility there, but it’ll be interesting to see how the Orange handle it.
The Bigger Picture
This season is being called a “transition year”, but don’t let that fool you - it’s also a preview of what the future of ACC football will look like. The inclusion of Cal, Stanford, and SMU has added coast-to-coast variety, and the nine-game format means fewer cupcakes, more meaningful matchups, and a better product for fans.
For Syracuse, the 2026 slate is balanced but challenging. Hosting Clemson and Louisville gives the Orange a shot to make a statement at home, while road trips to North Carolina and NC State will test their ability to compete with some of the league’s best offensive units.
The full schedule - with dates and kickoff times - will be unveiled in late January. But for now, Syracuse fans can start circling the matchups that matter most and preparing for a season that’s shaping up to be a pivotal one in the program’s evolution.