The ACC just added a new wrinkle to its evolving football landscape, and Syracuse is right in the middle of it. The Orange revealed their full slate of ACC opponents for the 2026 season, and there’s a notable shift: Syracuse will be one of 12 teams in the conference playing nine conference games instead of the usual eight. That might not sound like a huge deal on the surface, but in a 17-team league, it’s a scheduling puzzle-and Syracuse just got an extra piece.
That ninth conference matchup? A road trip to NC State.
It’s a return to Raleigh for the Orange, who last faced the Wolfpack there in 2024. That game turned out to be a solid win for Syracuse, with quarterback Kyle McCord slinging it for 346 yards and two touchdowns en route to a 24-17 victory.
Now, they’ll head back to Carter-Finley Stadium looking to replicate that success.
NC State joins a tough road schedule for Syracuse in 2026. The Orange are also set to travel to Boston College, Pitt, North Carolina, and Virginia-four programs that always bring a physical brand of football, especially at home. That’s a challenging road gauntlet, no matter how you slice it.
On the flip side, the home schedule packs its own intrigue. Syracuse will host Cal, Clemson, Louisville, and SMU at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Clemson, of course, is always a marquee matchup, regardless of where the Tigers are in their rebuild or reload cycle. Louisville and SMU bring speed and offensive firepower, while Cal offers a different West Coast flavor that fans don’t often see in Central New York.
But the addition of that ninth ACC game doesn’t come without a cost. Syracuse now has to cancel one of its previously scheduled non-conference games.
The original non-conference lineup included home games against Notre Dame, Toledo, and New Hampshire, plus a road trip to UConn. One of those matchups will have to go.
There’s also a new ACC rule in play: each program must face at least 10 Power Four opponents per season. While Notre Dame and UConn aren’t in a Power Four conference, Notre Dame has long been treated like a de facto Power Four team due to its national profile and partial ACC scheduling agreement. It’s safe to assume the ACC counts the Irish toward that 10-game minimum.
As of now, Syracuse’s official schedule still lists games against New Hampshire on September 5 and Toledo on September 19. Those dates are confirmed on the team’s website, which suggests the decision on which non-conference game to drop may come down to UConn or Notre Dame-depending on how the ACC classifies each opponent.
All told, the 2026 season is shaping up to be a pivotal one for Syracuse. With an expanded ACC schedule, a demanding road slate, and the continued push to meet Power Four scheduling requirements, the Orange will need depth, resilience, and a little bit of road warrior mentality to navigate what’s ahead.