After a season that started with promise, the wheels officially came off for Syracuse football. The Orange closed the year with their eighth straight loss, a skid that’s left them tumbling down the rankings across the board - and the national media isn’t holding back.
Let’s break down where Syracuse stands now, and what the numbers and rankings say about a program that’s clearly searching for answers.
Bottoming Out in the ACC
Syracuse finishes the season at the bottom of the ACC standings, and there’s no sugarcoating it. It’s not just that they lost eight straight - it’s how they lost, and who they lost to. The Orange were outclassed in every phase of the game down the stretch, and that’s reflected in how national outlets are evaluating them.
ESPN’s Metrics Paint a Bleak Picture
In ESPN’s SP+ rankings - a predictive system that measures efficiency on offense, defense, and special teams - Syracuse dropped two more spots this week to 120th in the country. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a program that was once flirting with bowl eligibility earlier in the season.
Here’s how it breaks down:
- Offense: 116th
- Defense: 112th
- Special Teams: 41st
The offense and defense are both buried near the bottom nationally. Special teams have been a relative bright spot, but it’s hard to make up ground when your offense can’t move the ball and your defense can’t get stops.
The Football Power Index (FPI) wasn’t any kinder. Syracuse fell five spots this week to 101st, sandwiched between FIU and Arkansas State - programs that aren’t exactly known for Power Five pedigree.
Across the Board Decline
CBS Sports dropped Syracuse six spots to 105th this week, positioning them between Appalachian State and Rice. The Athletic was even harsher, sliding the Orange down 10 spots to 114th, nestled between Coastal Carolina and Purdue.
College Football News also weighed in, dropping Syracuse 11 spots to 100th overall. That puts them in the company of Oklahoma State and Louisiana - two teams that have had their own struggles this year, but still managed to show more consistency than the Orange.
Across the board, the message is clear: Syracuse is trending in the wrong direction, and fast.
No Recognition, No Momentum
Unsurprisingly, the Orange didn’t receive any votes in the AP or Coaches Polls this week. And when it comes to individual accolades, there were no awards or honors handed out to Syracuse players.
That’s telling. Even during tough seasons, standout individual performances can still earn recognition. But for Syracuse, there wasn’t enough on-field production to warrant any national attention.
How It Ended: A Rough Final Act
Syracuse wrapped up its season with a 34-12 loss to Boston College. It was a fitting end to a brutal stretch - one where the Orange couldn’t generate offense, couldn’t get off the field on defense, and couldn’t stop the bleeding.
Meanwhile, the rest of the ACC was busy wrapping up rivalry week with some strong performances:
- Clemson handled South Carolina 28-14.
- Miami crushed Pitt 38-7.
- Louisville blanked Kentucky 41-0.
- NC State put up 42 on North Carolina.
- Virginia Tech fell to Virginia 27-7.
And in the ACC Championship Game, it’ll be Duke vs. Virginia - two programs that have found their footing while Syracuse is still trying to figure out where the floor is.
Where Does Syracuse Go From Here?
That’s the question hanging over the program now. The eight-game losing streak, the plummet in national rankings, and the lack of individual recognition all point to a team that’s lost its identity.
There’s talent on the roster, but the execution hasn’t been there. The scheme hasn’t worked.
The energy has faded. And the numbers - from SP+ to FPI to the power rankings - reflect that reality.
This offseason will be critical. Syracuse needs to regroup, reassess, and rebuild. Because after this kind of finish, there’s nowhere to go but up - but the climb won’t be easy.