Syracuse now has a date circled for one of the more anticipated games on its 2026-27 schedule.
The Orange will meet St. John’s on Sunday, Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden, according to a social media post from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. It’s the long-rumored matchup that will put Syracuse back on the Garden floor after the program last played there in the 2021-22 season, when it faced Villanova.
Gerry McNamara said when he was hired as Syracuse’s head coach in March that he wanted the Orange to return to Madison Square Garden. That wish is now taking shape with a game against a familiar old Big East opponent.
The meeting will be the first between Syracuse and St. John’s since the 2022-23 season. Syracuse leads the all-time series 52-43.
There will be one less layer to the reunion than it once seemed. Former Syracuse player Donnie Freeman transferred to St. John’s after this past season, but he suffered an Achilles injury earlier this summer and will miss the entire 2026-27 season while he recovers.
Syracuse’s full ACC schedule is expected to come out in September.
For now, the Orange’s non-conference slate includes a mix of home dates and neutral-site games, starting with New Haven on Mon., Nov. 2 and Central Connecticut State on Thurs., Nov. 5.
Syracuse then plays Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Mon., Nov. 9 before the Garden trip against St. John’s on Sun., Nov.
The rest of the current schedule lists Cornell on Wed., Nov. 18, Lafayette on Sat., Nov.
21, Albany on Wed., Nov. 25, Oklahoma in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Tue., Dec.
1, Colgate on Tue., Dec. 8, Mercyhurst on Sat., Dec.
12, Canisius on Wed., Dec. 16, Providence at TD Garden in Boston on Sat., Dec.
19, Binghamton on Tue., Dec. 22 and Rutgers at Barclays Center on Sat., Feb. 6.
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Syracuse Linebackers Are Giving Orange Fans Real Reason For Defensive Hope
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It is the first time since 2020 that Syracuse has had two active players make the list, and for a defense looking to build real momentum, the timing matters. Individual offseason numbers do not win games in September, but they do offer a useful snapshot of where the Orange may have some pop in the middle of the field, and why there is at least some reason for optimism as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]