Syracuse enters the 2026 ACC conversation in a familiar middle tier, at least for now.
In the first weekly power rankings of the regular season, the Orange land at No. 6, a bump from where they would have started before the latest results around the league. NC State’s loss and an uneven showing from Florida State pushed Syracuse upward, giving the Orange a spot just behind Miami, SMU, Louisville, Clemson and Virginia.
At the top, Miami opens as the team to beat in the conference. The Hurricanes reached last season’s national championship game and, even after losing quarterback Carson Beck to the NFL, they added Duke transfer Darien Mensah to stay in strong shape.
SMU checks in at No. 2 after losing just two conference games over the past two seasons. The Mustangs were close to another run at the ACC title game in 2025 before dropping a final-week game at Cal. Louisville sits third after a 2025 season full of narrow defeats, and the Cardinals could create a path to Charlotte later this month if they can beat SMU.
Clemson lands at No. 4.
The Tigers won the conference in 2024, then stumbled to 7-6 a year later despite preseason national title expectations. They still bring back difference-makers on both sides of the ball, and Syracuse fans won’t need reminding that the Orange beat Clemson 34-21 in Week 4 last season.
Virginia comes in at No. 5 after opening with a win over NC State. The Cavaliers reached the ACC title game last year and were one victory away from clinching a College Football Playoff berth.
For Syracuse, the path forward is tied to Steve Angeli. If he can match Kyle McCord’s production from 2024, the Orange could be looking at just one or two ACC losses. After finishing 3-9 last season, Syracuse is being framed as a team that should be in bowl contention this year.
Below the Orange are NC State at No. 7 and Florida State at No. 8, followed by Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, California, Stanford, Duke and Boston College.
As for the weekend slate, every ACC team in Week 1 is in non-conference action except two. The lone conference matchup comes Friday, when Miami faces Stanford. The Hurricanes are chasing the school’s first conference title, while Stanford is trying to pick up its second overall win of the season after beating Hawaii 37-27 in Week 0.
Syracuse opens the regular season at home against New Hampshire on Sept. 5. Kickoff is set for noon E.T. inside the JMA Wireless Dome.
In Other News...
Steve Angeli Put Syracuse Fans Through A Brutal Opening Day Scare
Steve Angelis Syracuse debut was supposed to be a simple reintroduction after his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, but the opener against New Hampshire briefly turned into something far more nerve-racking for Orange fans. He had to work through two separate injury scares during the game, a jarring sight for a quarterback only just back on the field, even as Syracuse kept rolling toward a one-sided win.
Angeli stayed in the game and finished with 263 passing yards and three touchdowns as Syracuse cruised to a 66-3 victory. The result also kept alive a long-running bit of Orange consistency, with Syracuse remaining unbeaten against FCS opponents since 1978, but the bigger takeaway from opening day was simply that Angeli made it through intact. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Got A Big Chance With One Of Its Top Local Targets
A familiar name is back on Syracuses recruiting radar, and this time the Orange get a real chance to make their case at home. Arthur Jones IV, a four-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class and one of Syracuse footballs top local priorities, is set to come back for multiple games during the 2026 season, including the opener against New Hampshire. The Christian Brothers Academy junior has already built a long offer sheet, but Syracuse has been in the mix since extending an offer in June 2025.
For Syracuse, the appeal goes beyond the rankings. Jones grew up in the city and carries a family tie that already makes every step of his recruitment feel personal, with his father, former Syracuse standout Arthur Jones III, having passed away in October 2025. Getting him on campus for several games gives the Orange an extended runway to show him what the program, the atmosphere and the community can mean, and it keeps one of the areas most talented prospects close to home for now. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Fans Have One New Weapon Worth Watching In Week 1
Syracuses passing game has a new target to keep an eye on in Week 1, as Cole Weaver is lined up to make his debut against New Hampshire. The redshirt junior transferred in from Miami (Ohio) after leading that team in receptions last season, and he arrives with a reputation that fits what the Orange want from a reliable wideout: strong hands in traffic, willingness to block and a steady edge in how he carries himself.
Weaver was also honored as Miami (Ohio)s Offensive Skill Position Player of the Year, which gives Syracuse another proven piece to work into its offense right away. For a team still sorting out its identity early in the season, his first game offers a chance to see how quickly he can translate that production into a new system and whether he becomes the kind of dependable option quarterbacks lean on when plays break down. [Read more 🡒]