Syracuse basketball didn’t crack the preseason Associated Press top 25, but the Orange’s 2026-27 schedule still lines up with plenty of ranked opposition.
The new poll dropped with Syracuse on the outside looking in, which fits a team entering a new era under a new head coach and staff, with a roster full of fresh faces. The Orange also comes off two straight losing seasons and hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2021.
Even so, the AP rankings offer a clear preview of the level of competition Syracuse will see. The Orange is slated to play a mix of preseason top-25 teams and others receiving votes, both before ACC play and during the league slate.
In non-conference action, Syracuse will face No. 13 St.
John’s on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 7:00 pm EST at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Orange also travels to Indiana on Monday, Nov. 9, at 6:30 pm EST at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana is receiving votes.
The ACC schedule brings the biggest batch of ranked matchups. Syracuse will host No.
2 Duke on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 7:00 pm EST at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. The Orange also gets No.
11 Louisville at home on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 2:00 pm EST, and No. 9 Virginia in Syracuse on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 9:00 pm EST.
Road tests include No. 14 Miami on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 3:00 pm EST at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla. Syracuse also has home games against North Carolina, which is receiving votes, on Saturday, Jan. 23, at noon EST, and a trip to Virginia Tech, which is receiving votes, on Wednesday, March 3, at 9:00 pm EST at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va.
One more preseason note: UConn, which recently beat Syracuse in an exhibition by 20 points, checks in at No. 4.
On paper, Syracuse’s 18-game ACC schedule looks favorable. Still, the Orange will see four ACC teams in the preseason AP top 25, and three of those games will come in Central New York.
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