As a runner, I like to break things into segments-like taking a mile and cutting it into four quarters (one lap of an outdoor track). Since the college football season is 12 games long, each three game stretch is like one lap around the track and the Orange close out the opening quarter fighting for position in the muddled ACC.
2-1 is what most realistic observers predicted for Syracuse at this point. It hasn’t been the smoothest start, but the Orange have jostled their way into a spot and now they
can make a decisive move in the next lap, or they can fall off pace.
The Orange travel to Clemson, host Duke and then make their first trip to SMU. How big is this next stretch? Well, let’s break down the options, starting with the worst:
0-3: Heading into the bye week with a 2-4 record would be tough. Tough for the team’s bowl hopes. Tough for the athletic department’s ticket sales and tough for internet blogs trying to keep out the haters. Unfortunately, the computers would peg this as the most likely option right now, but computers don’t play games PAWWLLLLLLL!!!
1-2: So 3-3 isn’t where anyone wants to be, but if you come out of this stretch sitting at .500 then it’s still giving you some more reason for optimism. The Orange would have three home games and while it’s not an easy road home, the hope for another bowl game would exist.
2-1: This should be considered an incredible 2nd lap. To enter the bye at 4-2, Syracuse would be in a strong position for a bowl appearance, even with a tough close to the season.
3-0: Outside of the pessimistic haters, everyone would take 5-1 and run into the bye doing as many sprints as Fran Brown wants. Is this hard to imagine right now? Sure, but as a certain Orange futbol coach says “Dare to Dream”
This next stretch doesn’t necessarily define the 2025 regular season, but if Syracuse wants a chance to compete for an ACC Championship or CFP appearance, they have to keep in striking distance of the leaders. We’ll come back next month to see where they stand at the halfway point.
