Syracuse football: what’s college football saying about the Orange heading into Week 8?

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Malachi Nelson #16 of the Syracuse Orange hands the ball to Tylik Hill #20 of the Syracuse Orange during the first quarter against the Louisville Cardinals at JMA Wireless Dome on October 17, 2026 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia/Getty Images) | G

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What is the story about?

The Syracuse Orange haven’t won a conference game in over a year. After another close but ultimately not enough effort against Louisville, another loss on the record has the team falling in the national rankings.

Syracuse enters Week 8 after another one-score defeat, this time 34-26 against the Cardinals, extending the Orange’s streak of consecutive ACC losses to 11. Here’s how the rest of the college football world is feeling about the Orange after that result.

ESPN

Syracuse is down 12 spots on ESPN’s

SP+ rankings, now at No. 84. It’s also dropped outside of the top 75 on offense (87th), defense (78th), and special teams (90th). North Carolina is at No. 54.

With six games left to go and at 2-4, ESPN’s College Football Power Index has the Orange at a 9.3% chance to reach six wins. FPI has the Orange finishing between four and eight wins.