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

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 17: Chris Peal (12) of the Syracuse Orange lines up on defense during the college football game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on September 17, 2026 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire

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What is the story about?

The Syracuse Orange football team enters its lone bye week of the season searching for answers after dropping its first two ACC games.

The result: another week of trending down in the national rankings. Here’s how the college football world feels about the Orange going into Week 4.

ESPN

Syracuse moved down four spots in ESPN’s College Football Power Index. It went from No. 60 to No. 64.

FPI now has the Orange with a projected win total of 4.2 to 7.8, and a 20.2% chance to reach six wins. Of note, Syracuse’s

current strength of schedule ranks No. 59 heading into Week 4. Its remaining strength of schedule sits at No. 45, according to FPI.

ESPN’s SP+ rankings dropped the Orange from No. 67 to No. 69. They currently rank 92nd on offense, 55th on defense, and 43rd on special teams.

CBS Sports

The Orange moved out of the top 70 in CBS Sports’ Rankings, now sitting at No. 74.

The Athletic

Syracuse is now No. 81, down from No. 77, in The Athletic’s most recent rankings.

College Football News

This is the biggest change in standing for the Orange. The team fell from No. 72 to No. 82, according to the latest rankings from College Football News.

Syracuse.com

Javon Edmonds of Syracuse.com has the Orange at No. 13 in the conference this week after being No. 11 before the Pittsburgh game. That’s between NC State and North Carolina, two opponents Syracuse has on its schedule later this year.