Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers recently stressed that his players have to take things one game at a time and one week at a time. Many of my fellow Orange fans cite a similar philosophy when I interact with them on social media and in chat rooms.
Still, it’s hard not to prognosticate about what could be for the ‘Cuse in the present term. Syracuse football, after escaping Virginia last Friday night on the Hill, is 4-0 for the first time since 2018.
By extension, the Orange sits at No. 25 in the latest Coaches top-25 poll, marking the inaugural occasion where Syracuse football has been ranked dating back to 2019.
While the ‘Cuse has work to do and issues to resolve, there is still a flood of excitement among players, coaches, the fan base and the larger Syracuse University community about what the Orange has done to date in the 2022 stanza.
The ‘Cuse, this Saturday beginning at 5 pm, will host FCS team Wagner (0-3). I’d be stunned if the Orange wasn’t 5-0 after that non-conference collision concludes. Then, however, it will start to get really interesting for the ‘Cuse.
The back end of the Syracuse football 2022 schedule is brutal.
To reiterate, Babers says we all need to focus on the next game. So Wagner is the focus, and then the Orange has a bye week to rest its roster and recharge for the final seven games.
Speaking of those final seven encounters, if you look at the most recent Associated Press and Coaches top-25 polls, the ‘Cuse will square off versus five foes that are ranked.
The other two Syracuse football opponents are Notre Dame at home and Boston College on the road to wrap up the 2022 regular season.
So. Assuming the Orange is 5-0 as it prepares for this seven-affair slate, the ‘Cuse will need one more win to become bowl eligible. Do I think that will happen? Absolutely.
At the same time, do I think that Syracuse football could go 1-6 during these seven games and end up at 6-6 overall? It could happen.
Personally, I think that the Orange, at a minimum, will sport a 2-5 mark to culminate the 2022 regular season at 7-5 (or maybe even better than that).
Here’s the schedule for these seven contests after the Wagner game, as well as where these foes are ranked in the AP and Coaches polls.
October 15 vs. N.C. State
AP Poll: 10
Coaches Poll: 10
October 22 at Clemson
AP Poll: 5
Coaches Poll: 5
October 29 vs. Notre Dame
November 5 at Pittsburgh
AP Poll: 24
Coaches Poll: 24
November 12 vs. Florida State
AP Poll: 23
Coaches Poll: 22
November 19 at Wake Forest
AP Poll: 22
Coaches Poll: 21
November 26 at Boston College
A few more notes here. Notre Dame started off the season at 0-2, but in its last two encounters, the Fighting Irish has defeated California and, most recently, crushed North Carolina on the road.
While Notre Dame isn’t currently ranked, after being included in the top 10 of the pre-season AP and Coaches polls, the Fighting Irish is a dangerous squad.
Boston College sits at just 1-3, but playing the Eagles on the road won’t prove easy for Syracuse football.
This past Saturday, Wake Forest gave Clemson all that it could handle, as the Demon Deacons fell to the Tigers in two overtimes, 51-45.
It doesn’t get any easier for Clemson, as this coming Saturday, the Tigers will play N.C. State in a battle of top-10 teams.