Syracuse Football: Where ‘Cuse ranks among country’s undefeated teams

Heading into week seven in college football, the Orange is one of 15 undefeated squads still remaining, as No. 18 Syracuse football gets set to host top-15 N.C. State on Saturday afternoon in Central New York.

The ‘Cuse (5-0) has had a few easy wins so far, for instance versus Louisville, UConn and Wagner. But the Orange’s other two victories, at home against both Purdue and Virginia, weren’t decided until extremely late in the fourth quarter.

Syracuse football would emerge triumphant over the Boilermakers and the Cavaliers by a combined five points. Some of my fellow ‘Cuse fans say that the Orange hasn’t been overly impressive at this juncture in the 2022 stanza.

I would counter that, a season ago, Syracuse football lost three games by three points each. To date in 2022, the Orange has found ways to conquer foes in closely fought contests, and I find that to be an encouraging sign.

Syracuse football is one of 15 teams that have yet to lose this fall.

The ‘Cuse is 5-0 for the first time in 35 years. When the Wolfpack invades the JMA Wireless Dome this Saturday, it will mark the first encounter where both Syracuse football and its opponent have resided in the top 20 of the major polls in nearly 25 years.

Personally, I think that the Orange is going to prevail over N.C. State and run its 2022 record to 6-0, while reaching bowl eligibility with half of its regular-season affairs still on the calendar.

Now, national pundits, Atlantic Coast Conference commentators and even some ‘Cuse fans are surprised by the team’s 5-0 start. But many of the other squads that, like the Orange, remain unblemished in 2022 are among the biggest names in college football.

Those groups without a loss are Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, TCU, Syracuse football, Southern California, UCLA, Clemson, James Madison, Coastal Carolina, and Ole Miss.

Chip Patterson of CBS Sports has published an interesting piece where he ranks all of the currently undefeated teams. Ohio State is No. 1.

Clemson, the only other ACC unit besides Syracuse football that has yet to lose, checks in at No. 4. The Orange, meanwhile, is No. 13, which seems about right.

The only two squads behind the ‘Cuse in Patterson’s rankings are James Madison and Coastal Carolina.

"The CBS Sports writer says in part about Syracuse football, “This has been the kind of bounce back season that (head coach) Dino Babers and the Orange needed, as the odds of returning to a bowl game for the first time since 2018 have been all but solidified with a 5-0 start.”"

I would agree that it would prove sort of stunning if the ‘Cuse didn’t reach six victories and get to a bowl game. But the final seven games are brutal, starting with N.C. State on the Hill followed by a trip to Clemson on Saturday, Oct. 22.

I love that Syracuse football is one of a select few teams in major college football that is undefeated, and I hope that continues onward for our beloved Orange throughout the 2022 campaign.