Syracuse football vaults inside top 20 in power rankings (and national polls)

When Syracuse football puts its 5-0 record on the line this coming Saturday afternoon at home versus top-15 N.C. State, the Orange will engage in an event on the Hill that hasn’t transpired in nearly 25 years.

Per SU Athletics, the last time that the ‘Cuse faced off with an opponent in Central New York where both squads were ranked inside the top 20 occurred back in 1998.

And that exciting development will happen once again this Saturday, Oct. 15, beginning at 3:30 pm and with television coverage on the ACC Network.

That’s because when the latest iterations of the Associated Press and Coaches top-25 polls recently got disclosed, Syracuse football moved up to No. 18 in each poll.

The Orange, this past weekend, didn’t play due to a bye week, but the ‘Cuse got a bump in both polls due to other top-25 groups losing in week six. N.C. State (5-1), by the way, resides at No. 15 in the AP poll and at No. 13 in the Coaches poll.

Syracuse football has a huge ACC clash ahead on Saturday with N.C. State.

Cuse.com says that the Orange is one of 15 teams still without a loss in the FBS. The No. 18 national ranking in the AP and Coaches polls is the highest where Syracuse football has been situated in both polls dating back to the end of the 2018 season, when the ‘Cuse went 10-3 and was rated No. 15 in each poll after winning a bowl game.

In the latest power rankings from ESPN, the Wolfpack is No. 15, while the Orange is No. 18.

Additionally, CBS Sports has N.C. State at No. 16 overall in its most recent national power rankings. Syracuse football climbed three spots, from No. 22 to No. 19, in these ratings from CBS Sports.

I sincerely hope that the JMA Wireless Dome is packed with a boisterous and crazy crowd cheering on the ‘Cuse this Saturday afternoon.

Yes, the Wolfpack is ranked higher than the Orange at this juncture in the 2022 term, but N.C. State barely beat Florida State last Saturday at home, and it’s unclear whether starting quarterback Devin Leary will play versus the ‘Cuse after suffering an injury in the Wolfpack’s win over the Seminoles.

The weekend before the FSU contest, N.C. State lost a hard-fought Atlantic Coast Conference collision with highly rated Clemson on the road, so that’s two draining games in a row for the Wolfpack.

Syracuse football, meanwhile, had a bye week this past weekend, and hopefully, that enabled the Orange roster to rest and recharge. Call me crazy, but I think the ‘Cuse has a really excellent chance to defeat a top-15 foe this Saturday and jump up even higher in the top-25 polls as well as in various national power rankings.