Syracuse football has one of largest national jumps in CBS Sports rankings

Every week, national media outlet CBS Sports ranks all 133 FBS teams in college football, and this week, Syracuse football possessed one of the bigger climbs around the entire country.

CBS Sports boosted the Orange 10 spots to No. 31 nationwide. The ‘Cuse (4-0), which defeated Army last weekend on the Hill to wrap up non-conference play, opens Atlantic Coast Conference competition this Saturday afternoon in Central New York when the Orange hosts Clemson (2-2).

The Tigers, by the way, fell nine placements in the latest CBS Sports national ratings, to No. 32 overall. Clemson, in week four, lost by seven points in overtime at home to top-five Florida State.

Within the ACC, per CBS Sports, those ahead of Syracuse football are No. 5 FSU, No. 13 Duke, No. 17 Miami and No. 18 North Carolina.

To that end, after the Orange battles Clemson, the ‘Cuse will then hit the road to square off against North Carolina and then Florida State.

Syracuse football keeps on moving up in some national ratings.

Only two teams ahead of the Orange in the most recent CBS Sports national rankings also had jumps of 10 spots, and those were Fresno State, which moved to No. 30, and Washington State, which climbed to No. 15.

In the latest top-25 polls, the ‘Cuse did find itself receiving more votes, although Syracuse football still remains outside the top 25. That being said, the Orange can move into the top 25 of the major polls if it takes care of business over the next few games.

In this week’s Associated Press top-25 poll, the ‘Cuse had eight votes. Over at the Coaches top-25 poll, Syracuse football picked up 32 votes.

As I noted in another story this week, ESPN’s football power index (“FPI”) continues to be relatively high on the Orange so far in the 2023 season. In the latest FPI, the ‘Cuse checked in at No. 20 around the country.

In this latest FPI, Syracuse football within the ACC trailed Florida State, Miami, Clemson and North Carolina. I found it a little silly that the Tigers, at 2-2, were ahead of the Orange in the FPI.

Of course, all of these rankings – or potential rankings – that we’re talking about for the Orange aren’t what’s most important here, at least to me. I just want to see the ‘Cuse keep on winning, reach a bowl game for a second season in a row, and possibly make a run at a top-four showing in the final ACC standings.