Syracuse football, this week, had one of the largest slides across the country in the latest national rankings from CBS Sports of all 133 FBS teams.
Prior to this past weekend, CBS Sports slotted the Orange at No. 31 overall. Last Saturday afternoon, during homecoming on the Hill, the ‘Cuse suffered its first setback of the 2023 season, losing to Clemson at the JMA Wireless Dome, 31-14.
Following that loss, CBS Sports dropped the Orange eight spots to No. 39 nationally. It was one of the bigger declines this week in the CBS Sports national rankings.
That being said, the ‘Cuse is still in the top 40 overall, as Syracuse football (4-1) prepares to travel to No. 14 North Carolina (4-0) this Saturday, Oct. 7, with the kick-off scheduled for 3:30 pm on ESPN from Chapel Hill, N.C.
Syracuse football fell a bunch in one set of national rankings.
Speaking of the Tar Heels, UNC checked in at No. 14 in the most recent CBS Sports ratings. In the Atlantic Coast Conference, those squads ahead of the Orange, per CBS Sports, are Florida State at No. 5, North Carolina at No. 14, Miami at No. 15, Duke at No. 17, Louisville at No. 23 and Clemson at No. 30.
Syracuse football, at No. 39, resides at No. 7 in the ACC pecking order, according to CBS Sports. The ‘Cuse, by the way, will head to the Seminoles after playing at the Tar Heels, in what is a brutal stretch of the 2023 campaign for Syracuse football.
The Orange will go toe to toe with FSU on Saturday, Oct. 14, in a conference clash that will begin at either noon or 7:30 pm in Tallahassee, Fla., with television coverage on ABC.
Before its game versus the Tigers, Syracuse football had received eight votes in the Associated Press top-25 poll, along with 32 votes in the Coaches top-25 poll.
When the latest versions of both major polls were released this past Sunday, unsurprisingly, the ‘Cuse didn’t receive votes in either poll. However, if Syracuse football can somehow stun North Carolina on the road this Saturday afternoon, I could envision the Orange picking up some votes in the AP and Coaches polls.
That’s easier said than done. The ‘Cuse offense will have to be a lot better versus UNC than it was against Clemson. Plus, the Tar Heels have a pretty explosive offense, led by sophomore quarterback Drake Maye and sophomore running back Omarion Hampton, who are each among the best at their respective positions in the ACC.