Syracuse football is back in the bowl picture, according to several national experts. The Orange is coming off a three-point upset of then-No. 19 SMU last Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome. The Saturday before, the 'Cuse knocked off North Carolina by one point in overtime on the road.
At this juncture in the 2026 regular season, Syracuse football (4-4 overall, 2-4 in ACC) has four games left. The Orange will host Clemson, then head to N.C. State and Boston College. In the regular-season finale, the 'Cuse will welcome No. 4 Notre Dame to Hill. SU needs two wins to qualify for a bowl game for the second time in head coach Fran Brown's three campaigns at the program's helm.
Up first are the Tigers (5-3 overall, 3-2 in ACC). Currently, Clemson is a 2.5-point betting favorite, per FanDuel, but this is absolutely a winnable Atlantic Coast Conference encounter for SU.
The latest bowl projections for Syracuse football amid a two-game victory streak.
ESPN's Kyle Bonagura
Syracuse football against Marshall at the inaugural TransPerfect San Juan Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 16, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Marshall, out of the Sun Belt Conference, is currently 5-3 overall.
ESPN's Mark Schlabach
Syracuse football against Minnesota in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl on Friday, Dec. 18, in Tampa, Fla. Minnesota, a Big Ten Conference member, is 5-3 overall.
CBS Sports' Brad Crawford
Syracuse football against Auburn in the JLab Birmingham Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 29, in Birmingham, Ala. Auburn, out of the Southeastern Conference, is 4-4 overall.
On3's Brett McMurphy
Syracuse football against Georgia Southern at the TransPerfect San Juan Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 16, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Georgia Southern, also out of the Sun Belt Conference, is 4-4 overall.
Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports lists Syracuse football first in his "just missing the projections" category. Others who don't currently have the Orange in their bowl predictions include Erick Smith of USA Today, Bryan Fischer of Sports Illustrated and Pete Fiutak of collegefootballnews.com.
However, with a win on Saturday against Clemson, the 'Cuse would move to 5-4 overall, and I'd be stunned if Syracuse football at that point wasn't in even more bowl-game projections.
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