It was an eventful week three in the Atlantic Coast Conference, led by Syracuse football's next opponent falling in heartbreaking fashion on the road.
In one of this past Saturday's most entertaining games, Georgia Tech defeated No. 12 Clemson on a 55-yard field goal as time expired. With its 24-21 triumph in Atlanta, the Yellow Jackets improved to 3-0.
The Tigers, meanwhile, fell to 1-2. They are clearly one of the most disappointing teams to date around the country in the 2025 season. To be fair, though, Clemson lost at Georgia Tech by three points. And earlier in this campaign, the Tigers fell by a touchdown, 17-10, at home to LSU.
In the latest Associated Press top-25 poll disclosed on Sunday afternoon, Clemson dropped out completely. LSU is No. 3. Georgia Tech soared into the AP top 25, at No. 18 overall. Unsurprisingly, the Orange (2-1), which will play at Clemson this Saturday afternoon, isn't receiving votes in either the AP top-25 poll or the Coaches top-25 poll.
Syracuse football will face three more ranked teams.
With Clemson out of the top-25 polls, only three ACC teams reside in them. They are Miami at No. 4, Florida State at No. 7 and Georgia Tech at No. 18. Syracuse football plays both the Hurricanes and the Yellow Jackets on the road.
AP Poll: Week 4 📊
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 14, 2025
One of only three conferences with multiple teams in the Top 10. pic.twitter.com/OaSIBSkNQA
Five ACC squads are receiving votes. They are Louisville, Clemson, SMU, N.C. State and California. The Orange is at Clemson this Saturday and also plays SMU on the road.
On the non-conference front, the 'Cuse lost its 2025 season opener to Tennessee in week one in Atlanta. The Volunteers, this Saturday, lost a heartbreaker to Georgia in Knoxville, Tenn., by a final count of 44-41 in overtime. Tennessee (2-1) remained unchanged in Sunday's AP top 25 poll, at No. 15 overall.
In late November, the Orange will travel to Notre Dame, which barely remained in the AP top 25 poll, at No. 24 overall. The Fighting Irish (0-2) plummeted 16 spots after losing at home to Texas A&M on Saturday night, 41-40.
While Notre Dame has yet to triumph in a game this season, the Fighting Irish has fallen by a combined four points at Miami and to the Aggies at home. Former Notre Dame quarterback Steve Angeli is now the starting signal-caller for Syracuse football.