Syracuse Football: Why ‘Cuse can compete for ACC crown, playoff berth in 2024

Syracuse football has a 2024 schedule that, on paper, looks more than manageable.

The team’s regular-season slate in 2024 isn’t entirely done, as a non-conference battle with Army will not proceed, due to the Black Knights’ decision in late October to join the American Athletic Conference.

Even still, based on the 2024 roster that head coach Fran Brown and his staff are building on the Hill, I feel that the ‘Cuse could – I repeat, “could” – vie for the top-tier in the Atlantic Coast Conference and potentially make a run at a berth in the College Football Playoff, an event that next season will expand from four participants to 12.

I know, I know. I’m a homer with this column. I get it. The Orange is a combined 13-13 over the past two terms, although it did make a bowl game in each season.

And Brown has yet to coach a game in Central New York. So, sure, all of this is speculation. But in recent weeks, amid the many exciting developments related to recruiting and new staff hires within the program, I’ve seen a ton of fans and even some national observers float a bit of chatter that suggests the ‘Cuse could vastly improve its standing on a national scale in 2024.

Only time will tell.

Syracuse football, in 2024, has a chance to reside among the ACC’s best.

Here is the Orange’s schedule for next season, as it currently stands, with one game left to be filled:

Ohio at home
Holy Cross at home
UConn at a TBD site
Boston College on the road
California on the road
N.C. State on the road
Pittsburgh on the road
Georgia Tech at home
Miami at home
Stanford at home
Virginia Tech at home

In 2023, Ohio and Holy Cross had good seasons, but do those teams scare you? Not me. UConn wasn’t good. Pittsburgh was bad. The same goes for Stanford.

The Atlantic Coast Conference currently has four ranked teams – Florida State, Louisville, N.C. State and Clemson. In 2024, the ‘Cuse won’t face FSU, Louisville or Clemson.

The Orange’s 2024 docket also doesn’t include North Carolina or Duke.

The Wolfpack has been good. N.C. State on the road next season will be tough.

Boston College, Cal, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech have all been okay in 2023, but I wouldn’t say any of them is having a stellar year.

Again, to reiterate, Fran Brown and his staff have yet to coach a game for the ‘Cuse. The team is bringing back some talented veterans on both sides of the field.

It has lost a bunch of players to the transfer portal, but the Orange’s 2024 class – consisting of high school seniors and college transfers who are coming to the ‘Cuse – is getting rave reviews from national analysts.

Brown said at his recent press conference on National Signing Day that one of his two main goals for his players is to win a national championship.

I’m not suggesting that Syracuse football is going to capture the grand prize in Brown’s first season at the helm of the program. However, I think the Orange can make a run at the ACC title.

And even if the ACC is “weaker” than all of the other power conferences, with a 12-team CFP, if the ‘Cuse can take care of business in its league, maybe earning an invite to the playoff isn’t out of the realm of possibilities.