Time and time again of late, experts have opined that, on paper, Syracuse football has the toughest 2025 schedule in the Atlantic Coast Conference and one of the most daunting dockets around the country in the upcoming campaign.
Of course, that's why the games are played on the field, but still, I think it will prove a tall task for the Orange to win 10 contests in 2025, as the 'Cuse did a season ago when Syracuse football sported a 10-3 overall mark in the head-coaching debut of Fran Brown.
At the same time, I've said more than once, as we get further into preseason camp and inch closer to late August's season opener against Tennessee in Atlanta, that if the Orange doesn't attain 10 triumphs in 2025, it doesn't necessarily mean that the 'Cuse is taking a step back from a stanza ago.
Not too long ago, the ACC's annual preseason media poll forecast Syracuse football to finish at No. 12 in the 17-member league. That's the same placement as in 2024, when the Orange would ultimately finish in a tie for fourth place.
Where are Syracuse football's 2025 foes in the preseason ACC media poll?
Saturday, Sept. 20: at Clemson
Preseason projection in ACC media poll: No. 1
Saturday, Sept. 27: versus Duke at the JMA Wireless Dome
Preseason projection in ACC media poll: No. 6
Saturday, Oct. 4: at SMU
Preseason projection in ACC media poll: No. 3
Saturday, Oct. 18: versus Pittsburgh at the JMA Wireless Dome
Preseason projection in ACC media poll: No. 9
Saturday, Oct. 25: at Georgia Tech
Preseason projection in ACC media poll: No. 4
Friday, Oct. 31: versus North Carolina at the JMA Wireless Dome
Preseason projection in ACC media poll: No. 8
Saturday, Nov. 8: at Miami
Preseason projection in ACC media poll: No. 2
Saturday, Nov. 29: Boston College at the JMA Wireless Dome
Preseason projection in ACC media poll: No. 13
My first thought is that the Orange plays four ACC road games. And those opponents are the top-four squads in the preseason media poll, including No. 1 Clemson, which claimed the league title in 2024. That's rough.
Also, five of Syracuse's football's opponents in 2025 are in the top six of this poll, seven foes are in the top nine, and only one group, Boston College, is below the Orange (the Eagles also beat the 'Cuse a term ago).
Not that this math matters a ton, but for a little context, the "average" of Syracuse football's eight league opponents is 5.75. And the 'Cuse checks in at No. 12. Just saying.
Here's the Orange's four-game slate in the non-conference portion of the 2025 season:
Saturday, Aug. 30: versus Tennessee in Atlanta
Saturday, Sept. 6: versus UConn at the JMA Wireless Dome
Friday, Sept. 12: versus Colgate at the JMA Wireless Dome
Saturday, Nov. 22: at Notre Dame
The Volunteers, in 2024, made the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Fighting Irish, by extension, reached the CFP championship encounter, where it lost to Ohio State.
Brown and his program have many chances to knock off some excellent squads this upcoming season. From my perspective, getting to another bowl game shouldn't be the lone objective for Syracuse football, but if reached, it would prove a solid accomplishment.