Syracuse Football: Latest bowl projections, power rankings for 'Cuse, with BC up next

Neil Adler

Syracuse football is bowl-eligible for the third straight year. Let's examine where the Orange is forecast to go bowling. / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

For the third straight year, Syracuse football is going bowling.

The Orange, following a huge comeback win at home over Virginia Tech last Saturday, currently sits at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Heading into week 11, the 'Cuse is tied for No. 6 in the ACC's pecking order with the Hokies.

This Saturday afternoon, Syracuse football will travel to Boston College. After that, the Orange will close out the 2024 regular season with a road date at California, followed by ACC clashes at the JMA Wireless Dome with UConn and then top-five Miami.

While first-year head coach Fran Brown, his top-flight staff and their 2024 roster have clinched post-season bowl eligibility, the 'Cuse is eying more wins in the current term to move up in the league standings and secure a bid to a quality bowl game.

Here are the latest bowl projections and power rankings for Syracuse football.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports has the Orange facing Big Ten Conference member Wisconsin (5-4) at the Pinstripe Bowl on December 28 in the Bronx, N.Y. In late December of 2022, the 'Cuse suited up in the Pinstripe Bowl against fellow Big Ten group Minnesota, with the Golden Gophers prevailing, 28-20.

Erick Smith of USA Today projects Syracuse football to battle Big Ten squad Michigan State (4-5), also at the Pinstripe Bowl on December 28 in the Bronx, N.Y.

Brad Crawford, an analyst with 247Sports, predicts the 'Cuse to go toe to toe with Big Ten team Nebraska (5-4), in another forecast for the Orange to land at the Pinstripe Bowl on December 28 in the Bronx, N.Y.

Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports has Syracuse football taking on Big Ten school Southern California (4-5) at the Sun Bowl on December 31 in El Paso, Texas.

Brett McMurphy of the Action Network predicts that the 'Cuse will suit up against Big Ten school Minnesota (6-3) at the Duke's Mayo Bowl on January 3 in Charlotte, N.C.

My Week 11 @ActionNetworkHQ bowl projections. @CFBPlayoff: Oregon, UGA, Miami, BYU; Tennessee at Ohio St; Boise St at Texas; A&M at Indiana; Penn St at Notre Dame. Non-playoff: Music City: Michigan-LSU; Las Vegas: Ole Miss-Arizona St; Citrus: Bama-Illinoishttps://t.co/ggAVOsamT3
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 4, 2024

This week, in CBS Sports' latest rankings of all 134 Football Bowl Subdivision ("FBS") squads, Syracuse football arrived at No. 34 overall, down one spot from the prior week. Its next opponent, Boston College, is No. 59 nationally.

In the most recent Coaches top-25 poll, the Orange is No. 5 in the others receiving votes category, picking up 24 votes.

ESPN's latest Football Power Index ("FPI") has the 'Cuse at No. 62 overall and No. 12 in the ACC. Boston College (4-4, 1-3 in the ACC), meanwhile, is No. 60 nationwide and No. 10 in the conference. Makes sense (insert sarcasm here).

Neil Adler

Since 2016, Neil has served as a writer with Inside The Loud House, while also taking on the role of editor in 2020. Neil, a graduate of Syracuse University in 2000, primarily covers 'Cuse basketball, football, recruiting, NIL and conference realignment issues. Neil has been an avid Syracuse sports enthusiast dating back to the 1980s. While with Loud House, Neil is regularly heard on the radio in Central New York, while also participating in numerous podcasts related to the 'Cuse. His exclusive reports are often picked up by other media outlets, too. When not writing about Syracuse sports, Neil also co-owns a marketing agency in the Washington, D.C., market. He loves playing hoops and buying basketball cards with his son, spending time with his parents, brother and nephews, and listening to Duran Duran.