The Syracuse Orange have announced their ACC opponents for the 2026 football season. The conference joins the other Power Four conferences to face nine conference opponents, but with a twist. Because there are 17 teams in the conference, it is impossible for all ACC schools to play nine conference games in a season. Syracuse is one of 12 teams that will play nine conference games in 2026.
As such, Syracuse and the ACC announced that the Orange’s ninth conference game would be a road trip to NC State. The Orange last played the Wolfpack in 2024 in Raleigh. Syracuse won 24-17 with Kyle McCord throwing for 346 yards and two touchdowns.
NC State will join Boston College, Pitt, North Carolina and Virginia as scheduled away conference opponents for 2026. Cal, Clemson, Louisville and SMU are Syracuse’s home conference opponents.
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The addition of the NC State game means Syracuse will have to cancel one of its scheduled non-conference games. The Orange had already announced games against Notre Dame, Toledo and New Hampshire at home. Additionally, Syracuse announced an away game at UConn.
However, one of the ACC’s new rules for scheduling games is that each program must play a minimum of 10 Power Four opponents per year. Sure, Notre Dame and UConn aren’t part of a football conference, but one would assume that the ACC views Notre Dame as a “Power Four” opponent at a minimum.
It’s also worth noting that Syracuse has confirmed the dates for the Toledo and New Hampshire games on its website. The Syracuse football future schedule page says the Orange will face New Hampshire on September 5 and Toledo on September 19.
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The full schedule and dates for the 2026 Syracuse football season are expected to be announced by the ACC in late January 2026.
