If you’ve given up on Syracuse football after one loss, you’re in luck. It’s almost October, which means college basketball is just around the corner. And Tuesday night, things felt a lot more real as the Orange announced its upcoming conference slate. Here are the highlights:
An early test in South Bend
Last season was a year to forget for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish went 13-20, including a 7-13 conference mark. But things got close at Dome, as Syracuse just escaped with an 88-85 win against ND.
This season, Syracuse gets to start ACC play in Indiana. It will be JJ Starling’s first game back at the Purcell Pavilion after transferring to Syracuse two years ago.
It’s the first of a home-and-home with ND. The Fighting Irish return to the 315 on Jan. 18.
Blue Devils back in the Dome
While SU avoids UNC this year, it does get a big test in Cooper Flagg and the Duke Blue Devils on Feb. 5.
The last time Duke was in the Dome, things didn’t go so well. A three-game Syracuse win streak in February 2023 was snapped with a 77-55 loss.
Double Trouble
Aside from Notre Dame, Syracuse has two other opponents for home-and-home series in Boston College and Pittsburgh. Those are Syracuse’s two protected rivals.
SU travels to BC on Jan. 11 and then hosts them on Feb. 8. For the Panthers, it’s a home contest for Pittsburg on Jan. 25 before it travels to Syracuse on Jan. 25.
Surfs up
Yes, Syracuse will be traveling to California for a conference game. But the Orange will only have to make one roundtrip flight this year.
SU travels to Stanford on Jan. 29 (a Wednesday) and then takes on Cal three days later. Syracuse also drew a trip to Texas to take on SMU on March 4.
