The Syracuse Orange announced their ACC conference opponents for the 2026 football season. The conference joins the other Power Four conferences in facing 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 in 2026 that will play nine conference games.
As such, Syracuse and the ACC announced that the Orange’s ninth conference game will be a 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 road conference opponents in 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 previously announced games against Notre Dame, Toledo and New Hampshire at home. Additionally, Syracuse announced a road game at UConn.
However, one of the ACC’s new rules in scheduling games is that each program must play a minimum of 10 Power Four opponents annually. Of course, Notre Dame and UConn are not part of a football conference, but one could assume that the ACC, at the very least, considers Notre Dame a “Power Four” opponent.
Also of note, Syracuse has confirmed the dates of the Toledo and New Hampshire games on its website. Syracuse football’s future schedule page has the Orange scheduled to face New Hampshire on September 5 and Toledo on September 19.
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The ACC is expected to announce the full schedule and dates for the 2026 Syracuse football season in late January 2026.