Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse football team concluded its 2024 season on a high note, defeating Washington State 52-35 in the Holiday Bowl. As attention turns to the upcoming 2025 season, the Orange are set to kick off with an exciting matchup against Tennessee at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Labor Day weekend. This game marks the first meeting between the two teams since 2001 and is anticipated to be one of Syracuse’s biggest season openers in over two decades.
Syracuse’s 2025 schedule is packed with challenges, featuring four opponents that participated in this year’s College Football Playoff, all of which will be played away from their home stadium. The schedule includes key away games against Notre Dame, Clemson, Miami, SMU, and Georgia Tech. Due to a neutral-site game against the Volunteers—which comes with a financial guarantee—Syracuse’s home games will be limited to six next season.
ACC football schedules are typically announced in late January, and Syracuse’s upcoming slate is part of a seven-year plan extending through 2030. This strategy ensures the preservation of rivalry games against Pittsburgh and Boston College.
Among the non-conference matchups, the game against Tennessee will likely draw significant attention given the Volunteers’ recent recruiting success, ranking 11th nationally, while Syracuse looks to build on its momentum under head coach Dino Babers.
The home and away games shaped by Syracuse’s schedule include facing teams like UConn, which demonstrated competitiveness against ACC teams under coach Jim Mora, and Colgate, where a new coaching direction is being tested. Other notable ACC encounters will feature North Carolina, which has recently gained attention by hiring Bill Belichick, and Duke, where a significant quarterback deal is rumored to provide them with heightened competitiveness.
Overall, Syracuse is preparing for a season filled with opportunity and challenges that could shape the program’s progress in the coming years. Fans can look forward to a thrilling season as the team takes on formidable opponents and seeks further success on the field.
By embracing these challenges head-on and focusing on continuous improvement, Syracuse can cultivate growth not only within the team but also in the community of loyal supporters.