You scoff at the notion, but it's certainly possible given the wide open nature of the ACC.
The College Football Playoff released its schedule for the next two seasons on Tuesday, so we know when the quarterfinals and semifinal matchups will be happening.
Now, the only question is: Will Syracuse football be a part of it?
As noted by Pete Thamel of ESPN, the 2026 quarterfinals will happen on Wednesday, Dec. 30 (Fiesta Bowl) and Friday, Jan. 1 (Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl). There will be no games on Dec. 31 so as to avoid conflicts with Thursday Night Football and the NFL. The semifinals will happen two weeks later, Jan. 14 (Orange Bowl) and 15 (Sugar Bowl).
A similar set up will happen in the 2027 season, but the CFP will be able to take place on New Year's Eve.
While not officially listed, the finals will presumably be one week after the semifinals.
How about Syracuse?
The Orange went just 3-9 in 2025, so the idea of the program playing in the College Football Playoff seems laughable. Not so fast.
First off, the Orange return starting quarterback Steve Angeli to the mix after he tore his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the season. With him back healthy, the Orange are instantly better. Should he get injured again, the Orange are much better prepared, as they've brought in three additional quarterbacks via the transfer portal that all have significant playing experience.
The program also hired high-profile defensive coordinator Vince Kehres, who engineered a top-ranked defense at Toledo. The Orange should be better on both sides of the ball, and the league is winnable. Duke, who won the ACC title in 2025, lost its starting quarterback. Miami, who got the national championship game, is also losing quarterback Carson Beck. There are opportunities to get in position to play in the league title game, and if you do that, you have a real opportunity to earn a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Also on campus
--The SU women's basketball team is now 18-4 on the season and 8-3 inside ACC play. They'll be back in action on Thursday night at Boston College. The Orange most recently beat Miami on Sunday afternoon 65-60.
--The men's lacrosse team won its season opener against Boston University, earning some ACC honors after the fact.
--The Orange men's basketball team will travel to No. 18 Virginia on Saturday (12 p.m. ET) on the heels of a 10-point loss against North Carolina. SU was down by as many as 32 and drew the ire of former star Carmelo Anthony apparently.
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