The Syracuse Orange could not hold a lead for the second consecutive game, losing an 11th straight ACC contest on Saturday night at home against the Louisville Cardinals. The 34-26 final score dropped the Orange to 2-4 overall and 0-4 within the league.

Syracuse now shifts its attention to a Saturday road matchup against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

After the Tar Heels and Orange clash, Syracuse will travel back to Central New York to host the SMU Mustangs. 

More details on that Oct. 31 matchup against SMU became clear on Monday.

12:00 p.m. ET. The streak of four consecutive ACC night games for the Orange will come to an end in this one. Syracuse's  7:30 p.m. ET starts included games against Pittsburgh, Virginia, Louisville, and the upcoming UNC game.

For the second time in two years, Syracuse will play a game on Halloween. Last season, the Orange hosted the North Carolina Tar Heels on a Friday night. Syracuse started Joe Filardi at quarterback, the latest in a string of different quarterbacks following an injury to Steve Angeli. Filardi struggled in his collegiate debut, going just 4-for-18 for 39 yards in the team's 27-10 loss. 

Filardi is on the 2026 football team and has yet to see action this season. Filardi also competes as a member of the Orange's lacrosse team.

SMU sits at 5-1 on the season, with the lone loss coming in September against Louisville, 41-31.

The Mustangs host California this week in a game where SMU is favored by more than two touchdowns. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. ET in Dallas, Texas.

The Mustangs are currently one of five teams in the ACC with one conference loss. A second loss in the ACC could potentially end SMU's hopes of returning to the ACC title game for the second time in three seasons. 

Oct 24 @ North Carolina 7:30 p.m. ET

Oct. 31 @ SMU , 12:00 p.m. ET

Nov. 7  vs Clemson, TBD 

Nov. 14  @ NC State, TBD

Nov. 21 @Boston College, TBD

Nov. 28 vs Notre Dame, TBD

Syracuse is 2-4 and will need to win four of their last six games to become bowl eligible. A bowl game selection, if the team qualifies, would be announced in the middle of December.