2025-12-25 09:00
Will Syracuse Football Return to Bowl Games This Season?
As a longtime follower of college football and someone who spends an inordinate amount of time analyzing sports turnarounds, I find myself constantly asking the question that’s on every Syracuse Orange fan’s mind this preseason: Will Syracuse football return to bowl games this season? It’s been a couple of years of frustration, watching promising starts fizzle out, and the hunger to see that postseason berth is palpable around Central New York. The trajectory feels similar to what you see in other sports narratives, where a team lingers on the cusp before finally breaking through. It makes me think of underdog stories across the globe, like in volleyball, where a team defies expectations not just once, but repeatedly. I was reading about the PVL recently, and a line stuck with me: “Likewise, Kobe Shinwa can also pull off the same feat and earn the distinction of becoming the lone foreign guest team to be hailed a two-time PVL champion when it takes on unbeaten PLDT.” That idea of a “feat,” of achieving a distinction through consistency against top competition, is exactly what Syracuse is chasing. It’s not just about getting to a bowl; it’s about re-establishing a standard, becoming a program known for its resilience and ability to clinch that sixth win when it matters most.
The schedule, as always, will be the ultimate proving ground. We have a manageable non-conference slate, with games against Ohio, UConn, and Army that, frankly, we should win if we’re serious about this bowl game pursuit. The real test, the stretch that will define our season, comes in ACC play. I’ve got my eyes on that late October to November run. To secure a bowl bid, Syracuse football needs to find a way to steal a game or two where they might not be favored. The offense has to be more explosive. Last year, we averaged a paltry 22 points per game in conference matchups, which simply won’t cut it. The new offensive coordinator’s scheme promises more tempo, and if the quarterback—whether it’s the returning veteran or the exciting transfer—can click with our solid receiving corps, we could see a jump to maybe 28-30 points per game. That’s the kind of precise, tangible improvement I’m looking for. Defense has been our relative strength, but generating more turnovers is non-negotiable. We only forced 12 takeaways all last season; bumping that number to 18 or 20 could be the difference in two close games, and two close games are often the difference between 5-7 and 7-5.
Let’s be honest, the margin for error is slim. The path for Syracuse football to return to bowl games is narrow but visible. It requires staying healthy at key positions, winning the turnover battle, and most importantly, winning the games we’re supposed to win. There’s a mental hurdle here too. Remember those crushing late-season losses the past two years? The team has to learn to close. It’s a cliché, but it’s true. They need to develop the killer instinct of a champion, that mindset Kobe Shinwa displayed in aiming for a second title against an unbeaten powerhouse. It’s about believing you belong in that upper echelon, even when the odds are stacked. My personal take? I’m cautiously optimistic. I think the coaching staff has recruited better athleticism, and there’s a quiet confidence brewing. I’m predicting a 6-6 season, with a nail-biting win in the finale to clinch it. It won’t be pretty, and it will probably stress me out immensely, but that’s the joy of it, right?
So, circling back to our central question: will Syracuse football return to bowl games this season? The pieces are there, albeit fragile. It hinges on leadership, a bit of luck with injuries, and executing in moments that have previously slipped away. It’s about achieving that “feat” of climbing back to relevance. For the seniors and for the fans who have endured the drought, reaching any bowl—the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl, the Wasabi Fenway Bowl, whatever it may be—would feel monumental. It’s the essential first step back. The journey starts with believing it’s possible, just like any team aiming for a distinguished repeat performance. This fall, we’ll find out if this group has that belief forged into action. I’ll be watching, hoping, and probably yelling at my television, because that’s what you do when you’re invested in an answer to a question that means so much.
