If you’re refreshing your phone looking for a Syracuse football score today, I’ve got some bad news: the pads are packed away. Today is January 17, 2026, and while the College Football Playoff is still humming along for teams like Miami and Indiana, the Orange have been home for weeks.
It’s a bit of a bummer, honestly.
The 2025 season didn't exactly end with a celebratory Gatorade bath. In fact, it ended with a thud in late November. If you’re a die-hard ‘Cuse fan, you probably already know the final tally, but for those just catching up, the Orange finished the year with a 3-9 record. They didn't make a bowl game, which is why there’s no score to report today.
What happened to the Orange?
Basically, the season started with a spark and then hit a wall of bricks. Things actually looked halfway decent early on. After a tough opening loss to Tennessee in Atlanta, Syracuse rattled off wins against UConn and Colgate. Then came the shocker: a 34-21 win over Clemson on the road. For a week, it felt like Fran Brown had figured out the secret sauce.
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Then the wheels came off. Completely.
Syracuse lost their final eight games of the season. It wasn't just that they lost; it’s how they lost. They were held to 13 points or fewer in five of those final eight matchups. The season finale on November 29 was a 34-12 loss to Boston College at the JMA Wireless Dome. That’s the most recent "today" score you'll find, and it’s been a long winter since then.
Syracuse Football Score Today: Looking at the Numbers
Since there’s no live action on the turf, we have to look at the wreckage of the 2025 stats to understand why we aren't watching a playoff game right now.
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- Final Record: 3-9 overall.
- ACC Record: 1-7.
- The Scoring Drought: In their final three games against Miami, Notre Dame, and Boston College, the Orange were outscored 142 to 29.
- The Notre Dame Disaster: That 70-7 loss in South Bend was particularly hard to stomach.
It’s kinda wild to think that this same team beat Clemson in September. That’s college football for you, though. Momentum is a fickle beast, and injuries combined with a brutal late-season schedule just buried them.
What are fans watching instead?
Even though there isn't a Syracuse football score today, the Dome isn't empty. People have shifted their focus to the hardwood. The Syracuse men's basketball team is actually having a solid run. In fact, they just beat Florida State 94-86 a few days ago, led by Donnie Freeman’s 25 points.
If you really need a Syracuse fix today, Saturday, January 17, the men's basketball team is actually playing Boston College at the Conte Forum. It’s a chance for a little bit of revenge after the football team lost to the Eagles to end their season.
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Why the 2026 outlook is different
Recruiting doesn't stop just because the scoreboard is off. Fran Brown is still hitting the trail hard. One of the big reasons people are still optimistic despite a 3-9 year is the incoming talent.
Calvin Russell, a highly-touted wide receiver for the 2026 class, recently signed, which keeps the "Orange Is The New Fast" mantra alive, even if it felt more like a slow crawl in November. The coaching staff is also seeing some reshuffling, with rumors of new defensive coordinators and portal hunting for a veteran quarterback to bridge the gap.
Actionable Steps for Orange Fans
Since you can't watch a game today, here is how you can stay locked in:
- Check the Basketball Score: Keep an eye on the Syracuse vs. BC hoops game today. It’s the primary "Syracuse score" happening right now.
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: The football roster for 2026 is being built right now. Expect a lot of movement in the coming weeks as Fran Brown tries to fix the depth issues that killed the 2025 campaign.
- Spring Game Prep: Mark your calendars for April. That will be the next time you see this team in the Dome, and it'll be the first real look at the 2026 squad.
It’s a long wait until September 5, 2026, when Syracuse is scheduled to open against New Hampshire. Until then, we’re stuck with the memories of that Clemson win and the hope that 3-9 was just a growing pain in the Fran Brown era.