If you’re scrambling around the house trying to figure out what channel is Syracuse game on today, you can stop the frantic remote clicking. It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the Orange are hitting the road to take on Boston College.
Honestly, these 2:00 PM starts always seem to sneak up on people. You’ve got the ACC Network (ACCN) handling the broadcast today. If your cable package doesn’t have it, or you’re one of the many who’ve cut the cord, you're basically looking at the ESPN app or a streaming service that carries the ACC's dedicated channel.
Where to Watch the Syracuse vs. Boston College Game
The game is live from the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill. Since it’s a conference road game, the TV rights stay within the ACC’s family of networks.
- TV Channel: ACC Network (ACCN)
- Tip-off Time: 2:00 PM ET
- Live Stream: ESPN App (requires ACCN subscription), Fubo, or YouTube TV
- Radio: WAER 88.3 or TK99/105 in the Syracuse area
Don’t expect to find this on local broadcast TV like ABC or CBS today. It’s strictly an ACCN affair. If you're using the ESPN app, just make sure you’ve authenticated your provider beforehand. Nothing is worse than missing the first five minutes because of a forgotten password.
📖 Related: Bethany Hamilton and the Shark: What Really Happened That Morning
Why This Specific Game is Kind of a Big Deal
Look, Syracuse is sitting at 12-5 right now. They’ve been playing some inspired basketball lately, especially after that 94-86 win against Florida State. Donnie Freeman has been absolutely tearing it up. The guy just dropped 25 points and snagged 8 boards in the last outing. Watching his growth has been one of the highlights of this 2025-26 season.
Boston College, on the other hand, is struggling at 7-10. On paper, this looks like a game Syracuse should win easily. But you know how it goes in the ACC. Road games are never a "gimme." The Eagles are desperate for a signature win to turn their season around, and Syracuse is a prime target.
The Orange are currently shooting about 47.5% from the field as a team. That’s decent, but their free-throw shooting (62.8%) is still a major headache. If this game gets tight in the final two minutes—and it usually does at Conte Forum—those missed freebies are going to be the only thing anyone talks about on the post-game radio shows.
👉 See also: Simona Halep and the Reality of Tennis Player Breast Reduction
Key Stats to Watch
- The Freeman Factor: If Donnie Freeman keeps shooting 75% like he did against FSU, BC doesn't have an answer for him.
- Three-Point Variance: Syracuse is hitting about 33% from deep. When they hit double digits in made threes, they almost never lose.
- Turnover Margin: The Orange forced 14 turnovers against the Noles. They need that same defensive pressure today to keep the crowd out of it.
The Streaming Struggle
If you’re trying to find a stream and you don't have a standard cable log-in, it’s a bit of a maze. Fubo is usually the safest bet for sports fans because they carry all the niche conference networks. Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV also have ACCN in most markets.
Just a heads up: if you’re trying to use a "free" streaming site you found on a message board, you’re probably just going to end up with a laptop full of malware and a frozen screen right as the game reaches the under-four-minute timeout. It’s not worth it.
What Else is Happening in Cuse Sports Today?
It’s a busy day for the Orange beyond just the men's basketball team.
✨ Don't miss: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
- Tennis: The women are taking on Cornell at 11:00 AM at Drumlins.
- Track and Field: The team is split between the Upstate Challenge and the Nittany Lion Challenge.
- Ice Hockey: If you missed it, the men played Penn State last night, and the schedule is packed for the weekend.
Road Map to the Postseason
For Syracuse to be a serious contender in the ACC tournament and eventually the Big Dance, they have to sweep these types of games. Beating Florida State was great for the "vibes," but losing to a 7-10 Boston College team would be a massive resume killer.
The schedule doesn't get easier. After today, they’ve got Virginia Tech coming to the JMA Wireless Dome on Wednesday night at 9:00 PM. That’s another late one. Then it's Miami on Saturday. Every win right now is about building that "cushion" before they have to travel to places like Chapel Hill or Duke in February.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Verify your ACCN access at least 15 minutes before the 2:00 PM tip-off to avoid login issues.
- Download the Syracuse Orange app if you’re going to be in the car; the radio broadcast with Matt Park is always top-tier.
- Check the live box score on Cuse.com if you can't watch, as their play-by-play interface is often faster than the ESPN app updates.
- Monitor Donnie Freeman’s early fouls. If he gets two quick ones in the first ten minutes, the Orange's offensive game plan will have to shift significantly to the perimeter.
The game is about to start soon, so grab your gear and get the ACCN tuned in.