SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Orange football team (10-3, 6-2 ACC) wrapped up its breakout 2018 season by being ranked No. 15 in the final Associated Press and Coaches polls released Tuesday. That’s up two spots from Syracuse’s No. 17 ranking in both polls before bowl season started.
Syracuse was the only ACC team other than national champion and No. 1 Clemson to be ranked in the final AP and Coaches polls. You can check out the full polls here and here.
The Orange beat West Virginia 34-18 in the Camping World Bowl on Dec. 28 to cement its spot in the final polls, the first time Syracuse finished a football season ranked since 2001, when the Orange also went 10-3 with a bowl win (beating Kansas State in the Insight.com Bowl).
Fresh off this milestone season and with a lot of talent returning, Syracuse football also figures to be ranked in the pre-season Top 25 polls. In college football, the pre-season polls are important because they set the initial pecking order that eventually leads to College Football Playoff and New Year’s Six bowl bids. It’s much easier to be ranked highly late in the season when you start ranked at the beginning.
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BJNN file photo by Adam Rombel