The release of the USA Today Amway Coaches Poll on Thursday afternoon has caused a lot of buzz for the Orange.
The weekly poll revealed the top 25 teams voted on by a pool of coaches randomly chosen from the American Football Coaches Association. Syracuse football, who has not received any votes since the Week 8 AP poll in 2011 when the team beat West Virginia, received three votes in the top 25.
What does this mean?
For the Amway Coaches Poll, each coach submits their Top 25 teams with the first place team getting 25 points, second gets 24 points, third gets 23 points, and so on.
Receiving three votes can mean one of three things; One coach voted for Syracuse at 23, two coaches voted for Syracuse, one at 24 and one at 25, or three coaches voted for Syracuse each at 25. With the three points received, Syracuse ranked 54 on this week’s coaches poll.
Difficulty of Schedule
Receiving votes can bring hope, but the difficulty of schedule for the Orange needs to be looked at realistically.
Of the Amway Coaches Poll Top 25, Syracuse will play five of the Top 25 teams:
- Florida St. [9] (3)
- Clemson [10](5)
- LSU [11] (12)
- Louisville [12] (17)
- Miami [13] (18)
Not only does Syracuse have to play five of these powerhouse teams in ACC play, but four of the five games will be on the road for Syracuse (LSU, Miami, Florida St. and Louisville). The Orange also have to play the number one ranked teams in both the Atlantic and Coastal Division of the ACC, Florida St. and Miami, in back-to-back away games with a bye week in between.
Syracuse was voted 6 out of 7 in ACC preseason polls for the Atlantic Division
Positive Outlook
Yes, Syracuse football has a difficult schedule, but it also has some positives to look forward to this year as well.
Syracuse had five players named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC teams. Ervin Philips (receiver), Zaire Franklin (linebacker) and Sterling Hofrichter (punter) earned second-team honors and Atwan Cordy (safety) and Matt Keller (long snapper) were placed to third team.
If it received 3 points in the coaches poll it means 1-3 coaches from the American Football Coaches Association think that the Orange can compete, despite having one of the toughest schedules in the ACC.
A look at the Syracuse football 2017 schedule:
Sept 2: vs. Central Connecticut State
Sept. 9: vs. Middle Tennessee
Sept. 16: vs. Central Michigan
Sept. 23: at LSU
Sept. 30: at North Carolina State
Oct. 7: vs. Pittsburgh
Oct. 13: vs. Clemson
Oct. 21: at Miami
Oct. 28: Bye Week
Nov. 4: at Florida State
Nov. 11: vs. Wake Forest
Nov. 18: at Louisville
Nov. 25: vs. Boston College
Read more about the first practice of Syracuse's season [14]
