After winning 10 games for the first time in nearly two decades in 2018, Syracuse was ranked No. 22 in the preseason AP Poll, released Monday. This is the first time Syracuse will begin the season ranked since 1998. The Orange finished last season at No. 15, their first time in the Top 25 since 2001. 

The only opponent on Syracuse’s schedule that was also on the Top 25 list is Clemson, at No. 1. The defending national champions will travel to the Carrier Dome to play the Orange on Sept. 14 in a matchup that’s been decided by four points or fewer in each of the last two contests.

SU returns 17 starters from the 10-3 team last season that defeated West Virginia, 34-18, in the 2018 Camping World Bowl. Among the players who graduated include starting quarterback Eric Dungey, leading receiver Jamal Custis and SU’s top two leading tacklers in Ryan Guthrie and Kielan Whitner. The Orange kick off their season against Liberty on Aug. 31 in Lynchburg, Va.