The Syracuse Orange football team dropped its second consecutive heartbreaker within Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play on Saturday night, falling 34-26 against Louisville at the JMA Wireless Dome.
With the loss, the Orange are now 2-4 and 0-4 inside the league. One year after going 3-9, this is not the season that anyone saw playing out in Central New York.
Here's what you need to know. The takeaways are in no particular order.
Unfortunate streaks continue
It has been more than a calendar year since the Orange won an FBS game at home, last beating the UConn Huskies in September of 2025.
It has also been more than a calendar year since Syracuse won a conference game. They haven't won an ACC game since Sept. 20, 2025 against Clemson.
Fast start, slow finish.... again
Last week, Syracuse led 17-7 at the half against Virginia and lost 28-25.
This week, Syracuse scored 23 points in the first half, but only mustered three in the second half. The Orange have yet to put together a full 60 minutes this season, at least against an FBS foe.
Malachi Nelson starts
The transfer from UTEP earned the start for the second straight week, going 26-of-39 for 315 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, he also threw two picks in the second half, and he took multiple bad sacks late in the game which impacted Syracuse drives as they tried to come back. He also had a fumble.
Stanquan tipped it. Cam White picked it.
— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) October 18, 2026
Watch on @accnetwork#GoCardspic.twitter.com/kMU9l4TkBY
Nelson was injured on one of those sacks and had to leave the game late in the fourth quarter. Danny Lauter tried to engineer a touchdown drive inside two minutes to play, but Syracuse was stopped on a 4th-and-1 around midfield to effectively end the game.
Hello, Calvin Russell
The freshman wide receiver, playing his third game of the season, showed up in this one, hauling in six balls for 53 yards and his first touchdown. SU worked to get him the ball in space, hitting him with multiple bubble screens as well.
Hello @14gump_ ‼️🙌
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) October 18, 2026
First career TD for Calvin Russell!
📺 ACCN pic.twitter.com/XhofsHIJWw
Hello again, Umari Hatcher
Hatcher continues to make a case for an All-ACC spot, as he got 13 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown. Simply put, he's been Syracuse's best player through six games. By a long shot.
Penalties hurt once more
Syracuse had eight penalties for 80 yards, which was actually less than the 10-for-90 that Louisville took. However, Syracuse took penalties at inopportune times, including Russell getting an unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing the ball in the stands after his touchdown.
That led to a further extra point for Shay Barker - which was missed. Barker was 2-of-2 on field goals and 2-of-3 on extra points, but the kicking woes have hurt this team all season.
Up next
Syracuse is back in action next Saturday on the road at Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels, who are coming off a win against Duke.