Syracuse finished the 2018 football season ranked No. 15 in the AP poll. It’s the first time the Orange (10-3, 6-2 Atlantic Coast) have finished the season ranked in the Top 25 since 2001.

After a 34-18 win over West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl, the Orange moved up two spots from their previous rankings while the Mountaineers moved down five spots to No. 20. Their bowl victory pushed the Orange to 10-plus wins for the seventh time in program history.

After two consecutive 4-8 seasons, Syracuse broke out in 2018 with wins over two ranked opponents — North Carolina State and West Virginia. Including the Mountaineers, three Syracuse opponents finished in the Top 25. The other two, Notre Dame and Clemson, were SU losses. The Tigers went on to finish as undefeated national champions while Notre Dame ranked fifth in the AP poll.