Syracuse ranked No. 3 in Inside Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Syracuse men’s lacrosse was ranked No. 3 in Inside Lacrosse’s preseason poll, which released Tuesday. Jacob Halsema | Staff Photographer
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Syracuse men’s lacrosse was ranked No. 3 in Inside Lacrosse’s preseason rankings, which were released Tuesday. The ranking is SU’s second-highest since Gary Gait was hired in 2021, only bested by its No. 2 placement before the 2025 season. Reigning national-runner up Maryland took the top spot, while Princeton — which SU beat in the quarterfinals of last year’s NCAA Tournament — is second.
2026 is a consequential season for Syracuse. The Orange are coming off their first Final Four appearance since 2013, but their 14-8 loss to Maryland left much to be desired. SU has plenty of key returners, and its talent could lead it to winning its first national championship since 2009.
Last season, Syracuse came two games short of reaching that goal. It finished 13-6, including winning the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, helping it earn the No. 6 Seed in the NCAA Tournament. SU avenged its regular-season loss to Harvard in the first round, coming back from a six-goal deficit in the second half to win in overtime. It then beat No. 3 seed Princeton in an all-time classic, coming out with a 19-18 win.
The Orange will have rematches against Harvard and Princeton this regular season, along with a shot at exacting revenge on Maryland. Their schedule is a gauntlet, but it’s adequate for a team that should be competing for a national championship.
Syracuse will open the season on Feb. 1 against No. 17 Boston University in the JMA Wireless Dome.
