Syracuse Men's Soccer Falls to SMU in ACC Semifinal
The No. 8 seed Orange lost 3-0 to top-ranked SMU and now await the NCAA Tournament at-large selection on Monday.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Soccer
Syracuse men's soccer lost 3-0 to No. 1 SMU in the ACC Championship Semifinals on Thursday in Cary, North Carolina. The Orange, which entered the tournament with its lowest-ever seed, now await the NCAA Selection Show to learn whether they earn an at-large bid.
Why it matters
Syracuse won more conference matches in the final week than in the entire regular season, and its postseason run could help it secure one of 25 at-large bids. Its Rating Percentage Index ranking and strength of schedule will weigh heavily in the committee's decision.
Syracuse's 1-5-2 ACC record stands against SMU's 6-0-2 mark, and the Orange's 8-8-3 overall record will be weighed against 25 available at-large bids. Whether the committee rewards its late-season surge remains unresolved until Monday's selection show.
The players
Syracuse men's soccer
The Syracuse University men's soccer program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and is led by head coach Ian McIntyre, who has served 17 years in the role.
SMU Mustangs men's soccer
The Southern Methodist University men's soccer program, ranked No. 1 nationally, went undefeated in regular-season ACC play and advanced to the conference final.
The details
Syracuse scored no goals against SMU, which scored right before halftime and twice early in the second half. The Orange reached the semifinal after defeating Pitt on penalty kicks following two 10-minute overtime periods and then beating Stanford in double overtime on a goal by Jordan Grey.
Timeline
Nov. 4: Syracuse played at then-No. 20 Pitt.
Four days later: Syracuse played Stanford in Palo Alto.
Thursday: Syracuse lost 3-0 to SMU in the ACC Championship Semifinals.
Monday at 1 p.m.: NCAA Selection Show.
Season Trajectory
Syracuse has reached the ACC semifinals four times in five years, making this loss part of a recurring pattern rather than a one-off result. Its late-season run has altered the conversation around its NCAA Tournament hopes ahead of the Selection Show.
If Syracuse earns an at-large bid, its NCAA Tournament opener would be a fresh chance to build on a late-season surge that produced more conference wins in one week than in the regular season. Fans tracking the bracket will know the answer on Monday afternoon.
The takeaway
Syracuse's late-season run shows how quickly a team's postseason trajectory can change, and Monday's selection will determine whether that momentum carries into the NCAA Tournament. Readers following the Orange should watch the at-large announcement closely.
What happens next
The NCAA Selection Show airs Monday at 1 p.m., when the committee will announce the 25 at-large bids; if selected, Syracuse's first NCAA Tournament match would follow on Thursday.
Further reading
For more on the program's season, see Soccer coverage on Wisevoter.
