An ‘existential question’ looms large after 4-0 start: Is Syracuse football good? (what they’re saying)

Syracuse Orange linebacker Mikel Jones (3) after he stopped a completion by Virginia. Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron (60) helps Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader (6) up after another Virginia sack. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

#3 Dontayvion Wicks reached for an overthrown ball with Syracuse’s defensive back Rob Hanna (19) covering. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader (6) is tackled. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

The Syracuse student section Syracuse Orange Football 2022: Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange wide receiver Damien Alford (82) The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange wide receiver Damien Alford (82) celebrated at the end of the game. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

An anxious moment for Syracuse fans. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange Football 2022: Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse coach Dino Babers during a timeout. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse coach Dino Babers and the bench look at a Virginia fourth down. Syracuse Orange Football 2022: Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange linebacker Mikel Jones (3). Syracuse Orange Football 2022: Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange linebacker Mikel Jones (3) carries a white board with the word MOB written on it after the game. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange wide receiver Trebor Pena (2). The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange running back Sean Tucker (34) . The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange linebacker Mikel Jones (3) in action. Syracuse Orange Football 2022: Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange defensive lineman Terry Lockett (90) is helped off the field after a third quarter injury. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader (6). Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange linebacker Mikel Jones (3) after he stopped a completion by Virginia. Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader (6) passes into the end zone Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Virginia’s running back Perris Jones #2. Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Virginia receiver Keytaon Thompson is knocked out of the sideline. Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

The Virginia bench react to an interception of a Syracuse pass. Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Virginia’s running back Perris Jones #2. Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange place kicker Andre Szmyt (91) kicks one of his five field goals. Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

A Syracuse fan wait for a referee review. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader (6) runs for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange defensive back Justin Barron (23) celebrates after a defensive stand by the Orange.The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader (6) taps Syracuse Orange running back Sean Tucker (34) on the shoulder as he runs off the field after an injury. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange linebacker Marlowe Wax (2) and Syracuse Orange linebacker Mikel Jones (3) after another defensive stop. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II (19). Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange wide receiver Courtney Jackson (9) blocks for Syracuse Orange running back Sean Tucker (34) Syracuse vs Virginia The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange running back Sean Tucker (34). Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

The Syracuse football team take the field. Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange offensive lineman Christopher Bleich (63) gets in the center of an Orange huddle before the start of the game. Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

A Syracuse fan gears up for the Orange before they take on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange wide receiver CJ Hayes (13) before the game. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange defensive back Justin Barron (23) waits in the tunnel before the Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange defensive lineman Elijah Fuentes-Cundiff (99) and Syracuse Orange defensive lineman Terry Lockett (90) do some extra work before the game. Syracuse Orange Football 2022: Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange wide receiver Damien Alford (82) before his game against Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange wide receiver Donovan Brown (87) in warmups. Syracuse Orange Football 2022: Syracuse vs Virginia. The Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader and the rest of the team arrive (6) as the Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader and the rest of the team arrive (6) as the Orange takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome, Sept 23, 2022. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

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Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse football is 4-0 following a 22-20 victory against Virginia on Friday night in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Wagner, an FCS opponent that has lost 23 games in a row, is next.

Then SU gets a week off.

It stands to reason the Orange will remain unbeaten through the middle of October, when it hosts North Carolina State on Oct. 15.

There’s a bunch of areas the Orange needs to clean up before then.

And its roster could use the break after back-to-back, 60-minute fights with Power-Five competition.

Here’s what social media is saying after SU moved to 4-0 on the season:

MORE ORANGE FOOTBALL

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Ugly Win to Stay Undefeated: Syracuse football defeats Virginia 22-20 (Brent Axe recap)

Syracuse works more late-game magic after mistake-filled game to beat Virginia, 22-20 and move to 4-0

What was the attendance for Syracuse’s win vs. Virginia? Not as many as you’d think for an unbeaten team

Syracuse’s defense bails out the offense, penalties and mistakes vs. Virginia: (Axe’s best and worst)

Syracuse works more late-game magic after mistake-filled game to beat Virginia, 22-20 and move to 4-0

You Grade the Orange: Rate Syracuse football performance vs. Virginia

Syracuse Orange fans:

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