Below is a chart of offense, defense and total production by Syracuse since 2008 along with who would be the lowest ranked team during this time period (in purple) and the median team (sky blue). As you may notice, Syracuse has been above average on defense for much of this time period, but below average on offense (except for Marrone's last season in 2012). The rankings below come from my Complex Invasion College Football Production Model. More details about the program are after the chart below.
Greg Robinson's last season at Syracuse
2008Syracuse finished the 2008 regular season at 3-9 and were bowl ineligible. The Orangemen played against a "much tougher" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average, meaning that their actual SOS was less than two standard deviations from the "league" average SOS, which is a rare occurrence. Syracuse's best game was their 24-23 victory over #60 Notre Dame and their worst loss was 28-42 to #64 ranked Akron. Overall, the Orangemen had the #110 most productive college football team with the #103 ranked offense and the #89 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model. With two games left in the regular season, Syracuse fired head football coach Robinson.
Doug Marrone (2009 - 2012) as head football coach
2009
Under new head football coach Doug Marrone, the Orangemen finished the regular season at 4-8. Syracuse now played a "tougher" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning that Syracuse's SOS was between one and two standard deviations below the "league" average SOS. The Orangemen best game was a 31-13 victory over #21 ranked Rutgers and their worst game was a 9-10 loss was to #103 ranked Louisville. Overall, the Orangemen had the #93 ranked team in terms of total production with the #99 ranked offense and the #71 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2010
Syracuse finished with a 7-5 regular season (with two of their wins over FCS teams) and defeated #69 Kansas State 36-34 in their post-season bowl game to finish 8-5 overall. Syracuse played an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning that Syracuse's SOS was plus or minus one standard deviations from the "league" average SOS. The Orangemen best game was a 19-14 victory over #15 ranked West Virginia and their worst game was a 20-41 loss to #87 ranked Washington. Syracuse finished the season with the #49 ranked team in overall productivity and the #67 ranked offense and the #27 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2011
The Orangemen finished the regular season at 5-7 and out of bowl eligibility. Syracuse played an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. The Orangemen best game was a 33-30 victory over #22 ranked Toledo and their worst game was a 20-33 loss was to #80 ranked Pitt. Syracuse had the #75 ranked team in terms of total production with the #80 ranked offense and the #60 ranked defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2012
The Orangemen finished the regular season again at 7-5 and defeated #63 ranked West Virginia 38-14 in the post season to finish 8-5 overall. Syracuse played an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. Syracuse's best game was a 45-26 victory over #27 ranked Louisville and their worst loss was 10-17 to #90 ranked Minnesota. Overall, Syracuse had the #30 ranked team with the #26 ranked offense and the #46 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model. At the end of the season, Doug Marrone left Syracuse for the head coaching position with the Buffalo Bills.
2013
The Scott Shafer era, Syracuse finished the regular season 6-6 and were bowl eligible defeating #71 ranked Minnesota 21-17. The Orangemen played against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. Their best game was their victory over #65 ranked Maryland 20-3 and their worst loss was to #69 ranked Northwestern 27-48. Overall, Syracuse had the #74 ranked team with the #83 ranked offense and the #55 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2014
Syracuse finished the regular season at 3-9. Syracuse again played against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. This season the Orangemen best game was a victory over #59 ranked Central Michigan 40-3 and their worst loss was to #77 ranked Maryland 20-34. Overall, the Orangemen had the #88 ranked team with the #119 ranked offense and the #17 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2015
Syracuse announced that head football coach Scott Shafer would not return for the next season and the Orangemen finished 4-8 overall. The Orangemen played against a "tougher" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS. The Orangemen best game was a victory was over #42 ranked Boston College (at the end of their season) and their worst loss was to #95 ranked Virginia 38-44. Syracuse had the #90 ranked team in total production with the #87 ranked offense and the #88 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model. With numbers like those ...
2015 In Season NCAA FBS Head Coach Changes
University of Illinois and Tim Beckman
University of Maryland and Randy Edsall
University of North Texas and Dan McCarney
University of Southern California and Steve Sarkisian
University of South Carolina and Steve Spurrier
University of Miami (FL) and Al Golden
University of Central Florida and George O'Leary
University of Minnesota and Jerry Kill
University of Hawai'i and Norm Chow
University of Louisiana-Monroe and Toddy Berry
Iowa State University and Paul Rhoades