Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse football program’s non-conference game against Toledo will not be played next season, according to a release from the University of Toledo.
The Rockets released their full four-game non-conference schedule earlier this week, with a home game against Temple scheduled on Sept. 19.
That was the date that Toledo had been previously scheduled to visit Syracuse.
Toledo’s release about the Temple game included its full non-conference schedule for the 2026 season. It also included games against Michigan State, Central Connecticut State and San Diego State. Toledo plays eight Mid-American Conference games, which puts it at the 12-game maximum.
That leaves no room for a game against Syracuse and a matchup of the Rockets against former defensive coordinator Vince Kehres.
Without the Toledo game, Syracuse will only play six home games next year.
Syracuse associate athletic director for athletic communications Tyler Cady declined to comment on SU’s 2026 football schedule.
Toledo associate athletic director for athletic communications Paul Helgren declined to comment when asked if the game has been canceled. He confirmed that Toledo’s full non-conference schedule had been released and was accurate.
The original contract between Syracuse and Toledo for the series obtained by Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard calls for the Orange to host the Rockets in 2026. Syracuse is contracted to play a game at Toledo in 2029.
The contract indicates that the home team can cancel either contest in exchange for $1 million. If the visiting team cancels the contract, the visiting team must pay $1 million and additional expenses.
The need for Syracuse to change its schedule came because of the ACC’s decision to shift to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026.
Syracuse was assigned five road games and four home games by the ACC in 2026.
Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack has said in previous interviews that he prefers to play seven home games as often as possible.
The reduced number of home games comes in a year where Syracuse has raised the price of season tickets throughout the JMA Wireless Dome.
Syracuse is expected to play the other three originally scheduled non-conference games. It will host New Hampshire and Notre Dame and play on the road against UConn.
The full ACC schedule is traditionally released in late January.