Led by Dick MacPherson in his tenth and final season as head coach, the Orangemen compiled a record of 7–4–2.
Syracuse was invited ot the Aloha Bowl, where the Orangemen defeated Arizona.
The team played home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.
MacPherson left after ten season to become head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.
In 1991, the Big East Conference, of which Syracuse was a founding member, began sponsoring football competition.