| Year: | 1956 |
| Team: | Syracuse Orangemen |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 7–2 |
| Head Coach: | Ben Schwartzwalder |
| Hc Year: | 8th |
| Coachrank: | 8 |
| Aprank: | 8 |
| Captain: | Game captains[1] |
| Stadium: | Archbold Stadium |
| Bowl: | Cotton Bowl Classic |
| Bowl Result: | L 27–28 vs. TCU |
The 1956 Syracuse Orangemen football team represented Syracuse University in the 1956 college football season. The Orangemen were led by eighth-year head coach Ben Schwartzwalder and played their home games at Archbold Stadium in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse finished the regular season with a record of 7–1, and were ranked 8th in both final polls. They were awarded the Lambert Trophy, which signified them as champions of the East. Syracuse was invited to the 1957 Cotton Bowl, where they were defeated by TCU.
The team was led by unanimous All-American halfback Jim Brown. Brown set school records in average yards-per-carry (6.2), single-season rushing yards (986), single-game rushing touchdowns (6, vs. Colgate), and most points scored in a game (43, vs. Colgate).[2] He was drafted sixth overall in the 1957 NFL draft and went on to become one of the most celebrated professional athletes of all time.
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | Club |
| 1 | 6 | Running back | Cleveland Browns | |
| Jimmy Ridlon | 4 | 39 | Defensive back | 49ers |
| Bill E. Brown | 9 | 108 | Linebacker | Chicago Bears |
| Jerry Cashman | 14 | 158 | Tackle | Eagle |