Syracuse aims for redemption after a tough 2025, but significant offensive talent departed. Can QB Steve Angeli lead the charge with new weapons?
It's been a tale of two different seasons for head coach Fran Brown. In his first season at the helm, the Orange went 10-3 with a win in the post season and upset victories over a ranked UNLV team in overtime and a 42-38 win over Miami in the final week of the regular season ultimately ending the Hurricane's playoff chances. This past season, unfortunately, was a different story.
After starting the season 3-1 with a massive victory over Clemson, an injury to their starting quarterback sealed their fate for the final eight games. Syracuse finished the 2025 season on an eight-game losing streak including a 70-7 loss against the Irish in South Bend. The offense failed to reach the 20 point mark in the final eight games. This year, Brown looks to rebound from last year's miscues and string together another bowl-eligible season.
Let's take a look at the Orange.
2025 Record: 3-9 / 1-7
2024 Record: 10-3 / 5-3 (Beat Washington State 52-35 in the Holiday Bowl)
Syracuse Offense
Starters Returning - QB Steve Angeli, LT Trevion Mack, C Joe Cruz, RG Byron Washington
Starters Lost - RB Yasin Willis (Transfer - Kansas), WR Darrell Gill (Transfer - Ole Miss), WR Johntay Cook (Transfer- Ole Miss), WR Justus Ross-Simmons, TE Dan Villari, LG TJ Ferguson, RT Da'Metrius Weatherspoon
Angeli (98-156, 62.8%, 1,317 yards, 8.4 YPA, 10 TD, 2 INT, 152.3 Rating) finished the season as Syracuse's leading passer despite missing the last eight games. That's how dominant of a start the Notre Dame transfer was off to. Unfortunately, an achilles injury sidelines him from the end of September to the rest of the season. He returns in 2026, but his timeline from return remains TBD. Thankfully, he'll be playing behind three returning starters on the offensive line.
The down side: he'll be throwing to and handing off to completely new weapons. Leading rushers Willis and Nixon, who combined for 990 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns have departed. Receivers Gill (32 rec., 506 yards, 15.8 YPC, 5 TD) and Cook (45 rec., 549 yards, 12.2 YPC, 2 TD) have hit the portal and will play the 2026 season in Oxford, Mississippi. Ross-Simmons and tight end Villari have also departed. The portal will play a major role at the offensive skilled positions.
Syracuse Defense
Starters Returning - LB Gary Bryant III, LB Antoine Deslauriers, CB Demetres Samuels, CB Chris Peal,
Starters Lost - DE Denis Jacquez Jr., EDGE David Reese, DT Dion Wilson, DT George Rooks, S Devin Grant, S Berry Buxton III, S Duce Chestnut
The Orange returns some key pieces on defense, but will be rebuilding through the portal in the trenches. Bryant III (57 tackles, 1.0 sack) returns and was the team's leading tackler this past season. Deslauriers (54 tackles, 1.0 sack, 2 passes defended) also returns alongside Bryant. They also return Samuels (43 tackles, 9 passes defended, 1 INT) and Peal (43 tackles, 7 passes defended) at both outside corner positions.
Losing all three starting safeties and all four starting defensive lineman isn't ideal for Syracuse and first-year defensive coordinator Vince Kehres who came over from Toledo where he was a Broyles Award nominee. Hopefully, with the help of key returning production at linebacker and at cornerback, he can turn around this Syracuse defense.
Portal Additions
Top Transfers - Offense: QB Amari Odom (Kennessaw St.), RB Ahmad Miller (Jackson St.), WR Elijah Moore (Florida St.), WR Cole Weaver (Miami (OH)), TE Noah Meyers (Western Kentucky),
Top Transfers - Defense: DE Tunmise Adeleye (UNLV), EDGE Keyshawn Johnson (UT Martin), DT Jartavius Flounoy (Georgia St.), DT Dillan Fontus (Maryland), LB Chris D'Appolonia (Toledo), CB Nazir Ward (Western Kentucky), S Jai Eugene Jr. (Western Kentucky)
As to be expected, the portal is going to play a huge role in the Orange's success this upcoming season. Offensively, they elected to take two quarterbacks, with Odom (189-291, 64.9%, 2,594 yards, 8.9 YPA, 19 TD, 8 INT, 155.9 Rating; 120 att., 347 yards, 7 TD) being the more experienced of the two. He's likely the day one starter depending on Angeli's timeline to return, but Odom will likely be the quarterback of the future for Syracuse.
They also brought in Miller (163 att., 1,035 yards, 6.3 YPC. 5 TD) from Jackson State to be the premier back in 2026. Weaver (45 rec., 642 yards, 14.3 YPC, 1 TD) from Miami (OH) and Moore (3 rec., 52 yards, 17.3 YPC) bring size at 6-5, 200-pounds and 6-4, 203-pounds respectively, to the receiving corps.
Defensively, they rebuilt entirely through the portal in the trenches bringing in several key players like Adeleye (48 tackles, 6.0 sacks) from UNLV and Johnson (54 tackles, 12.0 sacks) from UT Martin on the edge. Flounoy (22 tackles, 3.0 sacks) from Georgia State and Fontus (28 tackles, 2.0 sacks) from Maryland will make up the interior.
2026 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 33 Rivals/On3 - No. 39 247Sports
2026 SCHEDULE
Notre Dame 2026 Opponent Previews:
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