Oct 4, 2026 10:35 PM

Head coach Fran Brown made multiple changes that helped the team to a victory on Saturday.

The Syracuse Orange football team moved its record back to the .500 mark (2-2) with a 42-41 overtime victory on Saturday afternoon against the UConn Huskies in East Hartford, Conn.  After a 15-day day lay off, head coach Fran Brown made multiple changes to both the offense and defense in the win over the Huskies.

What were the changes? And how likely is it that the Orange will continue to keep these moves in effect? 

What changes did Fran Brown make against UConn? 

Quarterback- Amari Odom took the starting reins from Steve Angeli

Offensive line- Nine different offensive lineman saw reps on Saturday afternoon. Jayden Mann was the biggest change, seeing more plays in comparison to the three previous games.

Related stories

Running back-Ju'Juan Johnson and Shavane Anderson Jr did not play. Ahmad Miller was injured during action. Tylik Hill led the rushing attack with 140 yards. Davion Kerr and Matt Outten recorded two carries apiece. 

Secondary- Chris Peal shifted from his usual spot of cornerback to safety for most of the game. Peal needed to go back to corner late in the game as Naz Ward was injured. 

How likely is it that the new adjustments will stay in tact?

Very likely. Each of these changes saw positive results.

The most likely to stay? Amari Odom at quarterback. Odom's individual outing was better than any of Steve Angeli's games this season. Odom threw for five touchdowns and ran for one as well. He also converted on the game-winning two-point conversion.

The offensive line changes seem the least likely to stay. Unless an injury occurs, it is rare to see more than seven offensive lineman ever play in a single game. 

The use of Peal at safety is the most fascinating one for the future. Peal, a projected future NFL draft pick, could be used as a strong defender in select matchups down the stretch. Peal's ability to cover and tackle may be used differently over the next few months.

The running back position may be the toughest to figure out. The position has been a topic of conversation since April. As many as six different players could see action in the backfield, but we never seem to have an idea who is going to play on any given day.

What's next for Brown and the Orange?

The Orange will play their third consecutive road game in less than a month when they travel to Charlottesville, Va to take on the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

1
Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy