The Syracuse Orange football team has one day left to prepare for a pivotal game against North Carolina, which comes on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Orange have now lost 12 of their last 14 games dating back to last season, with only one of the two wins coming against an FBS team (UConn). Syracuse has now lost 11 straight games to ACC schools. All of that can end Saturday night when Fran Brown and his team hit the road again. 

Here's what you need to know as Syracuse travels to take on the Tar Heels

For the second consecutive season, Syracuse is dealing with injuries at the quarterback position. As our Brady Farkas noted earlier this week, the Orange will be turning to the season's original starting quarterback, Steve Angeli, in this one. Amari Odom is out for the season after shoulder surgery while Malachi Nelson is out for the game after getting ankle surgery.

In 2025, Syracuse started four quarterbacks: Angeli, Rickie Collins, Luke Carney and Joe Filardi. In last year's North Carolina game, Filardi made his college debut in a Halloween loss.

Filardi is still on the team, but also competes as a member of the Orange's lacrosse team as well. He has not seen action on the gridiron yet.

Angeli is hoping to perform more like he did in the early part of 2025: Syracuse was 3-1 with him at the helm before he got hurt and missed the final eight games of the season. Angeli was 1-2 as a starter this year before taking a backseat to get a PRP injection in his Achilles.

North Carolina sits at 4-2 on the season, an improvement from last year's first season under Bill Belichick (4-8). After a season opening win in Ireland against TCU, the Tar Heels have added victories against East Tennessee State and Pittsburgh. The two defeats came against Clemson and Notre Dame. Most recently, North Carolina defeated its rival, the Duke Blue Devils, 24-20.

Following the matchup with the Orange, North Carolina will battle against the Miami Hurricanes. It is possible that if UNC wins, ESPN's popular College Gameday show could broadcast from Chapel Hill on Oct. 31. 

Saturday's football game will mark the ninth time that the schools have faced off. North Carolina holds the 5-3 series advantage. 

The Orange hold a 2-2 record in games played in Chapel Hill. The most recent win at the home of the Tar Heels came in 2003. 

Yes, but the chances are fading fast. The Orange will need to win at least four of their next six games to reach the six-win total. Syracuse is projected to be an underdog in at least three of the next six games.

The Orange are currently listed by many sportsbooks as an 8.5-point underdog against the Tar Heels. Not since 1992 has a Syracuse football head coach been able to lead the program to two bowl games in his first three seasons. Brown led the Orange to the 2024 Holiday Bowl before going 3-9 last season.

ACC Network will have the television coverage at 7:30 p.m. ET. On the audio side, fans can listen across multiple affiliates in New York State. In the Central New York area, the game will be broadcasted on the radio side on TK99/105 (99.5/100.5 FM) and WAER (88.3) and through Cuse.com.

Following the game, SyracuseRoundtable will be offering insight and takeaways.