The 2026 Syracuse Orange football is not mirroring the success of Fran Brown's first season in Central New York (2024). After a double-digit win season and a Holiday Bowl victory, the Orange have lost 12 of their last 14 games dating back to last season. Syracuse has not defeated a FBS foe inside the JMA Wireless Dome in over a year. Plus, the Orange are currently on an 11-game losing streak to fellow ACC schools. 

The Orange are 2-4 this season heading into Saturday's tilt with North Carolina (7:30 p.m. ET).

SU fans have been passionate all week on social media in regards to a recent photo that has made the rounds.

The X account 'Orange Fizz' shared this photo of Brown and athletic director Bryan Blair talking on the field following the Orange's home loss to Louisville last Saturday.

Since Saturday, the post has generated over 50,000 views and hundreds of comments from Orange fans. 

Many fans jumped to the conclusion that a photo in this type of setting must signal some type of riff between Blair and Brown. Brown was hired not by Blair, but instead his predecessor John Wildhack. Orange fans voiced their thoughts on X.

Daniel wrote: "Athletic directors dont hesitate to hire their own guy when results arent good. I hope he doesn't pull the trigger too fast because theres no guarantee we do better with the next guy"

Pav wrote "That's not good"

And Jason wrote: "Both need to collaborate and fix this. Syracuse cannot afford to lose games to teams it should handle."

Two days after the photo was released, Brown said this in regards to his relationship with blair:

"It's pretty good. We speak like every week. We sit down. We actually have lunch together. We talk together. ....He knew it was a tough game. He is a good athletic director. He came over to talk to me and asked "Are you alright Fran?. I'm seeing the progress and things of that nature."

A picture does not indicate tension between two people. While the viral photo may not, on its own, be a reason to believe there is drama brewing in Central New York, other reasons could indicate that.

As our Brady Farkas noted earlier this week, Brown is on "the hot seat" according to a report by the Athletic.

This weekend the Orange travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Orange are looking to snap that double-digit ACC losing streak and to keep the team's bowl chances alive. SyracuseRoundTable will offer post game reactions, takeaways and more following the Saturday evening action .

The Tar Heels are 4-2 this season under head coach Bill Belichick. After multiple injuries to the quarterback room, the Orange are set to start Steve Angeli under center.