Copyright syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y. —Syracuse football is officially out of the bowl mix for 2025 after a 38-10 loss to Miami on Saturday, so every discussion about the Orange now has 2026 top of mind. Even with two games remaining in 2025. With SU on a six-game losing streak, nursing a 3-7 record with games at No. 10 Notre Dame and a last-place battle against Boston College left on the schedule, we’re fully into ‘wait ‘til next year’ territory. Syracuse head coach Fran Brown sent a clear message in making four freshman the captains against Miami on Saturday. “We’re building the program,” said Brown. “I’ve been saying that since the beginning. I’m starting to think people aren’t really trying to listen to me.” You want to talk about 2026? OK. Why wait? Let’s talk about 2026. What is it about next year that should have Syracuse football fans feeling all will be well again in the NIL/transfer portal era where the only constant is change? Let’s look at some of the key elements: Quarterback Brown said earlier last week that quarterback Steve Angeli will resume QB1 status as soon as he’s healthy enough to do so. “That’s Steve’s spot for the next year unless something crazy happens over these next three or four weeks,” Brown said. Full recovery from a torn Achilles after surgery can take 10-12 months. Angeli suffered the injury at Clemson on Sept. 20. A 10-month recovery puts Angeli back on the field in time for training camp next summer. If the recovery timeline extends longer, it’s going to be very interesting what SU does to bridge the gap at QB. Given that Angeli has already been deemed the starter for next season, it will make things a bit more difficult for SU to recruit a quarterback out of the transfer portal if needed to hold down the fort. Rickie Collins was non-committal about returning to Syracuse next season when asked earlier this week if he’d be willing to compete with Angeli. Despite some questionable game management concerning his cameo appearances, freshman Luke Carney said he sees himself playing at Syracuse next season. “I see myself here,” he said. “It’s been a good relationship with the coaches throughout, and, whatever they choose to do, I’m going to support 100%.” The bet on Angeli to be healthy enough to return to form and still have a capable backup (or two) is a big one for Brown as this season has shown how much the revolving door can spin at QB if the starter goes down. Recruiting Is it Syracuse’s top-25 recruiting class (according to 247Sports) that puts a jolt in next year’s step? Who among the 30 committed incoming freshmen that take the field immediately will be like cornerback Demetres Samuel Jr., linebacker Antoine Deslauriers and guard Byron Washington (among others) who seized the chance to do so in 2025. WR Calvin Russell of Miami Northwestern is SU’s highest-ranked recruit since 2002. Just this past week, SU flipped Russell’s teammate, four-star safety Tedarius Hughes, from Florida State. Russell, Hughes and DE commit Kamron Wilson were in the stands of Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday taking in SU’s loss to Miami. The Orange have scored one offensive touchdown in the three games Russell has been in attendance for (Duke, UNC, Miami) and that was a garbage time TD from Joe Filardi to Elijah Baker-Washington with 21 seconds remaining against the Hurricanes. As syracuse.com’s Chris Carlson notes, SU wide receiver Darius Johnson, a Miami Northwestern grad, said he communicates regularly with Russell and Hughes who currently attend the same school. When they discuss Syracuse, Johnson said, one of the biggest selling points for the program is the opportunity all of them will have to play quickly. “Tell Syracuse fans to chill,” Johnson said about any concerns that Russell could change his mind and commit elsewhere. “I’m playing early,” Johnson said. “They see that. So they know they can play early too.” Brown already has a growing youth movement on this year’s roster with more on the way. Can he find the right balance of new and old faces to get Syracuse back on the winning streak? “We got a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the football field,” Brown said after SU’s loss to North Carolina. ”And I understand, and I know, I want to win guys, like I want to win by all means, right? But it just takes time, and it’s a young football team.” Schedule Much was made of SU’s tough schedule this year. Does it ease up in 2026? New Hampshire, Toledo and UConn dot SU’s non-conference slate, though the ACC’s move to a nine-game league schedule likely means UConn or Toledo gets dropped for an additional conference opponent. The location of the ninth ACC game could factor in to which non-con game gets cut, should SU want to ensure a seventh home game. Five visitors scheduled to come to the dome next year are: Cal, Clemson, Louisville, SMU and Notre Dame. SU is scheduled to travel to Boston College, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Virginia. Of SU’s scheduled ACC opponents, four (Virginia, Pitt, Louisville and SMU) are currently in the top five of the league standings. Clemson may be down this year but is still Clemson. The Tigers are more than capable of quickly bouncing back. Notre Dame is No. 10 in the country, and who would fall out of their chair if the Irish were still ranked there (or better) when they come to Syracuse next year? SU’s 2026 schedule doesn’t look as daunting on paper with some of its toughest matchups at home, but it’s still no walk in the park. Fran Brown For so many SU fans, their belief that 2026 will be better is as simple as “In Fran We Trust.” Brown led SU to a 10-win season in 2024, has revived recruiting, proven he can mine the portal for talent and connects with Orange fans with his direct style and T-shirt worthy sayings like “winners get washed.” Brown has collected a few dents in the armor this year with how he handled SU’s quarterback situation when Angeli went down. Brown has admitted to some time management issues and made changes in his coaching room this week with SU’s offense stuck in the mud, scoring just 70 points during its six-game losing streak. There weren’t any staff changes made on defense, but Syracuse ranks 123rd nationally in that department and needs an offseason overhaul. This year may have spiraled into a lost season, but just you wait until next year. Just ask Brown. “If you got any faith or any hope, if I was you, I would put my money on Fran,” Brown said.
