Syracuse football’s 2024 season was record-setting — the Orange went 10-3 overall, marking their best finish since 2018 and just their third 10-win season since 2000. Plus SU topped three ranked opponents; left San Diego with a Holiday Bowl win; and came in at No. 20 in the final Associated Press Top-25 Poll. In its 2025 campaign, SU is set to face one of the toughest schedules in program history and reportedly the toughest schedule in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
August 30, 2025 | Syracuse vs. No. 24 Tennessee (Aflac Kickoff Game) | Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Record last season: 10-3 (6-2 Southeastern Conference), College Football Playoff First Round
Syracuse kicks off its regular season at the Aflac Kickoff Game on Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia versus Tennessee; marking the programs’ first meeting since 2001 and serving as an early test for SU and second-year head coach Fran Brown. All eyes will be on the quarterbacks in this matchup: Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli has officially been named QB1 for the Orange and just edged out Louisiana State transfer Rickie Collins for the position.
“Rickie’s an unbelievable competitor… he brought out the best in me [during fall camp], and I brought out the best in him,” Angeli said. “Competition breeds excellence, so every single day, [we were] going at it and making sure that we were trying to do the best we can.”
Angeli earned his first career start with the Fighting Irish during the 2023 Sun Bowl, where he threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns against Oregon State. Last season, Angeli backed up Riley Leonard and saw action in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State, completing 6 of 7 passes when Leonard briefly exited due to concussion protocol. The New Jersey native is set to make plenty more career starts in Orange.
“It’s one of the greatest honors of my life to be named the starting quarterback at Syracuse,” Angeli remarked.
On the other end, it’s a Freaky Friday moment: ex-University of California Los Angeles Bruin Joey Aguilar takes over at Tennessee, as former Volunteer QB1 Nico Iamaleava heads west to UCLA and becomes the highest-ranked quarterback in program history.
September 6, 2025 | Syracuse vs. Connecticut | JMA Wireless Dome
Record last season: 9-4 (Football Bowl Subdivision Independent)
A week later, the 'Cuse hosts Connecticut for the first time since 2018, following what should be a physical home-opener. The Orange defeated the Huskies twice in the last three seasons. Last year, SU won 31-24 and was powered by quarterback Kyle McCord who threw for a career-high 470 yards and two touchdowns; but this year, the emphasis is likely to shift toward the run game. Last season, UConn running back Cam Edwards led the charge on the ground, rushing for 756 yards on 129 carries and seven touchdowns. Edwards believes he has a chance to be just the second Huskies running back in the past 13 years to reach 1,000 rushing yards; but with so many new faces joining the team — and a constantly shifting group of transfers — it may be harder for Edwards to reach that mark. Only time will tell.
September 12, 2025 | Syracuse vs. Colgate | JMA Wireless Dome
Record last season: 2-10 (1-5 Patriot League)
Syracuse also enters this home contest against Colgate with a clear advantage. The Orange dominated the Big Red in their last meeting two years ago, 65–0, and the Cuse now returns with a deeper roster under coach Brown. This matchup offers SU a prime opportunity to build early-season momentum while giving both new and returning players valuable reps. On the other side, Colgate is undergoing changes of its own, with newly hired head coach Curt Fitzpatrick, who led SUNY Cortland to a Division III national title in 2023 and brings a fresh identity to the program.
September 20, 2025 | Syracuse @ No. 4 Clemson | Memorial Stadium
Record last season: 10-4 (7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), College Football Playoff First Round
Following two early-season home games against teams Syracuse is favored to beat, the Orange are slated to compete against yet another formidable opponent — the Clemson Tigers, who dirtied Southern Methodist University’s undefeated 8-0 conference record last season and secured the top spot in the 2024 ACC standings. What’s more? The 'Cuse must travel to Death Valley to face the Tigers and quarterback Cade Klubnik, who is widely regarded as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
September 27, 2025 | Syracuse vs. Duke | JMA Wireless Dome
Record last season: 9-4 (5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference)
Up next, Syracuse returns to the Dome for a pivotal game against Duke, with a win providing valuable momentum as Syracuse heads deeper into ACC play. Each team enters the 2025 season with new transfer quarterbacks (the Blue Devils now piloted by Tulane-transfer Darian Mensah), both of whom need to quickly adapt and guide their respective offenses.
October 4, 2025 | Syracuse @ No. 16 SMU | Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Record last season: 11-3 (8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), College Football Playoff First Round
After a weekend at home, it’s right back to the ringer for the Orange as they had to Texas to face SMU for the first time in over 90 years. The Mustangs’ 12-win season last year speaks for itself, headed by quarterback Kevin Jennings, who is also SMU’s top returning rusher. Defensively, the Mustangs’ strength lies in its experienced secondary, especially with its reliable safety duo of Isaiah Nwokobia and Ahmaad Moses. With key Syracuse safety Alijah Clark now competing with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL, SU’s defensive coaching staff face a challenge in filling that gap.
October 18, 2025 | Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh | JMA Wireless Dome
Record last season: 7-6 (3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference)
Last season, Pittsburgh pounced on Syracuse at Acrisure Stadium, demolishing the Orange 41-13. The Panthers’ defense was especially relentless, forcing McCord to throw a career-high five interceptions, including three pick-sixes. This time, back at home, and with a new signal caller, SU looks to bounce back and even the score.
October 25, 2025 | Syracuse @ Georgia Tech | Bobby Dodd Stadium
Record last season: 7-6 (5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference)
Syracuse knocked off newly ranked No. 23 Georgia Tech in the Dome last season, 31-28, for its first win against a ranked opponent since October 2022. The win was driven by McCord’s 381 yards and four touchdowns, but also fueled by an added edge sparked when Georgia Tech Head Coach Brent Key questioned Syracuse's physicality — which clearly struck a nerve with Coach Brown. With the Orange heading to Georgia this year, it’s not hard to imagine Coach Brown will be even more motivated to secure another win at the Yellow Jackets’ home hive.
October 31, 2025 | Syracuse vs. North Carolina | JMA Wireless Dome
Record last season: 6-7 (3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference)
Then, it’s back to the Salt City to take on North Carolina, a team that has dominated Syracuse in recent meetings — 40-7 in 2023 and 31-6 in 2020. Two years ago, Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (now with the New England Patriots) completed 33 of 47 passes for 442 yards without an interception. Of course, both teams have since seen changes in rosters and coaching staff — including UNC’s headline-grabbing hire of former Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. For Coach Brown’s squad, this game will serve as another measure of how far the program has come in competing with elite ACC opponents.
November 8, 2025 | Syracuse @ No. 10 Miami | Hard Rock Stadium
Record last season: 10-3 (6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference)
A scrappy comeback from a 21-0 deficit. A third win over a ranked opponent. Orange Nation storming the field. That was the scene the last time Syracuse hosted Miami and beat the Hurricanes 42-38, knocking them out of ACC title contention and stripping them from the 2025 College Football Playoffs. SU looks to build on last year’s momentum and prove it can match up physically with a team like Miami once again, but this season presents new challenges. Not only does Syracuse travel to Florida for this matchup, but Miami’s Georgia-transfer quarterback Carson Beck adds another layer to this battle.
November 22, 2025 | Syracuse @ No. 6 Notre Dame | Notre Dame Stadium
Record last season: 14-2 (Football Bowl Subdivision Independent), National Championship Finalist
There’s no rest for the wicked. After a bye week to briefly catch their breath, the Orange head straight to South Bend to face the National Championship Runner Ups — the Notre Dame Fighting Irish — and Angeli’s former team. Notre Dame has posted a 24-5 record over the past two seasons, fueled in large part by a strong Irish defense. Their defensive unit is ranked at the 6th-best in the country entering the 2025 season by Pro Football Focus. With former quarterback Riley Leonard now with the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL, the Irish are piloted by freshman CJ Carr. By this point in the season, however, Carr and Notre Dame’s offense should be well in rhythm, making for a competitive matchup in South Bend.
November 29, 2025 | Syracuse vs. Boston College | JMA Wireless Dome
Record last season: 7-6 (4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference)
To round off the regular season, the 'Cuse hosts Boston College, who beat SU 37-31 last season thanks to its powerful run game. In what marks the second season for both Eagles head coach Bill O'Brien and Coach Brown and the final conference clash for each team, this matchup could play a pivotal role in shaping the ACC title race and College Football Playoff hopes.
“We’re focused. We’re focused on trying to become a more disciplined, detailed, accountable, relentless, and tough team,” Brown concluded at fall camp. “We’re working on our core values being ingrained in us, so that we can go out and compete the right way.”
Syracuse football is back on WAER 88.3 on Saturday. Syracuse faces No. 24 Tennessee at the Aflac Kickoff Game. Tune in to McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff at 11:00, before the whistle blows at noon.