It’s been five years since Syracuse football (0-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) lost its season opener. But after a tough 45-26 loss to No. 24 Tennessee (1-0, Southeastern Conference), SU returns to the 315 looking to reset. The 'Cuse hosts Connecticut (1-0, Football Bowl Subdivision Independent) this Saturday.
The Orange held their own last weekend after a shaky start, going toe-to-toe with the Volunteers and practically matching them 28-26 over the final three quarters. But missed tackles in the opening quarter proved costly, as the 'Vols jumped out to a 17-0 lead SU just couldn’t claw back from. Syracuse head coach Fran Brown recognized his defense as a key area for improvement.
“I think we handled the tempo well. I don’t think we tackled well,” Brown said postgame.
“It was giving up some explosive plays that really hurt us,” starting linebacker Derek McDonald added. “We were able to get some stops on first and second down and then kept giving up on third down. Being consistent is the biggest thing we need to work on moving forward.”
The 'Cuse needs to tighten up as it faces a UConn offense that shattered records in its 59-13 win over Central Connecticut in its season opener. The Huskies racked up a program-best 683 total offensive yards, spearheaded by quarterback Joe Fagnano, who threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns plus another on the ground.
Huskies running back Cam Edwards also made headlines. The Connecticut-native rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on just six carries, including a career-long 73-yard run that marked his 16th career touchdown, and notched his fifth career 100-yard game. Edwards was the team’s workhouse on the ground last season, running for 756 yards and seven scores. The junior has eyes on becoming just the second Huskies running back in 13 years to hit 1,000 yards in a single season.
The Orange have to contend with that ground threat after allowing 246 rushing yards to the Volunteers last weekend. Plus, with quarterback Steve Angeli under center — who was sacked five times last game — SU may look to lean more on the run game themselves. That could mean more touches for sophomore running back Yasin Willis, who had a strong starting debut with three rushing touchdowns.
“I think we gotta get Willis the ball more. He’s going to be the guy that can run the run column,” Brown said. “I think he’s the best player on the team from an offensive perspective.”
“They can’t tackle me. That’s it. That’s my mentality. Get through,” Willis remarked.
Last season, Syracuse edged UConn 31-24, powered by McCord’s career-high 470 passing yards and two touchdowns. But with McCord, running back LeQuint Allen, the team’s leading receivers, and most of the offensive line gone, this year’s matchup has a very different look.
“Everyone has to play their part in this process,” Brown concluded. “When you’re trying to have a real culture and a winning program, everyone has to be completely involved and completely locked in.”
The Huskies haven’t started a season 2-0 since 2015; and the Orange haven’t lost a home-opener since 2021. SU leads the all-time series 7-6, and the fourteenth meeting is slated for noon. Our coverage on WAER starts at 11:30, with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff.