Syracuse football comes back against Connecticut 27-20 in overtime thriller

Syracuse football (1-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) got its first win of the 2025 season over Connecticut (1-1, FBS Independent) 27-20 in an overtime thriller. But through the first three quarters, things were looking bleak for the Orange.

On its first drive of the game, SU’s offense marched down to the redzone, but were stymied by UConn’s defense on a 4th-and-2 QB sneak from tight end Dan Villari. The Orange would get another chance to strike later in the second quarter down 7-0, but a costly fumble from quarterback Steve Angeli pushed SU well out of scoring range.

Angeli’s day wouldn’t get any easier. The redshirt junior struggled against the Huskies defense, taking three sacks and throwing an interception early in the 4th quarter. A play that warranted boos from the fans in the JMA Wireless Dome. Regardless, SU head coach Fran Brown had faith in his QB1.

“When he threw the pick, I just said, ‘you gotta have fun.’ Stop playing like I played in high school.” Coach Brown said. “You gotta loosen the moment up, allow him to know that he's human.”

That reassurance must’ve worked, because with his team down 17-6 midway through the 4th quarter, Angelli and the Orange offense found their stride. SU wideout Justus Ross-Simmons caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Angeli to pull the ‘Cuse within 5 of UConn. On SU’s next drive, Yasin Willis found the endzone for his first score of the day, followed by a two-point conversion to wide receiver Darrell Gill Jr. to put the Orange in front 20-17 with less than a minute to go.

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Despite UConn tying the game off of a field goal from their kicker Chris Freeman, SU would keep its momentum going in OT. Angeli connected with Ross-Simmons again for the second time to put Syracuse up 27-20 after the first possession. When the Huskies got the ball, the Orange defense held firm, securing SU’s third overtime win under Coach Brown.

“You can just see the culture starting to shift,” Villari said about the win. “In years past, I don't know if we would have fought back like that.”

However, part of that culture shift is a strive for better. And perhaps no moment symbolized that better than Coach Brown making his team run sprints on the field after the win.

“I just want to hold them to the standard of who they are.” Coach Brown said after the game. “I’m not allowing them to underachieve on anything.”

With SU back to .500 on the year, it’ll have a chance to continue its momentum on Friday against Colgate (0-2, 0-0 Patriot League [FCS]). Opening kick from the Dome is at 7. WAER’s coverage begins with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff at 6:30.