Syracuse football gears up for first ACC clash against California

Syracuse football (1-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) tries to stay hot against California (0-1, ACC) at home Saturday. SU comes into the matchup off a dominant performance in a 66-3 victory over New Hampshire last week, the Orange's first win since Sept. 20, 2025.

On the flip side, Cal hopes to shake off a rough 45-24 loss to UCLA in Week 1. The Golden Bears went into the fourth quarter with the game tied at 24 apiece, then collapsed in the final 15 minutes. California surrendered 21 unanswered points and committed two turnovers in the game's final quarter.

For Syracuse, the Orange put together a complete performance. SU quarterback Steve Angeli returned at the helm for the 'Cuse, throwing for 263 yards and three touchdowns in his first start in 11 months. That performance was paired with a 102-yard, three-touchdown day from running back Shavane Anderson Jr. on 10 carries.

Anderson Jr. became the first ACC running back in more than 20 years to debut with more than 100 rushing yards and three touchdowns. As a result, the freshman took home the ACC Rookie of the Week award. However, that doesn't mean the running back will have a bigger role going forward. Transfers Ju'Juan Johnson and Ahmad Miller are expected to return to the backfield this week.

"They [Johnson and Miller] should be able to play," SU head coach Fran Brown said. "They should be playing this week. I'm excited about them coming back."

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The Orange brought in Johnson and Miller from LSU and Jackson State, respectively, but both were sidelined last Saturday due to injuries. Couple that with sophomore Tylik Hill, who had 15 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown, and Syracuse has four potential running backs.

"They'll all play," Brown said. "They'll all have fun together. We'll all compete and play. Our opportunity is for everybody to get in."

Against UNH, SU's backfield ran for 239 yards, averaging nearly six yards a carry, and found the end zone four times. That's the most rushing yards for Syracuse in a single game since it ran for 244 against Pittsburgh in late 2023. To Brown, it doesn't matter who takes the lead role, just whoever can help the Orange.

"Whatever it takes to win," Brown said. "I could care less who it is. As long as they got the Syracuse jersey on and they running the football … we need everybody to win."

While Syracuse may have some change in the backfield, the defense hopes to replicate its performance against New Hampshire. Against the Wildcats, the Orange recorded five sacks, nine tackles for loss, an interception and three forced fumbles. The three points allowed were the fewest the 'Cuse has surrendered since its 2023 season opener, a 65-0 demolition of another FCS foe, Colgate.

However, Syracuse left room for improvement. SU had 12 penalties for 125 yards, something Brown acknowledged.

"I just felt we could play a little bit harder, just working on the effort," Brown said. "We just got to continue to get better. Like I said in the press conference after the game, we're a young football team growing, so we'll continue to get better."

California makes the trip to the 315 for the first time since 1967. SU and Cal clash Saturday at 3:30 p.m. WAER's coverage begins when McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff hits the airwaves at 3 p.m.