It’s been a wild ride so far for Syracuse football (2-3, 0-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), and it doesn’t get easier from here. SU takes on Louisville (3-3, 2-2 ACC) with quite a few question marks. The Orange have seen three different quarterbacks start this season, and it seems the call will once again be a game-time decision.
Initial starter Steve Angeli, Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson have all been riddled with injuries. Head coach Fran Brown went all the way down to his fourth-string quarterback, Danny Lauter, last Saturday against Virginia. When Lauter replaced Nelson in the fourth quarter, he launched a 46-yard touchdown pass to tight end Daunte Bacheyie.
🚨Danny Lauter is in at quarterback for Syracuse… AND THREW A DIME TO THE ENDZONE!!!🚨 Lauter came in for the injured Nelson, and dotted TE Daunte Bacheyie for a 46-yard TD! pic.twitter.com/wtC1CALpl0
— WAER Sports Talk (@WAERSportsTalk) October 11, 2026
Each quarterback has shown what he can do. Angeli returned to practice Tuesday after complications with a previous Achilles injury. Odom and Nelson have both suffered shoulder injuries.
“Everyone’s being coached as if they’re a starter because it’s important like that,” Brown said. “We’re building that in every room … You want everybody to know and understand that this guy next to me can play also.”
That quarterback competition in practice may be extra important this week since Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm’s main concern is stopping the Orange offense.
“We gotta know how to defend it,” Brohm said. “Without question, stopping the run and getting pressure on the quarterback, no matter who it is, will be a priority.”
Brown continues to keep his quarterback room up and ready. Syracuse football has used more quarterbacks than it has recorded wins since the start of the 2025 season. Seven quarterbacks have played, compared with just five wins.
SU plays Louisville on Saturday, a team that started the season ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25. The Cardinals rank No. 1 nationally in yards per carry at 6.32. The offense is also 11th in the nation in rushing yards per game at 231.7.
Louisville’s quarterback is junior Lincoln Kienholz, an Ohio State transfer. So far, he has done great things for the Cardinals, throwing for 1,534 yards, 17th in the nation. He is also eighth in the nation in yards per attempt at 10 and completes 69.5% of his passes.
The two biggest contributors are running backs Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown, who share a last name and a similar impact on the field. Isaac, a junior, is tied for 14th nationally in yards per carry at 7.5 and ranks 17th in rushing yards with 557. Senior Keyjuan ranks ninth nationally at 9.66 yards per carry.
Syracuse has struggled to stop the run this season. The Orange are 102nd in rush defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision, giving up an average of 182.3 rushing yards per game.
“Both of them guys are the truth … hopefully Keyjuan doesn’t play again this week,” Brown said. “They’ve [Louisville] always been able to run the ball well … Hopefully we could just shut them down when the time is needed, but I don’t think you neutralize those guys at all. I think those guys are good running backs and they’re going to always get their stuff off.”
Earlier this week, Brohm said Keyjuan Brown’s status for Saturday is still up in the air.
Louisville RB Isaac Brown went CRAZY vs Florida State😤
— The College Sports Company (@CollegeSportsCo) October 12, 2026
235 rushing yards and two touchdowns including this 97 yard house call 🏡 https://t.co/WnH4juL6Qt pic.twitter.com/W6M4xF2Sxv
The quarterback room isn’t the only position group Brown is keeping open for grabs. When it comes to the linemen, the coach believes the more, the merrier.
“Our culture is being detailed, accountable, relentless and tough. And [we are] not seeing that relentless approach sometime towards the end of the game. So that’s the reason that we want to continue to play as many linemen as possible,” Brown said.
The offensive line has struggled this season. The Orange have allowed 11 sacks for a loss of 89 yards through the first four games.
Louisville leads the all-time series 13-8, but SU holds a 6-5 edge in games at the JMA Wireless Dome. SU has won the past two home games against the Cardinals.
Syracuse returns to the Dome for the first time in 35 days. That’s one of the longest stretches away from home this season; the only Power Four team with a longer one is Stanford at 36 days.
Find out which quarterback gets the start, and whether Syracuse can earn its first ACC win of the season, on WAER on Saturday. Kickoff for the first meeting between the teams since 2022 is set for 7:30 p.m. WAER’s pregame coverage begins with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff at 7 p.m.