Syracuse football (4-4, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) is riding high after back-to-back ACC victories ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Clemson (5-3, 3-2 ACC). On Oct. 24, SU earned its first conference win in more than a year against North Carolina. Then last Saturday, the ‘Cuse beat then-No. 19 SMU in a thriller at the JMA Wireless Dome. It was the first time Syracuse beat a ranked opponent since 2024.
Meanwhile, Clemson has been treading water. After a hot 3-1 start to the season, the Tigers have gone 2-2 over their last four games, alternating wins and losses. Last Saturday, Clemson earned its first conference win since Sept. 25, a 36-24 victory over Florida State in Tallahassee.
In September 2025, Syracuse topped Clemson 34-21 in Death Valley. It was a big win for the program, but it’s a game SU quarterback Steve Angeli remembers for all the wrong reasons. Late in the third quarter, Angeli suffered a noncontact Achilles injury that ended his season.
The injury sent Angeli on a long journey back to full health.
“I learned a lot about myself,” the quarterback recalled of his recovery. “To be honest, it did suck, it was tough at points, but I appreciate all of it.”
Asked Syracuse QB Steve Angeli about his Achilles injury last year against #Clemson, and what it’ll take to beat the Tigers again this year. #Cuse pic.twitter.com/Qz7yrt1hHJ
— Drew Cagle (@_dcagle) July 16, 2026
Angeli said he was fully healthy in July 2026 and was eventually named SU’s starting quarterback in August. But the senior’s journey took another turn after he threw five interceptions in two games against California and Pittsburgh. Angeli was benched and, shortly after, received treatment because of discomfort near his surgically repaired Achilles. He missed three games following the treatment.
On Oct. 24, Angeli returned against North Carolina and led Syracuse to its first ACC win since that Clemson game last season. He followed that up with the statement win over then-No. 19 SMU. Angeli led game-winning drives in both contests.
“Players believe in him and they play for him,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said of Angeli. “Steve’s our leader and we work as hard as we possibly can for him. That’s coaches, players … everybody on the football team.”
Now Angeli has a chance to complete the full-circle moment against Clemson on Saturday. It’s the first time the Orange have played the Tigers since the injury, and Brown says Angeli is ready to go.
“He understands and knows that he can do it, and he feels like himself again,” Brown said.
It will be a challenging matchup for the senior quarterback. Clemson allows just 206.3 passing yards per game, sixth fewest in the ACC. Just last Saturday, the defense picked off Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels three times. Still, Angeli comes into the game hot. The senior has thrown for at least 200 yards and two touchdowns in each game since returning, without a single turnover.
On the flip side, Clemson’s offense ranks last in the ACC with just 335.4 yards per game. But the unit had its best game last Saturday against Florida State, scoring 36 points, a season high against FBS opponents. Quarterback Tait Reynolds had an excellent day, finishing with 269 yards and three touchdowns, capped by a record-breaking scramble.
.@TaitReynoldsQC's 79-yard run was the longest by a quarterback in Clemson history 👏 pic.twitter.com/YVSikm1cxY
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) November 1, 2026
Syracuse, vying for its third consecutive conference win, hosts Clemson on Saturday at noon. WAER’s pregame coverage begins with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff at 11:30 a.m. on 88.3 FM.