Cal is about to run into a very different Syracuse team than the one that fell apart over the back half of last season, and Steve Angeli is the big reason why.
The Orange opened last year by winning three of their first four and, with Angeli in the lineup, sat atop the nation in passing yards before his season ended with a torn left Achilles tendon in a win at Clemson. From there, everything changed. Angeli threw for 1,317 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions in those first four games, while Syracuse’s other quarterbacks combined for seven touchdowns and 13 interceptions over the final two months.
The scoring drop was just as stark. Syracuse averaged 38.3 points per game through four outings with Angeli, then managed just 11.1 the rest of the way and never topped 18 again.
Now back on the field after three seasons at Notre Dame, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback gave a reminder of what he brings last Saturday against New Hampshire. In Syracuse’s 66-3 win over the FCS opponent, Angeli completed 20 of 29 passes for 263 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Even with that line, Syracuse coach Fran Brown kept the grading conservative.
“He’ll get a lot better,” Brown said. “He’ll probably give himself a lower grade than that.”
Brown also made it clear what he thinks of Angeli’s level.
“The quarterback is a great player,” he said. “I believe they’re 4-1 and averaging over 30 points a game when he’s a part of the process.”
Angeli did take a couple of shots against New Hampshire, including one in the second half that had him clutching his right leg. He briefly left for one play before coming back in and finishing without issue.
“I think him being hit is something that needed to happen, probably helped him build a little more confidence,” Brown said. “So I’m thankful that happened without costing us. Now he’ll get to knock a little bit more rust off and go out there and compete.”
For Cal defensive coordinator Michael Hutchings, the numbers tell the story.
“Obviously, if you just look at the statistics of this crew - with Angeli and without him - those things kind of jump off the chart,” Hutchings said.
He didn’t stop there.
“It speaks volumes to him as a player. I think he’s as good as it gets when it comes to playing quarterback in college in the country.”
Hutchings also noted that Cal has seen a different kind of challenge in back-to-back weeks after facing UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava.
“They are different quarterbacks. Nico is a bit more mobile than Angeli is, but both high level QBs,” Hutchings said.
Angeli arrived at Syracuse with a strong résumé of his own. He was a four-star recruit and guided Bergen Catholic High School to an unbeaten New Jersey state title as a senior in 2021. Since the start of that final prep season, he has thrown 38 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
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