Steve Angeli’s move to Syracuse was supposed to give him the stage he never got at Notre Dame. Instead, it has veered into a mess.
The former Irish quarterback left South Bend with a reputation built on loyalty, energy, and patience after two years of being passed over for Transfer Portal additions. He went looking for a place where he could finally start, and Syracuse looked like the right fit after what Kyle McCord did in 2024. Angeli had every reason to think he could put together a big season of his own.
For a while, it looked like that bet might pay off. Last year, even with a season-opening loss, Angeli threw for 1,317 yards, 10 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions. He helped Syracuse get out to a 3-1 start in Fran Brown’s third season, and then came the turning point: in a 34-21 win over Clemson, Angeli tore his Achilles and his year was over.
Over the spring, the buzz was that he had made a miraculous recovery. His return made a Notre Dame reunion game at the end of the year feel possible again after missing out in 2025.
Now, though, the whole thing looks a lot different. Whether Angeli still isn’t fully healthy or Brown is simply in over his head, the dream has gone sideways fast.
Angeli’s season opener did nothing to hint at trouble. Against New Hampshire, he completed 20 of 29 passes for 263 yards and 3 touchdowns.
But that kind of line is the kind of thing Syracuse quarterbacks are supposed to post in a game like that. The last two weeks have told a much harsher story.
Against California and Pitt, Angeli completed only 50% of his passes, threw one touchdown, and had five interceptions. Then on Thursday night, he was benched in a 27-13 loss to Pitt.
Amari Odom came in and went 7-for-7 for 44 yards. Brown hasn’t said it outright, but the signs point to Angeli sliding into a backup role, at least for the next game.
Some analysts already believed Angeli was overrated after spending two years as Notre Dame’s top backup. But Syracuse hasn’t helped his cause, and neither has the coaching around him. Brown’s “pump fake” in the face of an official last night, which drew one of the 10 penalties on the Orange, was just the latest example.
Syracuse had 10 penalties tonight, including one on head coach Fran Brown for pump-faking at the ref.
The ref didn't flinch though. Lol. pic.twitter.com/SXuWCePQob
- Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) September 18, 2026
The bigger problem is the bigger picture: Syracuse still hasn’t beaten an FBS team since that Clemson win last year.
So instead of the feel-good finish Notre Dame fans might have imagined for a player they liked enough to root for from afar, Angeli’s path has turned uncertain. What was supposed to be his chance to finally run a team has become a reminder that the right opportunity only matters if everything around it holds together.
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On the field, Notre Dames case is just as strong, with the Irish sitting No. 3 in the SP+ ratings and No. 1 on offense after the early stretch of games. Even so, the bigger question fans cannot ignore is whether that profile can hold when the schedule eventually tightens, especially with the program also looking ahead to future marquee matchups like Nebraskas return to the slate in 2032 and 2033, the first meeting between the schools since 2001. For now, the Irish are stacking accomplishments, but the real test still waits down the road. [Read more 🡒]