Week 2 is here, and Syracuse is about to find out a lot more about itself.
After rolling past New Hampshire 66-3 last week, the Orange are back at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. meeting with California. It’s the kind of game that feels a little more serious, a little more revealing. Syracuse is stepping into conference play, and if it wants to keep the momentum rolling, this is the week to do it in front of the Cuse Faithful.
One name worth circling: Demetres “Meech” Samuel Jr.
The sophomore defensive back and wide receiver wears No. 1, and he brings exactly the kind of all-around juice that can tilt a game. He’s fast, twitchy, and hard to shake, especially when the ball is in his hands.
Last week made that clear. Samuel averaged more than 20 yards per punt return and also ripped off a kick return of more than 40 yards.
If you leave him space, he can make you pay in a hurry.
Samuel’s resume already stands out. He started as a freshman last season and finished fourth in ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
He also had the third-most pass breakups among true freshmen in the country and earned a spot on ESPN.com’s top 20 freshmen list. Coming out of high school, 247 rated him a four-star recruit.
He backed up that billing in a big way as a freshman, leading Syracuse with nine pass breakups. Coaches have pointed to the leap he made over the offseason, and they’ve also talked about what he brings off the field.
Samuel said earlier this week that he likes to cook for his teammates, and that the idea of community through cooking is something his father still shares with him. That same energy shows up when he’s on the field.
This week, the Orange will need him in both places. Samuel will be asked to help slow down California’s offense, but his bigger opportunity may come in the return game, where he’s clearly eager to make a splash. He talked earlier this week about an ongoing bet inside the special teams unit tied to punt return touchdowns, and he sounded fired up about the whole thing.
If #1 gets a chance on fourth down, it’s worth watching closely.
Syracuse hosts California, which is 0-1, and this will be the Orange’s last home game until Oct. 17 against Louisville.
In Other News...
Syracuse's Top Recruit Could Be In Play Sooner Than Anyone Expected
Calvin Russells recovery has taken an unexpectedly quick turn for Syracuse, with the 2026 recruit back at practice just six months after tearing his Achilles. He is now listed as questionable for the Oranges upcoming game against Cal, a notable development for a player whose timeline initially suggested a much longer road back.
Fran Brown said Russells status will be tested before kickoff, giving Syracuse a chance to see how the young talent responds in a real game-day setting. Justus Ross-Simmons is expected to be active for the ACC opener, but Russells availability still hangs in the balance, leaving the Orange to wait and see whether one of their top recruits can get back on the field sooner than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]
Fran Brown Just Raised The Stakes For Syracuses ACC Opener
Ahead of Syracuses ACC opener against California, Fran Brown gave the Orange a clearer picture of their receiving room, and it comes at a good time. Justus Ross-Simmons, whose eligibility status has been in flux, is confirmed to be available for Saturday, giving Syracuse another option as it tries to build on the momentum from its 66-3 win over New Hampshire.
Calvin Russell III remains the bigger question. He is working back from a torn Achilles, and Brown said he will be tested on Friday to see whether he can suit up against California. For an Orange team trying to carry a dominant nonconference performance into league play, the final answer on Russell could shape how much flexibility Syracuse has when the lights come on for its ACC opener. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Will Honor A Program Figure Fans Still Associate With Orange Pride
Greg Allens name still carries a familiar kind of weight around Syracuse football, and it will soon be back in the spotlight in a formal way. The 2026 Zunic Award has been officially given to Allen, the former Orange punt returner and Syracuse 8 member whose place in the programs history has long been tied to both production on the field and significance beyond it. The award, which honors courage, self-sacrifice and spirit, is named for former Syracuse linebacker Mike Zunic, who died in a 1989 plane crash.
Allen is scheduled to be recognized on the field at halftime of Syracuses upcoming game against California, a moment that fits the spirit of the award as much as the man receiving it. For Orange fans, it is also another reminder of how much of the programs identity is built on figures like Allen, whose legacy still resonates whenever Syracuse chooses to put its history front and center. [Read more 🡒]