Syracuse gets its ACC schedule rolling Saturday, and California arrives in the Dome with plenty to fix after a shaky opener.
The Orange opened the 2026 season by steamrolling New Hampshire, rolling to a 66-3 win at the JMA Wireless Dome. California, on the other hand, stumbled at home in a 45-24 loss to UCLA and spent much of the afternoon getting pushed around on the ground. The Bruins piled up 277 rushing yards against the Golden Bears, a number Syracuse will notice after producing 238 rushing yards of its own last weekend.
That ground game came from a mix of young talent for the Orange, with freshman Shavane Anderson Jr. and sophomore Tylik Hill leading the way. Head coach Fran Brown also said earlier this week that he expected transfer backs Ju’Juan Johnson, a junior from LSU, and Ahmad Miller, a senior from Jackson State, to make their season debuts after sitting out the opener.
Saturday’s matchup is set for 3:30 p.m. EST on Sept. 12, with the ACC Network carrying the broadcast. Jorge Sedano will handle play-by-play, Rodney McLeod will be the analyst and Kendra Douglas will report from the sideline.
Syracuse enters as a 3.5-point favorite at FanDuel, with the over/under set at 56.5 points. The Orange have taken two of the three meetings between the programs, including a 33-25 road win in November 2024, Fran Brown’s first season in charge.
The teams also come in with very different recent tracks. Syracuse started 3-1 last year before quarterback Steve Angeli was lost and the Orange dropped their final eight games to finish 3-9. Cal went 7-6 and played in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, where it lost to Hawaii 35-31.
Both programs were slotted near the bottom of the ACC in the league’s preseason media poll, with Syracuse picked 14th in the 17-team field and California projected 12th.
The quarterback matchup adds another layer. Angeli, a fifth-year player, was sharp against New Hampshire, finishing 20 of 29 for 263 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Cal sophomore Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was productive in the loss to UCLA, going 24 of 41 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
In Other News...
Syracuse May Finally Get A Much Needed WR Debut After Court Ruling
Justus Ross-Simmons has spent more time in court than on the field lately, but Syracuse finally has reason to believe the wide receiver could be available for upcoming games. After he was removed from a Texas lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds, Ross-Simmons filed again in Onondaga County Supreme Court in an effort to clear the way for eligibility, keeping a situation that has lingered through multiple recent rulings squarely in the spotlight.
A local judge then granted a restraining order that allows Ross-Simmons to participate while the case moves forward, with a hearing on a longer-term injunction set for Sept. 30. For Syracuse, the timing matters because the offense has been waiting on a possible boost from a player expected to make his season debut after the latest court decision, even if the final word on his status still has not arrived. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse's Top Recruit Could Be In Play Sooner Than Anyone Expected
Calvin Russells return has become one of the more intriguing little developments around Syracuse as the Orange prepare for Cal. The 2026 recruit tore his Achilles just six months ago, yet he is already back at practice and carrying a questionable designation heading into the game, a sign that his recovery has moved faster than most would have guessed.
Fran Brown said Russells status will be tested before kickoff, which at least keeps the door open for an even earlier look than expected. Syracuse also expects Justus Ross-Simmons to be active for the ACC opener, leaving the Orange with a little more flexibility as they sort through a receiver situation that still has one notable unknown attached to it. [Read more 🡒]
Fran Brown Just Raised The Stakes For Syracuses ACC Opener
Fran Brown gave Syracuse a little more clarity heading into its ACC opener against California, and for a position group that has already dealt with plenty of uncertainty, any good news matters. Justus Ross-Simmons is confirmed to play on Saturday after his eligibility status had been fluctuating, giving the Orange another option as they try to build on the momentum from their 66-3 win over New Hampshire.
The bigger question now sits with Calvin Russell III, who is working his way back from a torn Achilles. Brown said Russell will be tested on Friday to see whether he can go, leaving Syracuse with one more piece to sort out before a conference game that should tell a lot more about where the offense stands early in the season. [Read more 🡒]