Steve Angeli came back and dragged Syracuse football through the kind of game the Orange had been losing all season.
On Saturday night at Kenan Stadium, Syracuse escaped North Carolina with a 31-30 overtime win, a result built on Angeli’s steady hand, big plays from the receivers, solid work up front and just enough from the defense to survive. It was the kind of road victory SU had struggled to finish in 2026, especially with the Orange trying to shake off a run of narrow setbacks and a long ACC skid.
The win snapped Syracuse’s three-game losing streak against UNC and improved the Orange to 4-5 all-time in the series. Syracuse is now 3-4 overall and 1-4 in ACC play.
Next up is a home game against No. 23 SMU on Saturday, Oct. 31 at noon EST on ESPN2.
Angeli was at the center of everything. The fifth-year quarterback, back after missing the previous three games while dealing with the lingering effects of the Achilles injury he suffered in the win at Clemson last September, finished 20-of-34 for 256 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
His biggest strike came on a 76-yard touchdown to sixth-year wideout Umari Hatcher, who has turned in one of the strongest receiver seasons in college football so far in 2026. Then in overtime, after Syracuse fell behind 30-23 and had to score to keep the night alive, Angeli found Calvin Russell III on fourth down for the touchdown. Fran Brown then went for two, and Angeli hit Russell again for the winning conversion.
That decision made sense in the moment, especially after freshman kicker Shay Barker missed a PAT that would have put Syracuse ahead 24-23 in the fourth quarter. The kicking game has clearly been a concern for the staff, and Saturday only reinforced that.
The Orange also got a major lift from its offensive line. Angeli was sacked just once, and Syracuse rolled up 199 rushing yards. Senior back Ahmad Miller handled 30 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown.
There were still some sloppy moments. Syracuse was flagged seven times for 65 yards, although both numbers were under its season average. Even so, the Orange was efficient when it mattered, going 8-of-19 on third down, 4-of-7 on fourth down and a perfect 4-of-4 in the red zone.
Defensively, Syracuse did enough to hang around. Senior linebacker Zyian Moultrie-Goddard finished with two solo tackles, eight total tackles and a pass breakup. Senior linebacker Chris D'Appolonia also had two solo tackles and eight total tackles, plus a sack that dropped North Carolina for a 14-yard loss.
For Syracuse, a game that had all the ingredients for another frustrating finish instead ended with the kind of road overtime win that can steady a season.
In Other News...
Syracuse Stunned UNC With A Comeback Fans Wont Forget
Syracuse left Kenan Stadium with a comeback that will linger in the memory of its fans, rallying past North Carolina in overtime after a game that swung back and forth late. The Orange had to absorb the sting of a missed extra point and then regroup after UNC forced a tie in the fourth quarter, but they kept finding answers when the pressure peaked.
Steve Angeli and Calvin Russell III were central to the finish, and both players made an impact after returning from Achilles injuries. The decisive moment came on a two-point try in overtime, when Angeli found Russell for the conversion, and the play stood after an official review to seal a win that felt every bit as dramatic as the setting. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Already Has A Point Guard Decision Fans Will Debate
Gerry McNamara has been sorting through his point guard options in exhibition play, and the early read gives Syracuse plenty to think about before the games start to count. Freshman Ryan Moesch has brought a noticeable spark, while senior Garwey Dual is still working his way back from injury and trying to find a steadier rhythm after an uneven start.
Duals case is built on more than just what he has shown in these exhibition minutes. Teammates and McNamara continue to point to his defense and his upside, and his role has grown gradually as he gets more time on the floor. Even so, the blend of Moeschs early impact and Duals experience gives Syracuse a real decision to sort through, one that figures to linger with fans well beyond the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse May Have Finally Found Its ACC Turning Point
Syracuse walked out of Kenan Stadium with the kind of result that can change the feel of a season, edging North Carolina 31-30 in overtime to pick up its first ACC win in more than a year. It also snapped an 11-game conference losing streak, a long skid that had hung over the program for months and made every league game feel heavier than the last. There were contributors all over the field, including Steve Angeli, Calvin Russell, Ahmad Miller and Umari Hatcher, but the biggest moment belonged to a quarterback whose role had already been in flux.
Angeli, back in the lineup after being benched, delivered the play Syracuse needed most when he found Russell on the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime. For a team that has spent so much time searching for a foothold in the ACC, the timing of this win matters almost as much as the result itself. The challenge now is whether Syracuse can turn one tense road victory into something more durable, because this one finally gave the Orange a reason to believe the conference slide might be over. [Read more 🡒]