Syracuse heads into this weekend still wearing the underdog label.
FanDuel opened the Orange as 6.5-point underdogs against Virginia, making it the third time this season Syracuse has been slotted in that role. The matchup gives Syracuse a chance to keep building after a wild overtime win, while Virginia is trying to stop the bleeding after a rough loss.
Syracuse is 2-2 after a 42-41 overtime escape this past Saturday. The Orange looked in control for much of the afternoon, carrying a 20-point lead with 7:58 left in the third quarter before things tightened up late.
The biggest storyline from the win was the change at quarterback. Kennesaw State transfer Amari Odom got the start in place of Steve Angeli and handled every snap.
He finished 27-for-37 for 335 yards, with five passing touchdowns and two interceptions.
Virginia comes in at 3-2 after a 38-7 defeat to Florida State, its second loss of the year. In that game, Seminoles quarterback Ashton Daniels rushed for five touchdowns. The Cavaliers have also beaten NC State and lost to West Virginia, and they’re still trying to match last season’s run, when they went 10-2 in the regular season and reached the ACC Championship game.
These two teams have met six times, and Syracuse won the latest matchup in 2022. That game had plenty of drama too. The Orange took a 16-0 lead into halftime, Virginia climbed all the way to a one-point advantage with 5:51 remaining, and then Andre Szmyt drilled his fifth field goal of the day with 1:14 left to deliver a 22-20 Syracuse win.
This Virginia game closes out a three-game road stretch for Syracuse. The Orange opened that swing with a 27-13 loss to Pitt.
After this weekend, Syracuse won’t be back at the JMA Wireless Dome until October 17 against Louisville. That will be the team’s first home game since the September 12 loss to Cal, leaving 35 days between home dates.
In Other News...
Syracuse Was Part Of A Frightening Moment UConn Fans Feared
A frightening scene unfolded during UConns game when wide receiver Javon Brown took a heavy hit in the end zone and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher with a neck brace. It was the kind of moment that stops everyone in their tracks, and both sidelines responded in kind as players and coaches from both teams showed support for Brown after the collision.
The encouraging update came later from coach Jason Candle, who said Brown is doing well after passing neurological tests, leaving the hospital and rejoining the team. For Syracuse fans, it was a reminder that even in the middle of a game, some moments matter far more than the scoreboard, and this one thankfully appears to have turned toward relief instead of something far worse. [Read more 🡒]
Gerry McNamaras Syracuse Plan Hinges On One Early Test
Syracuse enters the season with a fresh set of questions, and Gerry McNamaras first roster build is drawing plenty of attention for the right reasons. Seth Greenberg pointed to culture, retention and upside as the basics that can give the Orange a chance, while also noting how important the Siena transfers McNamara brought with him could be in helping steady the program early.
The real early test, though, comes down to whether that mix can take hold quickly enough to matter in ACC play. Greenberg also flagged the potential growth of young players such as Sadiq White, Kiyan Anthony and Mark Morano Mahmutovic, and if Syracuse is going to make McNamaras plan work, those developments may need to show up sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Faces A Rivalry Test That Could Shape Gerry McNamaras Start
The Syracuse mens basketball calendar already has a few familiar checkpoints, but the one that stands out the most in 2026 is a trip to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 15 to face St. Johns. For a rivalry that has long carried extra weight in New York hoops, this is the kind of non-conference game that can feel bigger than the date on the schedule. It also arrives at a time when Syracuse is still trying to build momentum under Gerry McNamara, making the matchup more than just another early-season test.
For Syracuse, the stakes go beyond bragging rights. A game like this can shape the way the Orange are viewed in the NCAA Tournament conversation, especially if they need rsum wins against high-level opponents away from home. It also matters on the recruiting front, where any edge in New York State can carry real value, and a strong showing against St. Johns would give Syracuse an important marker in what already looks like its most significant non-conference game of the season. [Read more 🡒]