Syracuse’s early-season problems go beyond the obvious questions at quarterback, in the backfield and along the offensive line. Through three games, another issue keeps showing up for Fran Brown’s team: penalties, and a lot of them.
That problem was on display again Thursday night in a 27-13 loss to Pitt, a defeat that left the Orange at 1-2 overall and 0-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The margin was manageable, but the sloppiness was not. Syracuse has now piled up penalties in every game, and the trend is impossible to ignore.
The opener against New Hampshire was a blowout, 66-3, but even in that lopsided win the Orange were flagged 12 times for 125 yards. That kind of number can get hidden when a team wins by 63 points, but it also tends to warn you about what’s coming next. Sure enough, the flags kept flying once the competition tightened.
Against Cal in Week 2, Syracuse lost 21-18 at the JMA Wireless Dome and committed 14 penalties for 110 yards. Steve Angeli’s three interceptions will take plenty of the blame from that game, but the penalty total was just as damaging. One of the biggest blows came when a punt return for a touchdown was wiped out by a special teams penalty.
Then came Pitt, and the Orange again made things harder on themselves. Syracuse was penalized 10 times for 94 yards. The yardage wasn’t as brutal as it had been in the first two games, but the effect was still there.
Now Syracuse gets a chance to reset. The Orange are off for the weekend of Sept. 26 and, because Thursday’s game came early in the week, they’ll have extra time to prepare, watch film and clean things up before returning on Oct. 3 against UConn in East Hartford, Conn. The Huskies enter their Saturday night game against Southern Mississippi at 1-1.
In other Syracuse news, the women’s basketball team announced that its Dec. 18 game against Bucknell at the JMA Wireless Dome will be the annual School Day contest. Tipoff is set for 10 a.m.
ET. Syracuse reached the NCAA Tournament last season, won a Round of 64 game and then lost to UConn in the Round of 32.
In Other News...
Syracuse Heads Into UConn With One Big Backfield Decision
Syracuses backfield has already looked like a weekly guessing game through the first three games, with a different running back leading the rushing attack each time. Ahmad Millers showing in Week 3 only added another layer to the picture, and the bye week gave the Orange a little extra time to sort through how they want to divvy up carries as they prepare for UConn.
The bigger wrinkle may be at quarterback, where a possible move to Amari Odom would add another runner to the mix and could change the way Syracuse builds its offense. At 1-2, the Orange need more consistency somewhere, and how they handle the backfield against UConn will tell a lot about whether they lean into balance, speed, or a more open ground game. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Is Pushing Early For A Fast-Rising New York Forward
Syracuses recruiting staff is already doing the kind of broad, early work that can shape a class years down the line, and Damian Mojica has quickly become part of that picture. The Orange are centered on the 2027 cycle, but they have also extended offers to more than a dozen players in 2028, including the 6-foot-8 power forward from New York, who picked up an offer after taking an unofficial visit.
Mojicas stock is rising quickly enough to draw interest from multiple schools, and Syracuse appears intent on staying involved as his profile grows. He recently played for the PSA Cardinals AAU team, and more contact with the Orange coaching staff is expected, which makes him one of the more intriguing names to watch as Syracuse keeps laying groundwork well ahead of the main recruiting push. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Made An Early Impression In A Recruitment Battle Fans Know Too Well
Dontaye Day-Thompsons trip to Syracuse came at a time when the Orange needed every bit of momentum they could get on the recruiting trail, and the visit seems to have done exactly what the staff hoped. The Atlantic City product was on campus for the football game against Cal, spent time with head coach Fran Brown and the rest of the coaching staff, and came away talking positively about the atmosphere around the program and the fan support inside the stadium.
For Syracuse, the interest matters because Day-Thompson is not just another name in the class. The three-star athlete works on both sides of the ball as a defensive back and wide receiver, and he already has offers from Alabama and Penn State along with Syracuse. That kind of competition means the Orange have work to do, but in a battle fans know well, making a strong first impression can be the part that keeps a recruit engaged as the process moves forward. [Read more 🡒]