Syracuse’s second ACC game brought more of the same, and not in a good way.
The Orange dropped a 27-13 decision to Pitt on the road, falling to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play after last week’s 21-18 loss to Cal. With the bye week now here, Fran Brown’s team is staring at a long list of issues and not many clean answers.
The biggest one sits under center. Steve Angeli followed up his three-interception outing against Cal with another rough day, finishing 13-of-25 for 161 yards and throwing two more picks, both in the second half.
He also missed a chance at a touchdown to Umari Hatcher when an underthrown ball was knocked away by a defensive back. Brown eventually turned to Amari Odom in the fourth quarter.
Odom gave Syracuse a steadier look, even if the game was already mostly out of reach by the time he entered. With Pitt ahead 27-10, he completed all seven of his passes for 44 yards, added two rushing yards, and helped guide the Orange to a field goal. The transfer from Kennesaw State is now in the conversation to start when Syracuse comes out of the bye.
The Orange also left points on the field in the red zone. Down 17-0 in the second quarter, Syracuse failed to score on four plays from inside the five-yard line.
A pass interference call on fourth down gave the offense another shot, and the Orange finally cashed in for a touchdown on third down of the new set of downs. Even with the comeback to 17-10 at halftime, that sequence stood out.
Kicking was another in-game switch. Tripp Woody missed two field goals against Cal and opened this one by missing his first attempt, which led Brown to go with freshman Shay Barker. Barker responded by going 2-for-2 on field goals and 1-for-1 on extra points.
There were a few signs of life on the ground. Tylik Hill sat out after injuring his quad in Week 2, but Ahmad Miller picked up the slack with 78 yards on 14 carries.
Syracuse finished with 142 rushing yards, though the group averaged just 3.7 yards per attempt. Shavane Anderson Jr., the ACC Rookie of the Week in Week 1, was held to 26 yards on 11 carries.
One more piece of the puzzle: Calvin Russell did not play. Earlier in the week, there was talk that he would be activated for Oct. 3’s game against UConn, but he ended up being listed as questionable before kickoff and was ultimately out. The expectation is that he could be back in two weeks.
In Other News...
Syracuse May Lose A Key Transfer Before He Ever Plays
Syracuses roster situation got a little more complicated this week as Amarri Monroes fight for another season moved into a courtroom. A hearing was held over whether the basketball transfer can play a fifth college season under the NCAAs new 5-in-5 rule, with State Supreme Court Justice Jean Marie Westlake pressing the NCAAs lawyer on how the policy should apply. Monroes side is asking for a preliminary injunction so he can stay eligible while the case works its way through the legal process.
For Syracuse, the timing matters because Monroe was brought in to help provide immediate value, and this dispute now hangs over whether he ever gets that chance. His attorneys are trying to keep him on the floor while the case continues, while the NCAA is defending the rules limits. A written decision on Monroes eligibility is expected soon, and until then the Orange are left waiting on a ruling that could shape an important piece of their lineup before the season even gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Pitts Breakout QB Carries A Personal Story Into Syracuse Matchup
Mason Heintschels rise at Pitt has been one of the more compelling quarterback stories in the country this season, with the former Clay High School standout in Oregon, Ohio, taking over as the Panthers starter in 2025 and quickly putting the program on a national stage. He has already topped 3,000 passing yards and thrown 23 touchdowns in 12 games, production that has helped turn him from a local name into one of the ACCs most watched quarterbacks.
Beyond the numbers, Heintschel carries a personal reminder with him every week. He honors his late friend Lukas Mason, who died in 2020, by wearing his middle school football number on his cleats, a small detail that gives his breakout season a deeper edge as Pitt heads into a matchup with Syracuse. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Heads To Pitt With No Margin For Another Sloppy Night
Syracuses trip to Cal was a reminder of how quickly a winnable game can slip away when the details go bad. Steve Angeli threw three interceptions, Tripp Woody missed two field goals and the Orange piled up 15 penalties for 132 yards in a 21-18 loss that left plenty of frustration behind and little margin for error going forward.
Pitt is waiting next, and the matchup brings its own problems for Syracuse because the Panthers have controlled recent meetings. With the Orange already dealing with recent struggles and injuries, the challenge now is less about style points and more about showing they can clean up the mistakes that turned one close game into a damaging loss. [Read more 🡒]