Syracuse opened the 2026 season with a statement, rolling past New Hampshire 66-3 behind a first half that buried the Wildcats before the game could really settle in.
The Orange got the kind of start Fran Brown had to be hoping for, even if he kept his starters on the field longer than some fans would have preferred. The final margin was lopsided, but the more important part was the way Syracuse’s first unit looked while building that cushion. For a team trying to launch a season with confidence, this was exactly the sort of afternoon that helps.
The biggest sigh of relief came from Steve Angeli. There were real questions about how he would look after an Achilles injury, and that concern only grows with a quarterback because the job demands so much sharpness and mobility.
Angeli answered those worries quickly. He looked comfortable reading the field, managing the offense and delivering the ball accurately.
Even when he went down with a small injury in the second quarter, he popped back up and sprinted off the field. By the time he was done, he had thrown for 263 yards on 20-for-29 passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
If Syracuse needed proof that the quarterback spot is in good hands, Angeli supplied it.
The backfield also gave the Orange a boost, especially with the presumed top two running backs, Ahmad Miller and Ju’Juan Johnson, not on the depth chart to start the season. That opened the door for Shavane Anderson and Tylik Hill, and both handled the opportunity.
Anderson was the more explosive of the two, piling up 102 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Hill didn’t jump off the stat sheet in the same way, but he consistently put Syracuse in workable down-and-distance situations.
Against a tougher defense, the test changes. But on this day, Syracuse showed it had options if Miller and Johnson remain unavailable.
There was plenty to like on the defensive side too, especially in the pass rush - a major issue for Syracuse last season. Keyshawn Johnson, the UT Martin transfer and an FCS All-American a year ago, looked every bit the part in his first start for the Orange. He finished with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, giving Syracuse a jolt off the edge and offering a much-needed sign that the defensive front may be in better shape than it was a year ago.
That kind of production won’t be easy to duplicate across the full schedule, but the first impression was strong. For a unit that needed answers, Johnson brought some.
The one area that still left room for frustration was the penalty count. Syracuse was flagged 12 times for 130 yards, and Fran Brown had talked earlier in the week about wanting his team to deal with adversity. The ACC Network broadcast team of Roxy Bernstein and former Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson kept returning to that point, and Syracuse certainly provided its own version of adversity with the self-inflicted kind.
Even so, the Orange didn’t let the flags wreck the first half. Drives did get slowed down by penalties, but the offense kept pushing through it, and only the opening possession of the first half ended without a touchdown.
That response matters. The mistakes were there, but Syracuse didn’t let them take over the day.
For an opener, that’s a pretty useful mix: a quarterback who looks healthy, depth that showed up, a pass rush that flashed, and a team that kept moving even when the laundry started flying.
In Other News...
Steve Angeli Put Syracuse Fans Through A Brutal Opening Day Scare
Steve Angelis Syracuse debut was supposed to be a simple reintroduction after his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, but the opener against New Hampshire briefly turned into something far more nerve-racking for Orange fans. He had to work through two separate injury scares during the game, a jarring sight for a quarterback only just back on the field, even as Syracuse kept rolling toward a one-sided win.
Angeli stayed in the game and finished with 263 passing yards and three touchdowns as Syracuse cruised to a 66-3 victory. The result also kept alive a long-running bit of Orange consistency, with Syracuse remaining unbeaten against FCS opponents since 1978, but the bigger takeaway from opening day was simply that Angeli made it through intact. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Got A Big Chance With One Of Its Top Local Targets
A familiar name is back on Syracuses recruiting radar, and this time the Orange get a real chance to make their case at home. Arthur Jones IV, a four-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class and one of Syracuse footballs top local priorities, is set to come back for multiple games during the 2026 season, including the opener against New Hampshire. The Christian Brothers Academy junior has already built a long offer sheet, but Syracuse has been in the mix since extending an offer in June 2025.
For Syracuse, the appeal goes beyond the rankings. Jones grew up in the city and carries a family tie that already makes every step of his recruitment feel personal, with his father, former Syracuse standout Arthur Jones III, having passed away in October 2025. Getting him on campus for several games gives the Orange an extended runway to show him what the program, the atmosphere and the community can mean, and it keeps one of the areas most talented prospects close to home for now. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Fans Have One New Weapon Worth Watching In Week 1
Syracuses passing game has a new target to keep an eye on in Week 1, as Cole Weaver is lined up to make his debut against New Hampshire. The redshirt junior transferred in from Miami (Ohio) after leading that team in receptions last season, and he arrives with a reputation that fits what the Orange want from a reliable wideout: strong hands in traffic, willingness to block and a steady edge in how he carries himself.
Weaver was also honored as Miami (Ohio)s Offensive Skill Position Player of the Year, which gives Syracuse another proven piece to work into its offense right away. For a team still sorting out its identity early in the season, his first game offers a chance to see how quickly he can translate that production into a new system and whether he becomes the kind of dependable option quarterbacks lean on when plays break down. [Read more 🡒]