Syracuse got the win over New Hampshire, but the opener made one thing pretty clear: the season starts for real now.
The Orange left the Dome with a 1-0 record, yet the game was packed with the kind of rough edges that tend to show up in Week 1. Noah Meyers had a drop on third down.
Demetres Samuel’s strong punt returns were repeatedly undercut by penalties. Syracuse also missed two extra points and came away empty on a fourth-and-goal chance when Angeli missed an open David Clement.
By the end of it, the Orange had piled up 12 penalties, a number that won’t sit well in the film room.
Still, there was plenty on the other side of the ledger. Syracuse converted 8 of 14 third downs on offense and rolled up a massive 513-155 edge in total yards.
The defense came away with 5 sacks and 3 forced turnovers while holding New Hampshire to 5 of 14 on third down. Samuel and Davien Kerr combined to average 19 yards on seven punt returns, Angeli finished 20-for-29, and 10 different players caught passes for the Orange.
That’s the push and pull of an opener: ugly moments, encouraging numbers, and a reminder that early-season football rarely looks polished. Syracuse had enough issues to make clear this team still has work to do, especially after a third quarter that didn’t go the way Fran Brown wanted. The fact that Angeli was still on the field into the fourth quarter says plenty about that.
Now the exhibition phase is over. California and Pitt are next, and those ACC matchups are already carrying extra weight in the eyes of Syracuse fans who see them as the first real measuring sticks of 2026. That may be a little early, but it’s also the reality of where this season sits.
For Brown, Bryan Blair and Syracuse, the stakes feel higher because of the larger picture in college athletics. The school has invested in football, and another year without a .500 record would make fundraising and ticket sales tougher to sell.
A win over New Hampshire doesn’t change much with the casual fan, and even beating Cal next week probably won’t move the whole crowd. But a strong start could make the later stretch against Louisville, SMU and Clemson look a lot more appealing to the people Syracuse needs to bring along.
Blair and his staff can work on improving the game-day experience. Brown and his staff can keep building the roster.
Fans can keep trying to pull more people in. In the end, though, the program has to back it up on the field.
Saturday offered enough to think Syracuse can be more competitive this year, especially with Angeli back. The next step is turning that into something real. For everyone involved, the hope is that this fall looks a lot more like 2018 or 2024 than the rest of this decade.
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 🡒]