Syracuse’s quarterback situation has turned its October stretch into something far more complicated than anyone expected, and that uncertainty now hangs over a looming trip to North Carolina on Oct. 24.
The Orange are coming off a 28-25 loss at Virginia on Saturday night in Charlottesville, a game in which they let a double-digit lead slip away and suffered a 10th straight ACC defeat. Now they head into this week with one quarterback already ruled out and two more listed as questionable for Saturday’s matchup with Louisville.
Amari Odom, who made his first start in a win over UConn, sat out after dealing with shoulder soreness in practice and has already been ruled out for Louisville’s visit to Syracuse on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. That game will be Syracuse’s first home home in more than a month.
The depth chart behind him has thinned quickly. Third-string quarterback Malachi Nelson started last week but was also injured, while original starter Steve Angeli is questionable for Saturday.
That sets up a potentially strange scenario later this month against the Tar Heels. More details on Syracuse’s Oct. 24 game at North Carolina came into focus earlier this week, including kickoff time: 7:30 p.m. ET.
It will be Syracuse’s fourth conference game of the season and the third straight night game for the Orange, who will have played 7:30 p.m. games against Virginia, Louisville, and UNC.
There’s also the possibility of a particularly unusual quarterback wrinkle. For the second time in two years, Syracuse could enter a game against North Carolina with an originally slated fourth-string quarterback. That kind of situation is rare at any level, but it’s in play later this month depending on how Nelson and Angeli respond this week.
In 2025, Syracuse started four quarterbacks: Angeli, Rickie Collins, Luke Carney and Joe Filardi. Filardi remains on the roster and also competes on the Orange’s lacrosse team.
North Carolina enters that matchup at 3-2. The Tar Heels opened the season in Ireland against TCU, then added wins over East Tennessee State and Pittsburgh.
Their losses came against Clemson and Notre Dame. This Saturday, North Carolina faces Duke at 3:30 p.m.
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The Tar Heels are led by Bill Belichick, and they beat Syracuse last Halloween, 27-10.
Syracuse’s remaining schedule also includes Oct. 31 at SMU, with a game time still to be determined. The Orange are 2-3 right now, and a bowl trip would require six or more total wins.
The time and date for any bowl game would be set on Dec. 6.
In Other News...
Syracuse Has A Kicking Problem Fran Brown Cant Ignore
Syracuses kicking game has become one of the clearest problem spots in a season where little margin already exists. The Orange have missed more field goals per game than anyone in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season, and the issue showed up again in a recent loss that included missed kicks and a botched punt. Fran Brown said after the game that the special teams struggles were part of what went wrong, and the staff is now trying to steady a unit that has repeatedly left points on the field.
Freshman Shay Barker has been named the starting kicker going forward, giving Syracuse at least some clarity at a position that has been in flux. Even with that decision, the bigger question is whether the Orange can turn enough of those scoring chances into points to change outcomes in close games. In a season where every possession matters, the kicking game has stopped being a side note and become something Brown cant afford to keep watching unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Heads Into Louisville With One Problem Nobody Trusts
The pregame conversation around Syracuses trip to Louisville has centered on two things that can tilt a college football Saturday in a hurry: quarterback stability and whether the Orange can keep up with a Cardinals offense that has earned plenty of respect. A panel of sports reporters and analysts leaned heavily toward Louisville in their predictions, and the concern for Syracuse was not just winning straight up but even staying close enough to cover the spread.
For Syracuse, that kind of consensus puts the spotlight on a problem that has lingered all season. The quarterback situation has been unsettled, and against a Louisville team viewed as dangerous on offense, every small mistake becomes a larger issue. It leaves the Orange heading into the matchup with little outside confidence and a lot to prove before anyone is willing to trust them in a game like this. [Read more 🡒]
Carmelo Anthony Just Gave Syracuse Fans Another Reason To Feel Close
Carmelo Anthony keeps finding ways to stay connected to Central New York, and his latest move feels especially personal. The former Syracuse star recently bought a nearly 60-acre property in Brookfield, New York, giving him a rural retreat that includes a farmhouse, cabins, a chalet and a large pond with recreational features.
Anthony shared a video giving fans a look at the place, and his son Kiyan said the purchase was meant to serve as a family retreat. For Syracuse supporters who still claim Carmelo as one of their own, it is another reminder that the bond between Anthony and the region has never really gone away. [Read more 🡒]