What to Expect from Syracuse Football This Upcoming Season

As a longtime observer of college football and someone who has spent years analyzing team dynamics both on and off the field, I find myself looking toward the Syracuse Orange’s upcoming season with a cautious, yet genuine, optimism. Every year, we fans engage in this ritual of hope, dissecting returning starters, incoming transfers, and the schedule, trying to project a narrative onto the blank slate of a new campaign. For Syracuse, this season feels particularly pivotal, a chance to build on last year’s flashes of competence and push back into consistent bowl contention. The trajectory isn’t entirely unfamiliar; it reminds me of the kind of narrative we see in other sports, where a team on the cusp seeks to transform potential into legacy. I was just reading about a similar scenario in volleyball, where a foreign guest team, Kobe Shinwa, is aiming to become the lone two-time champion in their league by taking on an unbeaten powerhouse. That’s the kind of "prove-it" moment Syracuse football is approaching—not for a championship yet, but for legitimacy and respect in the brutally competitive ACC.

Let’s start with the offense, which frankly, has to be better. The quarterback position, as always, is the linchpin. I’m bullish on Garrett Shrader’s return if he’s fully healthy; his dual-threat capability is a nightmare for defensive coordinators when he’s on. Last season, before injuries derailed things, the offense showed a pulse we hadn’t seen in a while. But relying solely on his legs is a recipe for another injury. The development, or perhaps revelation, needs to come from the receiving corps. We’ve heard about the talent for years, but the production has been sporadic. Oronde Gadsden II is a bona fide star at tight end—a matchup problem at 6’5″—but he can’t be the only option. Someone like Umari Hatcher or Donovan Brown needs to have a breakout year, consistently creating separation and making those tough third-down catches. The offensive line, which allowed a concerning 38 sacks last year, simply must gel faster. If they can provide even an average pocket, it changes everything. My personal take is that Coordinator Jason Beck’s system is sound, but its success hinges on execution in critical moments, something that failed them in at least three close games last fall.

Defensively, there’s more reason for excitement, and that’s where my analyst’s heart beats a little faster. Tony White may have departed for Nebraska, a significant loss, but Coach Babers promoted from within with Rocky Long’s protégé, and the 3-3-5 scheme remains. Continuity in philosophy is huge. The secondary, led by All-ACC caliber cornerback Duce Chestnut, has the chance to be a true strength. They intercepted 12 passes last season, and with most of the unit back, I expect that number to climb toward 15 or 16. The front seven, however, has questions. The loss of Mikel Jones at linebacker is substantial; his 116 tackles won’t be easily replaced. The pass rush needs to find a new identity beyond Caleb Okechukwu. Can someone like Leon Lowery or a transfer step up and get to the quarterback more consistently? The defense kept them in games last year, and for Syracuse to surpass the 6-6 or 7-5 plateau, this unit needs to become a genuine force, creating turnovers and short fields for that offense I’m still worried about.

The schedule is a mixed bag, which is typical for a middle-of-the-pack ACC team. The non-conference slate features Colgate and Army at home—both should be wins—and a tricky road trip to Purdue. That Purdue game, in my view, is a massive tone-setter. Win that, and confidence soars. Lose it, and old doubts creep in. In conference play, they avoid Clemson and Florida State from the Atlantic, which is a minor blessing. But the road includes trips to North Carolina and a potentially sneaky-tough Boston College team. The home schedule is where the season will be made: hosting Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest in the Carrier Dome. I believe they need to go at least 4-1 in those five key home games (including Purdue) to have a shot at eight wins. It’s a tall order, but not impossible. The margin for error is slim, much like it is for that Kobe Shinwa volleyball team facing an unbeaten opponent. You have to seize your moments, and for Syracuse, those moments will come in the loud, chaotic confines of the Dome.

So, what should we realistically expect? I’ll put my cards on the table: I’m forecasting a 7-5 regular season and a return to a mid-tier bowl game. The ceiling is 8-4 if the offense finds a consistent rhythm and the defense takes the next step. The floor, given the injury history at key spots, is a frustrating 5-7. The difference between those outcomes will be measured in a handful of plays across those tight games—a converted third-and-long here, a forced fumble there. This team has the experience and, I think, the coaching structure to win more of those moments than they lose. They’re not yet at the stage of challenging for an ACC title, but they are in the fight to be the best of the rest. This season is about proving that last year’s struggle was a stepping stone, not a stumble. It’s about showing that they can be the team that, when faced with their own version of an "unbeaten PLDT," can rise to the occasion and secure a defining victory that changes the perception of the program. As a fan and an analyst, that’s the expectation, and frankly, the hope, I’m carrying into the fall. The pieces are there; now it’s time to see if the puzzle finally comes together.