S
yracuse football approaches one of its most hyped seasons in program history. Ever since the Orange hired Fran Brown on Nov. 28, 2023 as their 31st-ever head coach, an excitement has revolved around SU at a rate it hasn’t seen in quite some time.
Brown, the defending National Recruiter of the Year according to 247Sports, has Syracuse already set up with two top-40 recruiting classes in 2024 and 2025 — the program’s two best freshmen hauls since 2001. Plus, he secured big-time transfer commits from Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and Texas A&M edge Fadil Diggs to bolster SU in the short term.
With returning veteran stars like Oronde Gadsden II, LeQuint Allen Jr., Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax, Syracuse shows potential. Brown is in prime position to transition SU away from Dino Babers’ mediocre eight-year tenure at the helm. He’s done just about everything he can off the field, establishing an improved northeast recruiting pipeline and instilling a brand-new culture. Time will tell if Brown can make more drastic changes to the on-field product.
Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse football will fare in its first season under Brown:
Aiden Stepansky
A fresh FRANchise
Record: 8-4
MVP: Kyle McCord
X-Factor: Offensive line
The disappointing Dino Era is in the rearview mirror and a fresh period of Syracuse football is upon us. First-year head coaches often start their tenure trying to build something for the future, punting on the present. But in his first offseason at the helm, all Brown has done is hammer the gas pedal.
With a clear urgency and one of the easier schedules in the nation, the FRANchise will start off as immediate ACC contenders, going 4-1 at the least entering a ranked matchup at NC State. The key to offensive success for SU comes in the trenches and adding two gargantuan tackles in Da’Metrius Weatherspoon and Savion Washington is pivotal.
Not only will they help Allen Jr. make a jump in year three if the unit can find success, but McCord will also excel further, as he ranked 19th in the nation in clean-pocket passing grade (90.0) in 2023, according to PFF. A formidable o-line will make McCord the MVP of the team, and help him become just the second SU quarterback to ever throw for 3,000 yards in a season.
Games against Virginia Tech and Miami at home will pose trouble against some of the top quarterbacks in the conference, but a fast start and consistency through ACC play that has been missing in the past will make for an improved record in the end. Eight wins in his first year will give Brown the most by a SU first-year head coach since Paul Pasqualoni’s 10 in 1991, perfectly ushering in the new brand of Syracuse football while paying homage to its glory days.
Cooper Andrews
A New Hope
Record: 9-3
MVP: LeQuint Allen Jr.
X-Factor: Secondary
Kyle McCord has never watched Star Wars. Yet in Syracuse’s version of A New Hope, he’s the star cast member. McCord’s December 2023 transfer from Ohio State energized SU’s new-look program. It was the first major recruiting domino to fall for Brown, giving him a veteran quarterback with experience excelling against top Power Four competition.
McCord’s addition reflects a major changing of the guard at Syracuse. Brown’s northeast recruiting dominance is a 180 from Babers’ shortcomings in the region, and he’s already taken crucial steps to fortifying SU’s local influence. The future is enticing. But 2024’s roster might be one of the Orange’s best since the turn of the century.
Plenty of weapons, such as a Gadsden-Dan Villari tight end room and redshirt freshman wide receiver Zeed Haynes, surround McCord to fit within what should be more of a pro-style, drop-back offense. A more seasoned offensive line blocks for Allen Jr., who is poised to be the bell cow of Syracuse’s offense and one of the ACC’s best backs. The defense is more of an unknown, but having Wax to shore up the linebacking corps and a lethal secondary led by Alijah Clark and Duce Chestnut make first-year defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson’s group dangerous.
If you don’t find this team exciting, you’re just a pessimist. Brown’s squad is positioned to compete atop the ACC in year one. I envision the Orange taking advantage of a fairly light conference slate en route to a respectable nine-win season, setting the stage for the program’s boundless future.
Justin Girshon
Year 1 Building Block
Record: 8-4
MVP: Marlowe Wax
X-Factor: Offensive line
There’s a lot of optimism in central New York for Syracuse football, and rightfully so. Brown brings a swagger the Orange often lack from their head coach. McCord is set up to have one of the best single-season performances from a quarterback in program history. A defense commanded by fifth-year senior Marlowe Wax — who corralled 110 tackles and four sacks last year — has potential to be one of the best in the ACC.
While there’s an ongoing narrative that the Orange have one of the easiest schedules in the country, people are overlooking some of their matchups. Georgia Tech in week 2 to kick off their ACC schedule is no easy task. Having their first road game across the country at Allegiant Stadium after four home games against UNLV could also present problems.
After a potential 3-2 start to the season, Syracuse has a pivotal stretch of conference opponents, beginning with No. 24 NC State on the road. From there, a potentially tough yet winnable stretch against Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Boston College and Cal will define SU’s season before a likely split against UConn and season conclusion against No. 19 Miami.
If everything goes right, there’s a path toward Syracuse winning 10 games. If everything goes wrong, there’s a world where the Orange go 6-6 for the second straight year despite all the positive changes made this offseason. Naturally, I’m predicting something in the middle.
Eight wins would be a huge step in the right direction for the program in Brown’s first season at the helm, but with the talent from top to bottom, the program could definitely make some national noise.
Photograph by Joe Zhao | Video Editor
Published on August 29, 2024 at 12:05 am
