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Syracuse concluded its 2024 regular season by defeating then-No. 8 Miami 42-38 on Nov. 30. While the Orange fell short of first-year head coach Fran Brown’s goal of making the College Football Playoff, they shook up the bracket’s landscape.

Because of SU’s win, the Hurricanes missed the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, allowing Clemson to sneak in. The Tigers’ win over SMU clinched their spot in the CFP, while the Mustangs qualified as the No. 11 seed.

The aftermath was Syracuse landing in the Holiday Bowl, where it’ll face Washington State in San Diego, California, on Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. EST. Since SU’s win over Miami and until it faces WSU, the program will face impending decisions on who will play in the bowl games, who will enter the transfer portal and who it’ll sign on the recruiting trail.

Here are some takeaways from Brown’s weekly press conference after Syracuse accepted its invitation to play in the Holiday Bowl:

Player opt-outs

No matter the team or what bowl game it plays in, player opt-outs are always a topic of discussion. Though Brown iterated his players will be playing.

“We don’t opt out around here,” he said. “We play football.”

SU’s notable players that may have decisions to make include, but aren’t limited to, Kyle McCord, Oronde Gadsden II, LeQuint Allen Jr., Fadil Diggs, Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron.

“We like the game. We get to play football,” Brown added. “The more football you play, the more the NFL watches. So if the NFL could watch those games, that helps us … We have an opportunity of winning the 10th game, which became a goal of ours. So if everybody doesn’t play, then we won’t have an opportunity of winning those games. I think they are playing.”

Beyond general questions, Brown was only asked specifically if McCord — who is out of collegiate eligibility following the game — will play. On numerous occasions, the head coach made it seem like his quarterback will suit up one more time.

“Kyle McCord will play in the football game until the NCAA says Kyle can’t play football anymore. Then he’ll stop playing college football and he’ll go play on the next level,” Brown said.

“Kyle McCord is our quarterback. We’ll deal with Jakhari (Williams) and the rest of the guys when that time comes, but right now, Kyle McCord is our quarterback,” he added.

“It’s a football game. Why wouldn’t he play?” Brown later said.

Transfer portal

College football’s transfer portal opened Monday. Last year, the Orange were among the most active teams in the portal, headlined by commitments from McCord and Diggs. While it’s still too early for Syracuse to gain any additions, no bigger decision looms than how it’ll replace McCord.

“I’m looking for a winner; we got some guys that I’ve been speaking to,” Brown said. “I got a couple guys coming in, and I feel really confident that they’ll be able to come and help us continue to do what we’ve done.”

The Orange will have Williams and Michael Johnson Jr. returning to the program, but Brown noted he wants whoever his quarterback is next year to compete. The next several weeks will be crucial in seeing what SU’s quarterback room looks like next year.

Beyond potential portal additions, players have begun trickling out of Syracuse’s program, which Brown recognized as inevitable.

“We’re going to have some players go in the portal, some by choice, some by handshake,” he said.

The Orange have had a handful of players already enter the portal, including linebacker Anwar Sparrow and placekicker Brady Denaburg. But cornerback Marcellus Barnes Jr.’s departure was the most notable.

The true freshman and former four-star recruit emerged as one of Syracuse’s top defensive backs but was derailed by injuries throughout the season. He announced his decision to enter the portal right at its midnight opening.

“Maybe we couldn’t fulfill all his needs. I don’t know,” Brown said of Barnes entering the portal. “He said he was on the leave. You know, he wanted to go on the portal. He’s a good kid. I wish him the best. Excited about his future somewhere else.”

While Barnes’ loss hurts, Brown is confident in the group he currently has, mentioning he’s excited to see Jayden Bellamy and Davien Kerr return. Additionally, he said he’s looking forward to having Davion Kerr, Demetres Samuel Jr. and Kaylib Singleton join the program.

When speaking generally about players transferring out of Syracuse, Brown alluded he’s trying to build a culture that not all players fit.

“With all due respect to the people that need to smoke marijuana for their things and all the stuff they doing, you can’t come here and just want to do that,” Brown said. “That’s not going to be the fit. Because last I was told, that’s a downer, and it kind of has you down all the time. You got to react real fast around me. It’s football. I gotta go quick, so there’s certain things that I’m not going to allow here.”

National Signing Day

Last Wednesday on National Signing Day, Syracuse had all 34 of its class of 2025 commits sign their national letters of intent. No other school had as many recruits commit to its program, while SU’s class ranked No. 36, per 247Sports.

Brown said the Orange were looking for players with size and speed. Overall, he said he was “extremely pleased” with Syracuse’s newest haul of players.

“There’s a standard that they see set this year that has to rise,” Brown said. “So they’re all committed to being excellent football players and excellent student-athletes. And I’m very thankful. Happy for everybody we got.”

Published on December 9, 2024 at 6:41 pm

Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon