Keys to the Game:
- Get the Orange off the field, and put together some sustained drives.
- Get the run game going. Aside from a 71 yard Cam Edwards TD, UConn rushed for just 53 yards on 16 carries.
- Balance the offense. Uncharacteristically, UConn ran 17 times, and threw 48 as a result of being behind.
- Pressure the QB. The DL struggled to pressure CCSU, but Tennessee had great success getting after QB Steve Angeli, even forcing a strip sack leading to a score.
- Keep the big plays in check. Gone are Kyle McCord and Trebor Pena, but Syracuse returns Justus Ross-Simmons, and adds Johntay Cook from Texas. They’re two guys that need to be watched at all times.
- Improve the rush defense, especially in the a-gap. Jim Mora after the game mentioned he’d try to gash the Huskies up the middle if he were Syracuse. Could be trying to motivate his guys, but there were certainly times last week they struggled against the run while Elijah Howard was still in the game. Can’t get pressure on the QB if you’re not stopping the run.
Syracuse the University by the Numbers:
- Location: Syracuse, NY
- Distance from UConn: 277 miles
- Stadium: JMA Wireless Dome
- Field Type: FieldTurf
- Capacity: 49,057 (61st nationally)
- Enrollment: 15,226 (99th nationally)
- 2024 Record: 10-3 (5-3 ACC)
- Last Bowl: 2024 Holiday Bowl (52-35 W Washington State)
- All-Time Bowl Record: 17-11-1
- 2024 Attendance: 39,130 (58th nationally)
- All-Time Series: 6-5 UConn*
- *Two Syracuse wins, 2004 and 2006 were vacated
- Last Meeting: 2024 at Syracuse
- Returning Starters: 8 (2 offense, 6 defense)
- Returning Lettermen: 57
2025 Schedule:
- 8/30 vs Tennessee (Atlanta) L 45-26
- 9/6 UConn
- 9/12 Colgate (Fri)
- 9/20 at Clemson
- 9/27 Duke
- 10/4 at SMU
- 10/18 Pitt
- 10/25 at Georgia Tech
- 10/31 North Carolina (Fri)
- 11/8 at Miami (FL)
- 11/22 at Notre Dame
- 11/29 Boston College
- Last Time Here/Last Meeting: 2024 - Syracuse 31-24 W
2025 Syracuse (team stats):
- Offensive yards per game: 377 (71st nationally)
- Passing yards per game: 274 (33rd)
- Rushing yards per game: 103 (100th)
- Points per game: 26.0 (71st)
- 3rd Down Efficiency: 35.7% (86th)
- 4th Down Efficiency: 75% (48th)
- Interceptions-Yards-TD: 0-0-0
- Fumbles: Number-Lost: 2-1
- Red Zone Success: 80% (79th)
- Defensive Yards Allowed per Game: 493.0 (127th)
- Passing Yards Allowed per Game: 247.0 (116th)
- Rushing Yards Allowed per Game: 246.0 (126th)
- Points Allowed per Game: 45.0 (129th)
- 3rd Down Efficiency: 58.3% (127th)
- 4th Down Efficiency: N/A
- Red Zone Success Allowed: 100% (56th)
Top Performers:
QB: Steve Angeli
- 23-40 274 yards, TD, INT
RB: Yasin Willis
- 23 carries, 91 yards, 3 TDs
WR: Johntay Cook
- 6 receptions, 58 yards, TD
Defense: Duce Chestnut
- 7 tackles, PD
Last Week: L 45-26 Tennessee (neutral site)
It was a tough start for the Orange in Atlanta taking on the Vols, as UT raced out to a 17-0 lead after one quarter. New QB from App State Joey Aguilar showed off his arm and legs, throwing for 247 yards and three TDs on 16-28 passing, and had a 25 yard rush on the opening drive. Trailing 10-0, new Syracuse QB, Steve Angeli, the Notre Dame transfer, was sacked and fumbled, and the recovery was returned for a TD.
The Orange would claw back as the half wound down, with Angeli hitting Johntay Cook from three yards out to cut the lead to 24-14 with 1:55 to go in the half, but the Volunteers responded with a TD of their own, extending the lead back to 17 at 31-14. To open the second half, Angeli’s pass was tipped at the line and intercepted. Then on the ensuing drive, Aguilar hit former Duke RB Star Thomas for a seven yard TD pass, and the lead was now 24, the largest of the day. A nearly five minute drive that saw Angeli hitting WR Justus Ross-Simmons for two 20+ yard passes led to a Yasin Willis one yard TD run. With the failed two-point conversion, UT led 38-20.
Another five minute drive of 14 plays saw the Orange draw closer, with Willis leading the way on the ground, culminating with another one yard TD run, cutting the lead to 12. Tennessee would put the finishing touches on, however, with a TD with 3:57 to go. The Orange came out better defensively in the second half, but struggled with the Vols, allowing 493 yards, a nearly perfect balance of 247 passing yards and 246 rushing yards, an average of 6.2 ypc. Thomas had a big game, with 92 yards on 12 carries, and DeSean Bishop had 82 yards on 11 carries.
Offensively, Angeli was often under pressure, took some big hits, and had a couple of fumbles, but found a reliable receiver in Johntay Cook. Willis ran 23 times for 91 yards and three TDs, but as a team, rushed for just 2.7 ypc.
