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2025 Syracuse Football Orange 8 Pack of Things to Remember

Year two of Fran Brown begins very soon. It’s football season, and, really, isn’t it football season year-round now in this country?

Fran delivered in year one. Oh, did he deliver. He delivered recruits and culture and a belief and wins and thrills and a bowl victory and a football house hopefully built for sustainability in Central New York. Add to that a place where kids look, even if they don’t come, a record setting offense and a pipeline to the NFL that was missing for years. The list goes on and on.

Now? The hard part. Keeping it going. After last year, a year that saw possibly even knocking on the College Football Playoff door with one more win, fans have new hope and hype and expectations. That’s what you want, sure, but reality must play a part, always, especially when you lose so many, especially on offense including quarterback and leader Kyle McCord. So, as we get set for DART year two, keep these eight quick things in your head.

1. Schedule Difficulty. It’s arguably the hardest schedule in the country. If the Orange goes 7-5, that isn’t a bad thing. Take a breath, relax, and know who you played. Tennessee to start. Road games at Clemson and SMU and Miami and Notre Dame. Bill Belichick comes to town with UNC. Rivalry games with Pitt and BC. It’s a whopper.

2. QB Holds the Cards. Brown got so many recruits and transfers last year and everything just clicked. Sometimes that will happen, sometimes it won’t. No disrespect to others, but Kyle McCord led the way at QB and we know it’s the most important position in sports. Well, enter Rickie Collins and Steve Angeli. The former brings the athleticism, and the latter brings the experience. On paper, both aren’t McCord. SU needs great QB play at some point in 2025, especially with that schedule.

3. Trebor Pena Loss. The main wideout is gone, chasing the NIL bag at Penn State. This is a huge loss. SU can make up for it, but it could take time without a clear #1 and everyone following from there.

4. Opponents Who Aren’t as Good. That’s right. This schedule is as hard as last year’s was doable going into the season. But things change. Teams you don’t think would be as good emerge and teams that you think could be great fall a little. It’s sports. It’s unpredictable. “One game at a time.”

5. 3-2 is OK. Just like 7-5 in the end could be ok, 3-2 could be ok to start. Fight hard and lose to powers Tennessee and Clemson but win the other three you’re supposed to win and get better along the way? The puzzle can fit from there.

6. Enjoy It. SU is competitive again. The country is talking about the Orange. Kids want to come here. Fran Brown has changed everything. Ride the wins. Ride the losses. Enjoy being a fan.

7. Dome Field Advantage. SU must win at home with this schedule. Pack the place. As they say: Be Loud. Be Proud. Be Orange. They need you.

8. Appreciate Greatness. Bill Belichick comes to town. Hate the Patriots? Can’t stand him? Think his relationship with his girlfriend is a little weird? Fine and fine and fine. But he is arguably the GOAT in all of football coaching. When someone like that comes to town, appreciate it.